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
Aleppo residents tested by snowstorm, war The snowstorm that blanketed the Middle East added to the misery of Aleppo’s residents and refugees, as children died from a lack of power, water and heating. Syria
Eyeing political gains, Kurds and Syriacs aim to mend old wounds At the grass-roots level, the alliance between Kurds and the Syriac community has led to bitter divisions. Turkey
Islamic Jihad takes mediator role between Hamas, Fatah Islamic Jihad is considering joining a Hamas-led administrative committee in Gaza, as it breaks its silence in a bid to resolve the Hamas-Fatah feud that's crippling the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Palestinian political unity welcomed for Israeli elections Palestinians in the occupied territories welcomed the decision by their brethren in Israel to form a joint list for the March elections. Palestine
Why Erdogan’s media sees British conspiracy in Somalia The delusional, conspiratorial narrative in Turkey’s pro-AKP media raises questions about the capacity of the ruling elites of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "New Turkey" to understand the world as it really is. Turkey
An Israeli in King Arthur's court Medieval re-enactments are catching on in Israel, including battles between knights and an annual event at the Horns of Hattin. Israel
Iraqi state education increasingly religious The state curriculum in Iraq has long been subject to sectarian, political and religious pressure, but education quality is suffering now more than ever. Iraq
After Qaboos, who will be Oman's next sultan? Now that Saudi Arabia has seen its succession through, attention has moved to who will succeed Oman's Sultan Qaboos, who has been in Munich since the summer for unspecified health reasons. Saudi Arabia
Why did Iran, Morocco resume relations? Economics, Iran's desire for greater international standing, the Islamic State and Western Sahara may be factors in Iran naming an ambassador to Morocco after a nearly six-year break in ties. Legacy: Gulf
Could Israel’s strike on Hezbollah in Syria spark Iran nuclear talks? The latest Israel-Hezbollah confrontation might be a catalyst for a nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran; Iran can ease Saudi Arabia’s security predicament; Netanyahu sees electoral gain in snubbing Obama. Saudi Arabia
Diyarbakir Kurds rally to show support for Prophet Muhammad About 50,000 people took to the streets of the predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir on Jan. 24, in support of the Prophet Muhammad in the biggest rally in Turkey since the Charlie Hebdo attacks. Turkey
Finally, Senate action on Iran sanctions? A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Jan. 26 Iran
