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
Switch to digital television faces bumpy road in Palestine As the date to move Palestinian TV frequencies from analogue to digital is approaching, concerned parties and ministries are worried about potential issues including interference by Israeli authorities and costs for poorer families. Palestine
Iran cancels popular sitcom for mocking country's hospitals A TV comedy highlighting and mocking many of the problems of Iranian health care has been canceled after complaints from a medical association. Iran
Iraq's Sunni fighting force still months away Baghdad is still debating the national guard plan that would seek to integrate Sunnis into the battle against the Islamic State. Iraq
Bennett to advance Judaism, not democracy, in education system Future Education Minister Naftali Bennett is likely to advance his own ultra-Orthodox perceptions of Jewish heritage at the expense of democratic values and pluralism in Judaism. Israel
Turkish military puts brakes on Syrian intervention While a Turkish military operation against Syria is unlikely, Mosul is another story. Legacy: Gulf
Armenians refocus on reparations after genocide anniversary Turkey’s Armenian issue will grow even more complicated with the anticipated demands from Yerevan and the Armenian diaspora for compensation and restitution of property. Turkey
PA isolates West Bank camps The PA’s crackdown on West Bank refugee camps and withholding of aid is adding to the marginalization of the youth. Palestine
Zarif's denial on political prisoners sparks backlash Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reiterated over Facebook his claim that Iran does not jail anyone for their political beliefs. Iran
Saudi shake-up underscores stakes in Yemen Saudi credibility on the line in Yemen; al-Qaeda’s “free rein” in Yemen; Iraq seeks balance, distance from Saudi-Iranian rivalry; Iran’s Reformists still waiting for Rouhani to deliver; Syrian government intensifies attacks on rebel-held areas of Aleppo. Saudi Arabia
Iranian doc follows Afghan fighters in Syria The film, which was broadcast on an unofficial government channel, shows why Afghans living in Iran are fighting in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Congress gives Egypt a pass on religious rights violations Lawmakers praise Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a far better alternative than the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Saudi palace intrigue sparks speculation Saudi King Salman's unprecedented personnel changes and other moves have many wondering what might come next from the House of Saud. Legacy: Gulf
