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
Turkey breaks new ground in southeast reconstruction Ankara will be entering potentially hazardous territory in its unprecedented plans for reconstruction in the Kurdish southeast. Turkey
Why hasn't Israel lifted the Gaza blockade? With Education Minister Naftali Bennett joining those objecting the continued Gaza blockade, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon must rethink their position. Palestine
Was Beirut airport threat real or political conspiracy? Some say rumors of a potential bombing at the Beirut airport could be designed to pressure Lebanon to agree on a political settlement to elect a president. Lebanon
Turkey issues new Friday prayer directive A government directive allowing public employees to take time off from work for Friday prayers has sparked questions about the future of Turkey’s secular system. Turkey
Senate Democrats use Trump card to block Syrian refugees bill The Senate defeated GOP-backed restrictions on refugee resettlement. Iraq
Who's winning in Iranian-Arab film festival battle? Censorship and neglect are contributing to the decline of Iran's flagship Fajr Film Festival. Iran
You won't believe how Egypt plans to stop January 25 protests Egyptians are split over a fatwa issued by the Ministry of Religious Endowments banning demonstrations on the fifth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution. Egypt
Khamenei condemns attack on Saudi Embassy Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls the attack on the Saudi Embassy "very bad and wrong" and says thanking the United States for releasing Iranian funds would be like thanking a bully. Saudi Arabia
Is the KRG heading for bankruptcy? Iraq’s Kurds warn that unless Washington rides to their financial rescue, they cannot sustain their fight against the Islamic State. Iraq
Will Turkey's government start paying priests and rabbis? Non-Muslim religious leaders in Turkey cannot agree on whether to back efforts to get their personnel on the state payroll, which already supports the country's Muslim clergy. Turkey
Looking to snitch on your neighbors? Turkey will pay you for the info The Turkish government has hiked the pay of some elected leaders for providing intelligence about people in their neighborhoods. Turkey
Don't underestimate Iraqi nationalism The anti-IS campaign in Iraq has deepened sectarian divisions between Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions, but despite communal and political fractures, many communities remain loyal to the Iraqi state. Iraq
