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
Israelis give ballroom dancing a spin The southern city of Ashdod, home to many immigrants from Russia, is becoming a ballroom dancing center as more Israelis join dancing schools for fun and even participate in international events. Israel
Larijani comments renew calls for release of Mousavi, Karroubi Remarks by Iran's judiciary that the 2009 protests were not trying to overthrow the government have led to a call by an Iranian MP to end the house arrest of Green Movement leaders. Iran
Israel should back Assad Based on past experience and years of calm borders with Syria, Israel must abandon whatever ties it develops with Syrian rebels and work with its Western allies to stabilize President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Israel
Masrour Barzani: Kurdish independence would help defeat IS Masrour Barzani, chief of the Iraqi Kurdish intelligence services, talks to Al-Monitor about delays in international support against the Islamic State. Iraq
Rivalries threaten unity government Several Palestinian factions are clashing over the formation of a new national government. Palestine
IS threat could push Jordan beyond its borders Despite the imminent terrorist threat, some Jordanians reject the necessity to intervene in Syrian and Iraqi territory. Iraq
Recent attacks not a sign of third intifada The Israeli security apparatus believes that despite a recent rise in terror attacks in the West Bank, most Palestinians prefer to keep the calm. Palestine
Ocalan niece's swearing-in ceremony marks milestone for Kurds The niece of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan made her debut in parliament last week in a striking illustration of how the Kurdish struggle has progressed and transformed Turkey over the years. Turkey
Is Turkey poised to invade Syria? The Turkish military is concerned a military engagement in northern Syria has no international support. Syria
Radical groups lure Tripoli youths Leaked videos showing Lebanese security forces torturing Islamist prisoners in Roumieh prison have stirred the anger of Tripoli’s disaffected youths, pushing them further toward extremism. Lebanon
Iraq's defunct military industry Some Iraqi parties are calling for the reactivation of the Military Industry Commission, a relic of Saddam Hussein's rule, in order to jump-start investment. Iraq
Tehran art auction attracts buyers, controversy Tehran's biggest art auction attracted accusations of money laundering as well as record bids. Iran
