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
State of the Union highlights Jordan’s rift with Obama The US president directly contradicts King Abdullah’s talking point that the campaign against IS is a “third world war.” Palestine
Implementation date of nuclear deal to be announced within days Nuclear negotiator Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that by Jan. 17, the date of the final implementation of the nuclear deal will be announced. Iran
It’s official: Sunnis joining Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced that 40,000 Sunnis will join the mostly Shiite Popular Mobilization Units, fueling speculation that the new balance could lead to formation of a National Guard. Iraq
What’s Larijani’s game for the parliamentary elections? As Iran is set to hold parliamentary elections, parliament Speaker Ali Larijani seems to be preparing for an increasingly important role. Iran
US sailors depart Iran US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter credits the Kerry-Zarif channel and US-Iran diplomatic engagement for the swift release of US sailors. Iran
Lebanon feels aftershocks of Saudi-Iran crisis The current crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran against the backdrop of the execution of Shiite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has already affected the strained relationship between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon, but will it reinforce Christian political ties? Saudi Arabia
What are the real goals behind local truces in Syria? Opposition activists say the truces reached in several Syrian regions are a regime tool to rearrange the country's demographics. Syria
The dirty war between Israel’s right-wing and left-wing NGOs Israeli human rights nongovernmental organizations object to an investigative report by Channel 2 that accuses an activist of plotting against Palestinian land owners selling their property to Jews but stained all the NGOs in the process. Palestine
Netanyahu offers royal welcome to new IDF submarine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally welcomed Israel's fifth German-made submarine. Israel
Will tables turn in favor of youth in Palestine? The new Palestinian generation leading the intifada did not wait for instructions from political leaders, who may now have to look to the youth for direction. Palestine
US says Iran promised swift release of sailors An incident in which US sailors were held by Iran in the Gulf waters comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as implementation day for last year's nuclear deal is expected within days. Iran
Slump in oil prices wallops anti-IS coalition Failure to pay Iraqi and Kurdish forces hampers their ability to fight, Congress warned. Iraq
