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
The Islamic State's secret recruiting ground in Turkey Bombers from two separate incidents have hailed from Adiyaman province. Syria
One coastal town's groundbreaking approach to local governance in Turkey A municipality in southern Turkey has introduced an unprecedented multi-religious, multi-cultural approach to local administration. Turkey
Obama's foreign policy doctrine rejected by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unequivocal rejection of the Iranian deal reflects his rejection of President Barack Obama's liberal doctrine, which embraces a strategy of diplomatic solutions to conflicts in cooperation with US partners. Israel
What Lebanon will get from the Iran deal Economist Hassan Mokalled told Al-Monitor that the expected boost the nuclear deal will provide Iran's economy could benefit Lebanon in several areas. Lebanon
What Iraq needs to survive Social disintegration and other issues facing Iraq require a nationwide reform campaign. Iraq
Egypt's ailing health care system After some 30 years of governmental neglect, the Egyptian health care system is riddled with unsafe practices and a lack of personnel and facilities. Egypt
Hamas, Salafists try to move beyond bumpy history Serious efforts are being made toward a reconciliation between Hamas and the Salafists. Palestine
Herzog plays the tough guy Labor leader Isaac Herzog is convinced that to defeat the Likud Party at the next elections, Labor must embrace a more aggressive and assertive security image. Israel
Netanyahu the autocrat Israel is suffering from a disorganized process of decision making on strategic issues due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing style. Israel
Tourists seek spiritual high in Israel’s Safed The combination of Jewish heritage, Kabbalah, old synagogues and mountain views have made Safed a pilgrimage destination for spiritual seekers from Israel and around the world. Israel
Lobbying 2014: Podesta plays matchmaker for estranged US, Iraq The United States and Iraq find themselves in intensive couples counseling as they try to save a failing marriage of convenience that could hold the key to defeating the biggest terrorist threat since al-Qaeda. Iraq
Khamenei foreign policy adviser says Iran sticking to its guns Ali Akbar Velayati says that the nuclear deal will not change Iran's regional policy or limit the country's missile program. Iran
