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
Are warnings about Islamic State in Palestine 'empty threats'? In light of reports about the possible collapse of the Palestinian Authority, officials have been warning that the alternative to President Mahmoud Abbas could be the Islamic State, though not many observers seem to take the idea seriously. Palestine
NGO bill sparks controversy in Egypt A new civil society organizations law may be passed in Egypt that will allow the state to impose restrictions on their funding and freeze their activities under the pretext of violation of public morals. Egypt
Is Saudi Arabia next target of Islamic State? IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi calls for Saudi uprising against "apostate tyrants"; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan’s policies contribute to Turkey’s growing isolation in the region. Saudi Arabia
Rouhani orders more missiles in response to new sanctions Iranian officials have condemned reports that the United States will propose new sanctions against Iran for their ballistic missile program. Iran
Thousands of Turks stranded at Iraqi border Thousands of people were left stranded in Iraq when Turkey closed the Habur crossing following the imposition of curfews in the nearby towns of Cizre and Silopi. Iraq
Diyarbakir's Christians suffer in margins of Turkey-PKK war Diyarbakir's Christians, many of them ethnic Armenians, have been caught up in the violence between the Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Turkey
Can Turkish lemons soothe Ankara-Moscow relations? Turks are wondering why Russia is embargoing everything but lemons and nuts. Turkey
The rapid rise and fall of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party Selahattin Demirtas, who led the Peoples’ Democratic Party to electoral success in Turkish politics, is now presiding over its downfall. Turkey
Dismissed Fatah leader Dahlan says Abbas, Hamas lack 'serious nationalism' Dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan discusses the current situation in Palestine, his rift with President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and his aspiration to become president. Palestine
PFLP rejects idea of truce with Israel Kayed al-Ghul, a member of the PFLP’s political bureau, speaks to Al-Monitor about the movement’s goals and efforts to achieve Palestinian unity. Palestine
Besieged Madaya residents face starvation The residents of Madaya in the western countryside of Damascus are suffering from lack of food and medical supplies as a result of the siege imposed by the Syrian regime. Lebanon
Can FSA get back on its feet after Russian intervention? The Free Syrian Army has been demoralized by Russia's involvement in the Syrian civil war, as its influence has tipped the conflict in favor of the regime. Syria
