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
Despite differences, Turkey, Russia forge on President Vladimir Putin plans to travel to Ankara soon to “open up new horizons” in Turkish-Russian ties, even if the two countries differ on issues such as Syria, Ukraine and Cyprus. Turkey
Will terror attacks revive issue of splitting Jerusalem? The Israeli right has long accused the left of intending to divide Jerusalem in a future agreement with the Palestinians, but with continuing unrest in the city the ruling right wing must also face the possibility of a separation. Palestine
Hamas threatens vote of no confidence in Abbas Hamas called and then postponed a Palestinian Legislative Council session to push for a vote of no confidence in the current consensus government. Palestine
Egypt journalists refrain from criticizing state A number of Egyptian editors issued a statement in which they pledged not to criticize the state's institutions, which some consider a nationalization of the media in Egypt by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
The Islamic State is here to stay Unlike al-Qaeda, the Islamic State has been able to institutionalize jihad, thus guaranteeing its survival. Iraq
Tehran's missing $14 billion Iranian investigation of the gold trade with Turkey, and Tehran’s pursuit of its missing $14 billion, are likely to strain bilateral ties. Turkey
Transparency project targets Knesset members In an interview with Al-Monitor, journalist Tomer Avital talks about his social-journalistic Internet enterprise titled “One hundred days of transparency,” with the goal of subjecting elected officials to new standards of transparency. Israel
Israeli security defends Abbas Israeli security apparatus agrees with the political echelon that Mahmoud Abbas incites the Palestinian street over Temple Mount, but argues that Abbas maintains security cooperation with Israel and condemns terror attacks. Palestine
Islamic State in Sinai poses threat to Hamas Despite Hamas denials, Islamic State cells exist in the Gaza Strip, and its declaration of a state in the Sinai may accelerate its expansion as Hamas’ grip on Gaza loosens. Palestine
Turkish military support to Afghanistan rises While most countries are downsizing their military assistance to Afghanistan, Turkey is offering more military support and training. Turkey
Could Israel’s policies pave way for an intifada? Israel’s systematic marginalization of Palestinian residents in Jerusalem and its separation of them from the Palestinian Authority are recreating the ingredients for an uprising. Palestine
Sufis look for a political role in Egypt Sufis have vowed to make an impact during Egypt’s next elections, in an attempt to push back against the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists. Egypt
