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
Russia holds firm on Syria Moscow is clinging tightly to its Syria policy, believing that the regime is the best option for controlling the Islamic State and worrying over the economic situation that will inevitably emerge from the conflicts there. Syria
Life in Raqqa under IS The faceless young Syrian behind the “Raqqa is being slaughtered silently” campaign and website tells Al-Monitor about life in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Syria
Marwan's exhibition reminder of Syria's cultural destruction The Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi, known simply as Marwan, is preparing for his first solo exhibition in the Arabian Gulf, highlighting the endangered cultural history of his homeland. Syria
Netanyahu government threatens Temple Mount Members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government are using the Temple Mount for political purposes, advocating the return of the Jewish people to the holy site at the risk of damaging the fragile status quo. Palestine
Iran diplomat calls to mend 'old wound' of 1979 hostage crisis A senior Iranian adviser has acknowledged "amicable" US contributions to reaching a nuclear deal and said that it's time for Iran to finally resolve the hostage crisis that has prevented trust between the two countries. Iran
Egypt's beer industry toasts long history Despite the Islamic arguments against alcohol, beer has long been a successful industry in majority-Muslim Egypt. Egypt
Rafah residents forced to leave their homes In an exclusive report, Al-Monitor witnessed the evacuation of Palestinians from their homes in Rafah. Egypt
Turkish politician calls for Vatican-like administration of Mecca A Turkish parliamentarian calls for a joint Muslim administration in Mecca and Medina, arguing the Saudis have failed to ensure smooth hajj pilgrimage for Muslims. Saudi Arabia
Islamic State intelligence network stifles resistance Terrorist group reportedly uses Saddam-era intelligence officers and tactics; Syria’s Alawites seek accountability from government; Syrian army advances around Hama; Temple Mount as flash point; Egyptian campaign against terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula makes life harder for residents of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
War and peace of Jerusalem Jerusalem could become the world capital of peace, hosted by both Israel and Palestine, if the United Nations moved some of its agencies to the city, as suggested by a Palestinian policymaker. Palestine
Turkish military angered by Ankara’s peshmerga move The Turkish military is said to be riled and to have informed the government of its opposition to seeing Iraqi Kurdish fighters in Turkey. Iraq
Will Hamas, Dahlan unite? Hamas sources are talking about a possible alliance with Mohammed Dahlan, President Mahmoud Abbas’ rival, who might harm the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation. Palestine
