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
Syria's Palestinians divided over whom to support The war in Syria has split the allegiance of some Palestinians, with Hamas in Yarmouk supporting the armed opposition and those in Nairab aligned with the Syrian regime. Palestine
What happens when a young Israeli soldier chases children who throw rocks Young Israeli soldiers, trained to fight wars, are finding themselves caught up in battles they can't win against a foe that knows how to use the power of imagery. Palestine
Iranian ambassador to the UAE: Iran wants to remove tensions with neighbors Mohammad Reza Fayyaz, the Iranian ambassador to the UAE, blames Saudi Arabia for many of the problems in the region. Saudi Arabia
Israeli video pulls back curtain on IDF treatment of Palestinian kids While in Israel minors are rarely arrested, unless accused of a serious felony, the IDF arrests Palestinian minors for lengthy periods. Palestine
Palestinian National Council gets new life in Amman President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for an emergency meeting of the Palestinian National Council to shuffle the PLO’s Executive Committee has met with opposition. Palestine
Controversy continues over how to cut up Kirkuk The Turkmen, the third national component of Iraq, are demanding arms to fight against the Islamic State, just like the Arabs and Kurds, but territorial squabbles are keeping the various groups at arm's length. Iraq
How will Israel deal with Palestinians in post-Abbas period? As talks about President Mahmoud Abbas’ resignation intensify, Israel seems to be the main beneficiary of the Palestinian Authority's impending political vacuum. Palestine
Palestinian media, public turn to Israeli press for news Palestinian media outlets mine Israeli media sources for material to translate and present to their Palestinian readers, often using it to bolster their position and stick it to their political opponents. Palestine
Looking to invest in Sinai? The Egyptian government has amended its law on development in the Sinai Peninsula to permit Egyptian investors to own the properties where their projects are carried out. Egypt
Saudi king wants Obama to tackle Iranian 'mischief' King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud will make clear during his White House visit that Riyadh’s lukewarm support for the Iran nuclear deal depends on the United States keeping Tehran in check. Saudi Arabia
Protesters in Iraq and Lebanon demand accountability Demonstrations in Iraq and Lebanon may signal new round of "Arab Springs"; Will Saudi capture of Khobar towers mastermind affect US policy toward Iran? Saudi Arabia
Rouhani faces ballooning expectations at home in post-sanctions era Economic expectations are high in Iran following the recent nuclear deal, but President Hassan Rouhani has warned against "immediate, but harmful" interests. Iran
