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
Iranian conservatives say they're getting a bad deal One of Iran's well-connected conservative editors said that the nuclear deal being negotiated could end Iran's ballistic missile program. Iran
Israelis trust Netanyahu on security, not the economy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's victory proved that the security issue is crucial for the Israelis, but when assembling a coalition Netanyahu must remember that the dire economic situation is still of great concern. Israel
Is 'Erdoganism' threat to Turkey's Islamism? Some commentators in Turkey’s Islamist movement are increasingly worried by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ongoing accumulation of power and the fervor of his followers. Turkey
Turkey's Ottoman-era aphrodisiacs The all-natural "Turkish Viagra" and other love potions found in Istanbul's markets are now an international commodity. Turkey
Will Swiss employment plan help rehabilitate Gaza? UN Middle East envoy Robert Serry is promoting a trilateral three-to-five-year cease-fire among Israel, Hamas and Fatah, which will provide Israel with security and enable the continued reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Is Erdogan changing his tune on Israel? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's silence during the recent Israeli election campaign, despite controversial remarks about the Palestinians, and the reopening of a synagogue in Edrine might signal a change in Ankara's policy toward Israel. Israel
Journalists still a target in Gaza Wars and attacks often take the lives of Gazan journalists doing their job in the field. Palestine
Palestine’s lingering water crisis Water resources in Palestine are threatened, and in the absence of an outline for a tangible agreement with Israel, the future does not look promising. Palestine
PLO not buying Netanyahu’s ‘peace’ offerings The Palestine Liberation Organization has dismissed Israel's release of withheld tax monies as public relations maneuvering while also documenting ongoing Israeli occupation activities and destruction of Palestinian property and land. Palestine
Turkish-Armenian conflict rears its head in Lebanon Lebanon has been invited to the Armenian Genocide Centennial in Yerevan, as well as to the commemoration of the Battle of Gallipoli in Ankara, which will both be held on the same day, thus raising questions about Lebanon’s stance regarding the 1915 Armenian massacres. Lebanon
Rafah in dire need of central hospital Activists have begun a campaign calling for construction of a bigger hospital in Gaza's Rafah, where the only hospital has been unable to meet the needs of the residents in times of peace and war. Palestine
Two issues remain in push for Iran deal The last round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran are focusing on two sticking points as the deadline approaches. Congress
