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
Iraqi workers protest for wage payment Iraq's Ministry of Industry has been unable to pay workers' salaries for several months, placing an even heavier burden on an already sinking industrial sector. Iraq
Gaza's crowded political scene In the absence of an applicable law governing partisan life in Palestine, the Gaza Strip has seen the emergence of dozens of new factions since 2000. Palestine
Fall of the Israeli Foreign Ministry The traditional roles of the ministry — namely building bridges of common interests with the international community or engaging in a viable Middle East peace process — have evaporated with Israel's most right-wing government. Palestine
Gazans nervous as next freedom flotilla nears After successive failed attempts, a third freedom flotilla will set sail to the Gaza Strip, though many activists expect Israeli opposition. Palestine
Islamic State infiltrates Iraqi Kurdistan The Islamic State is exploiting divides in Iraqi Kurdistan to radicalize youths. Iraq
Khomeini was no liberal, says Khamenei Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Iranians about distorting the character of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Iran
Egypt government to require use of fuel subsidy cards The Egyptian government, in an effort to eventually reduce fuel subsidies, plans to start requiring the use of fuel subsidy cards to keep track of the fuel consumed by each vehicle. Egypt
Is there hope for Egypt’s first space odyssey? The establishment of an Egyptian space agency is not too distant a dream, as several scientists and politicians are promoting an Egyptian law to promote such an agency. Egypt
Life as a Gaza street vendor Owners of small businesses in Gaza are already struggling to make ends meet, and the fines and taxes they are required to pay are adding to their difficulties. Palestine
Bedouin face expulsion as Israel builds Greater Jerusalem Bedouin communities in the highlands of Jerusalem are facing evacuation threats by Israeli authorities who purportedly plan to use the land to expand the settlements. Palestine
The 'Caliphate Cubs' of IS According to witnesses, the Islamic State has been recruiting children in Iraq and Syria and enrolling them in special training camps. Iraq
Israel, Hamas need each other Elements within the Israeli security establishment propose to negotiate with Hamas and enable Gaza to benefit from Israeli distillation facilities, electricity services and employment opportunities, while assuring Israel a certain degree of calm. Palestine
