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
Jewish extremists try to change status quo at Al-Aqsa The visit by extreme-right Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin to Al-Aqsa Mosque is yet another example of empowered Jewish extremists seeking to change current agreements over Islam’s third-holiest shrine. Palestine
Deputy: Qatar's expulsion of Brotherhood won't impact Hamas In an interview with Al-Monitor, Hamas deputy leader Mousa Abu Marzouk said the provisions of the cease-fire deal with Israel were the most Hamas could achieve from the war, but he also indicated that it expects to obtain more of its demands in upcoming negotiations. Palestine
Turkish villages smuggle IS oil through makeshift pipelines In the village of Hacipasa, almost every house is connected to an illegal oil pipeline smuggling IS oil into Turkey. Syria
With Temple Mount as flashpoint, violence rises in Jerusalem In the midst of increasing violence and harassment against Arabs in Jerusalem and tensions over the Temple Mount, the Jerusalem Municipality announced encouraging news about two building plans in East Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods. Palestine
A new era for Israeli beer Israel’s recent beer festival proved that despite the high alcohol tax nd steep price, Israel’s boutique beer market is developing, offering dozens of selections from microbreweries all over the country. Israel
Khamenei: Iran rejected US offer to cooperate against IS Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that despite statements by US officials, it was Iran who had rejected cooperation with the United States against the Islamic State group. Iran
Europe dismayed by Israel’s West Bank policy Israel's recent expropriation of West Bank land has greatly angered European leaders, putting them on a possible collision course with Washington at a time when they are coordinating coalition building against extremist Islamists in the region. Palestine
Graffiti gets political in Yemen Yemeni artists have launched several interactive street art initiatives as a way to engage the public. Yemen
Moderate Muslims' quandary about IS Both Turkey and other Muslim societies need more voices that will take extremism seriously and discredit it with serious arguments. Turkey
Bennett lays groundwork for premiership Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett, not content with controlling HaBayit HaYehudi, has launched a plan to attract more voters and ultimately occupy the prime minister's office. Israel
Turkey rows against the tide Ideological assumptions based on Islamist and Sunni sympathies, as well as a series of bad judgments, leave Turkey with diminished influence in a region where it once hoped to play a leadership role. Iraq
Egypt universities ban student political groups The decision to ban student movements affiliated with political parties at universities in Egypt was met with support, as they prevent clashes on campus, and criticized because the decision is deemed illegal. Egypt
