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
Turkish justice 'sledgehammered' The Sledgehammer coup case, which has ended with the acquittal of all defendants, inflicted enormous damage on Turkey’s justice system, judiciary and military, while failing to eliminate the danger of military coups. Turkey
Saudi Arabia embraces high-tech lobbying Saudi Arabia is tapping politically connected digital image-makers amid escalating tensions with Iran. Saudi Arabia
After Iran milestone, France nudges US on Palestinian UN bid The French are working on a Security Council resolution to support a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hoping the Americans will be more favorable to UN mediation on the heels of a framework agreement for an Iran deal. Palestine
Russia eyes Iranian arms deal after Lausanne Russian officials are promoting the prospect of major arms sales to Iran after the Lausanne agreement, but any such deals appear to be an impossibility in the near term. Russia
Armenian singer Hayko Cepkin climbs to fame in Turkey The generation growing up in the “New Turkey” has found in a Turkish Armenian rock musician the minstrel of their existential malaise. Turkey
Is Netanyahu responsible for Iran deal? Instead of objecting to progress toward an Iranian nuclear deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should claim partial responsibility for removing or at least postponing the threat to Israel's security. Palestine
Iran framework agreement should boost regional diplomacy The P5+1 and Iran agree on "detailed political agreement" for nuclear deal; Saudi Arabia, Iran hasten Yemen’s collapse; Netanyahu, Erdogan weigh in on Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Al-Qaeda gains ground in Yemen war The Yemen war has profound implications for the stability of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia and the broader region as al-Qaeda recruits and trains in the chaos. Yemen
Yadlin says Iran deal isn't a bad agreement In an interview with Al-Monitor, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Yadlin claims that Israel should not panic when faced with the Iranian agreement, but focus on clarifying several of its clauses and rehabilitating ties with the United States. Israel
Iran, P5+1 reach 'historic' framework deal Iran and six world powers announced a more detailed political agreement for a final Iran nuclear accord than was expected after turbulent nuclear talks. Iran
Germans deny signing GOP letter on Iran Two German lawmakers tell Al-Monitor they never even saw the joint letter circulated by hawkish House members. Iran
