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
Ya'alon: Abbas barely controls Jenin In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon argued that the Gaza war last summer prevented a Hamas takeover of the West Bank: "Mahmoud Abbas does not control Gaza, he barely controls Jenin." Palestine
Kobani hospitals overflow as battle continues Makeshift hospitals are being set up in basements and schools across Kobani to treat fighters and civilians while armed groups have targeted the city’s main hospitals. Iraq
Has the Islamic State's defeat already begun? In the war against the Islamic State, the key issue is how to translate recent optimism on the strategic picture into tactical achievements on the ground. Iraq
Are there any prospects for Moscow-Libya cooperation? Russian officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude to developments in Libya. Libya
Jabhat al-Nusra tank commander sees little alternative to group While Aleppo is not entirely under the control of Jabhat al-Nusra, the group has a strong presence in many of the city's neighborhoods and is currently fighting to take hold of villages north of Aleppo province, where they are facing Lebanese Hezbollah troops that are fighting alongside the Syrian regime. Syria
Is Egypt verdict a victory for LGBT rights? An Egyptian court shocked many by acquitting 26 men accused of indecency and debauchery in a high-profile case made infamous by a journalist widely regarded as unethical. Egypt
Hamas, Fatah bicker over Gaza crossings The Palestinian government says that Hamas is delaying the handover of the Gaza crossings, while Hamas insists on a partnership to manage the transition. Palestine
Closing Jewish tomb in Egypt raises tensions Egypt’s closure of the tomb of Rabbi Abu Hasira and the cancelation of the annual festival celebrating his birth in the Nile Delta have angered Jewish pilgrims and tourists, inciting Tel Aviv to take the matter to UNESCO. Egypt
Turkey cannot secure Syrian border alone Turkish officials say Turkey is doing its best to prevent crossings into and out of Syria by Islamic militants, blaming European countries for not furnishing useful intelligence. Syria
PA needs Arab safety net to overcome Israeli tax freeze The Palestinian Authority said it would not abandon its efforts to join international treaties, despite Israel's decision to freeze the transfer of tax revenues, a step considered a pressure card by Palestinian officials. Palestine
Sunni-Alawite couples in Syria defy sectarianism The Syrian civil war has challenged Sunni-Alawite couples in getting their families' approval for marriage and society's acceptance of their relationships. Syria
Kurdish peshmerga divisions hamper war effort The majority of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces are divided between the two main rival political parties, hindering efforts in the fight against the Islamic State. Iraq
