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
Israel, Republicans push Palestinians into corner If violence erupts again, Israeli and US politicians would have only themselves to blame, having discouraged the Palestinians from diplomatic negotiations. Palestine
Foreign, local workers at odds in Jordan's labor market The unemployment rate among Jordanians is increasing, as Syrian refugees in Jordan are willing to work for longer hours and lower wages. Jordan
Could AKP's negative campaign strategy backfire? Is the AKP’s negative election campaign alienating too many social groups in Turkey and creating a united front against it? Turkey
Turkish cleric U-turns on million dollar Mercedes Turkey’s top official Islamic cleric has found himself in a tight spot after his decision to give up a flashy Mercedes under public criticism prompted a defiant Erdogan to send him an even more expensive car, complete with a pledge for a private jet. Turkey
Congress seeks to lift last restrictions on aid to Egypt The US House foreign aid bill eliminates previous requirements that Egypt hold "free and fair" parliamentary elections and take steps to foster democracy and protect human rights before $1.3 billion in military aid can be released. Egypt
Will elections change Turkey’s foreign policy? Many believe that if Erdogan is further empowered, Ankara’s foreign policy will remain turbulent. Turkey
Israel fears breakup of Syria Israeli experts are cautious about predicting events in Syria, but concede that despite losses by Hezbollah there, the organization might attack Israel unexpectedly from the Lebanese border. Israel
New Likud MK: BDS is 'form of terrorism' Likud Knesset member Anat Berko says that the bid to suspend Israel from FIFA ''is terrorism in every sense of the term,” calling on the government to fight the BDS movement, “just like we fight against terrorism.” Palestine
EgyptAir pilots fly amid troubled winds EgyptAir pilots are dissatisfied and feel undervalued amid relatively low salaries. Egypt
Islamic Jihad's coffers run dry The cutting off of economic support from Iran and the closing of smuggling tunnels to Egypt have left the Islamic Jihad unable to pay the salaries of its personnel. Palestine
Erdogan: Journalist will pay 'heavy price' The Turkish president is furious with the editor of Cumhuriyet for publishing photos of the contents of the infamous MIT trucks stopped en route to Syria, but even more outraged that his policy of intimidation is failing to silence media criticism. Syria
Congress deals blow to IS looting in Syria The House passed legislation that would make it illegal to import stolen artifacts. Iraq
