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
Palestinians create digital museum to promote their cause A group of Palestinian youth and historians created a digital museum to prove the historical Palestinians’ right to the land of Palestine and to challenge the Israeli narrative. Palestine
Arab MK says battle for equality, ending occupation 'inseparable' Aida Touma-Sliman, the only Arab committee chair in the Knesset, talks to Al-Monitor about the need for equality, ending the occupation and women's rights. Palestine
Why so many Lebanese are looking abroad As the economic and political situations in Lebanon worsen, more Lebanese seek to emigrate to the West and to Gulf countries for better job opportunities. Lebanon
Oman, stuck between Saudi Arabia and Iran With a long history as a regional mediator and close ties with both Riyadh and Tehran, will Oman be able to cool the recent Saudi-Iranian tensions following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr? Saudi Arabia
The Saudi predicament The execution of a prominent Shiite cleric jeopardizes already fragile international efforts to end the wars in Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Congress votes again to dismantle Iran deal A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Jan. 11. Iraq
Can Egypt's new parliament review 330 laws in 15 days? According to Egypt's constitution, the country's newly elected parliament — meeting for the first time Jan. 10 — has only 15 days to review over 330 laws issued since the last parliament was dissolved. Egypt
Egypt MP says neglect of Nubians' role 'crime against human history' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Yassine Abdel Sabour, the first MP for the Nubian people in the new Egyptian parliament, stresses his commitment to advancing the rights of his people in the legislature. Egypt
Was Abbas speech just attempt to dispel poor health rumors? A recent speech by President Mahmoud Abbas was widely perceived by Palestinians as underwhelming, with some claiming its main goal was to assuage rumors that the leader suffers from failing health. Palestine
Shift to open market economy no easy task for Iran Suggested reforms as part of Iran's sixth five-year development plan envisages more competition, but will President Hassan Rouhani's team be able to push for a true open market economy? Iran
Former defense minister condemns Bibi's 'divisive' message In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz insists that despite the current violence, it's time for Israel to present a new diplomatic initiative and "initiate and lead" instead of "blaming the other side." Palestine
Kurds on hunger strike for bodies of dead relatives Kurdish families have launched a hunger strike to get the bodies of relatives killed while fighting with the security forces in Turkey’s conflict-ravaged southeast. Turkey
