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
Liberman: Arab MK 'must be thrown out of Knesset' Despite heading a small opposition party, former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman continues to attack the government and shows no intention of joining the coalition. Israel
Who kidnapped Hannibal Gadhafi, and why? The mysterious kidnapping of Hannibal Gadhafi in Lebanon has raised numerous scenarios about the motives behind the operation. Egypt
How to revive the Arab Peace Initiative Representatives from Israeli and Palestinian civil societies, together with neighboring and Western peace activists, gathered in Antalya to contemplate ways of promoting the Arab Peace Initiative. Palestine
Israel commits $25 million to new anti-BDS task force, but what exactly will they do? A new office designed to combat the BDS campaign targeting Israel is to open in January. Palestine
Palestinians counter Israel's wrecking balls with fundraisers Israel has been destroying the houses of the Palestinians who carried out armed attacks against Israelis to deter others from doing the same, but the families' friends and neighbors are reacting with even greater determination to rebuild. Palestine
Gaza youth group spotlights Palestinian talent A restaurant in Gaza is hosting a cultural center that allows young Palestinians to express their talent and use it to further the Palestinian cause. Palestine
Will Fatah and Hamas ever find common ground? Recent reshufflings of ministerial positions by Hamas in Gaza and President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah threaten to widen the already deep rift between Hamas and Fatah. Palestine
How will Nasrallah retaliate for death of Hezbollah leader in Syria? Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah vowed to respond to Samir Kuntar’s assassination in Syria. Israel
Will PA security turn on Israel? Despite recommendations from military quarters that Israel strengthen the Palestinian Authority and work with it to quell the ongoing violence, Israeli officials fear attacks from the Palestinian security forces themselves. Palestine
Are new provinces the key to a peaceful Iraq? Turkmen politician Torhan al-Mufti spoke to Al-Monitor about Turkmen demands and political participation as well as the possible establishment of new provinces in Iraq. Iraq
Ethiopian-Israelis fed up with false promises Ethiopian-Israeli activists argue that the numerous governmental plans to integrate the community into Israeli society do not address the specific needs of the community members and often only channel funding elsewhere. Israel
Iran headed for trouble in Argentina Argentina's new president vows to ask lawmakers to end the country's 2013 deal with Iran on a probe into the deadly 1994 Argentine Israelite Mutual Association bombing in Buenos Aires. Israel
