The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
Is the Saudi, Lebanese relationship gone for good? In retaliation for Hezbollah’s support of the Houthis in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has launched a campaign designed to pressure Lebanon. Saudi Arabia
Why is it so hard to reintegrate Libyan fighters into society? Libya is working to reintegrate the young people who fought in the revolution, but the country's economic situation and social unrest pose even bigger challenges than its ongoing insecurity. Libya
Iraq's dubious religious shrines The Shiite residents of Babil keep visiting religious shrines as they believe in their healing character, although historical information contradicts their beliefs. Iraq
Will current truce pave way for permanent cease-fire in Syria? Experts on Syria say the recent cease-fire implemented in Syria is only a temporary truce that will not lead to a long-term peaceful solution to the crisis. Syria
Pro-Rouhani candidates take early lead Reformists and moderate conservatives allied with President Hassan Rouhani have made a strong showing in Iran's parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, and key hard-liners seem to have lost big. Iran
What is Riyadh's endgame in Lebanon? In an effort to condemn Iran, Saudi Arabia is setting its sights on Hezbollah and Lebanon. Saudi Arabia
Who is TAK and why did it attack Ankara? This story seeks to shed light on the secretive Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, which claimed responsibility for the deadly Feb. 17 bombing in Ankara. Turkey
Is Syrian regime about to retake Raqqa? The Syrian army has launched an unprecedented battle in Raqqa province, the stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria, and is making its way toward Tabqa city, the second-largest city in the province. Syria
How Syria's earliest refugees are about to become Turkish citizens Turkey's earliest Syrian refugees will soon complete their five-year waiting period for Turkish citizenship, and political players are calculating those Syrians' significant eventual power. Syria
Turkey's culture of snitching In just one example of a deep-rooted Turkish culture of snitching, a marriage comes to an end when a husband tells his wife she can offend him, but not his president, and reports her to the authorities. Turkey
The Israeli-Egyptian love affair Ever since the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt almost 37 years ago, Israel and Egypt have been fostering security ties, but it is the Sisi regime that brings these ties to a new, unprecedented level. Egypt
Why Tehran matters so much in Iranian politics While the final nationwide results of Iran’s Feb. 26 elections have yet to be announced, it is clear that the elections have produced a stunning victory for the Reformist-moderate List of Hope alliance in Tehran. But why do electoral gains in the relatively small Tehran constituency mean so much? Iran
