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
Israel, Jordan fear violence over Temple Mount Jordan is caught between a rock and a hard place: It has recalled its envoy in reaction to violence outbreaks on the Temple Mount, but still seeks to maintain its strategic ties with Israel. Israel
Israel's Ayalon: GOP victories won't affect US foreign policy In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon discusses the effects of the US midterm elections. Israel
Why arming rebels will fuel Syria's inferno Arming Syria’s rebels is a dangerous move that will only result in prolonging the war and potentially empowering extremists. Syria
Democrats' defeat may make US more hawkish in Middle East The Democrats' loss in Tuesday's legislative elections portends a more hawkish US role in the Middle East. Congress
Military presence increases in eastern Mediterranean Regional crises and economic squabbles have led to a military buildup in the eastern Mediterranean that threatens to shift from feints and preparation to armed conflict as Russian and NATO forces further complicate the situation. Turkey
Netanyahu, Liberman deepening Israel's isolation The Israeli government has to understand that its barbs at European and American allies critical of settlement construction are ineffective, because settlement expansion will continue to isolate Israel internationally. Palestine
Memories of war haunt Gaza’s doctors The doctors in the Gaza Strip who worked during the late war recall the pain they went through when dealing with the victims, and speak of the psychological scars they bear in the war's aftermath. Palestine
Anbar province calls for support to fight Islamic State The government in Anbar province is voicing concern about the progress of the Islamic State in several cities, calling for a quick solution to prevent the province from falling to the militants. Iraq
Islamic State tightens noose around Iraq, Syria The Islamic State is tightening control over the regions it captured in Iraq in an attempt to consolidate its power. Iraq
Iranian students who took US Embassy: Where are they now? An Iranian news agency has published a special report following the careers of some of the most prominent students involved in the 1979 hostage crisis. Iran
How to finance your education An inside view on how to finance your college education. Culture & Society
Was Olmert's peace proposal a political maneuver? Evidence introduced in the trial of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recalls his hurried peace proposal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008, shedding a new light on the possible motives behind it. Palestine
