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
Will Turkey’s CHP reconcile with Islam? Turkey’s main opposition leader is seeking to reconcile his party with the pious masses, but faces both their deep-rooted suspicions and the resistance of his own hard-core secularists. Turkey
Iranian-Saudi agreement on Iraq may be near While key issues remain, Iran and Saudi Arabia are reportedly close to agreeing on the formation of an Iraqi government, clearing the way to focus on another regional crisis. Saudi Arabia
Is the Islamic State holding Turkey hostage? Prolonged hostage negotiations with the Islamic State are creating serious headaches for the Turkish leadership. Iraq
Egypt seeks help in disarming Libyan militias While denying accusations that it helped conduct air strikes in Libya, Cairo is seeking international support for an initiative to stabilize the country and disarm the militias. Egypt
Pushed aside by war, Israel's social justice agenda returns Despite Operation Protective Edge, large swaths of Israeli society still consider their socioeconomic situation as priority No. 1 and the politicians are listening. Israel
Iraqi Shiite forces reinvigorated after Amerli victory After successfully breaking the Islamic State’s siege on the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli, Iraqi forces are looking to make further advances. Iraq
Ayatollah Khamenei urges Iran to prepare for 'new world order' Iran’s supreme leader has said that Western influence in the world is waning and Iran must “prepare ourselves to play a role” in the new order that emerges. Iran
Cult or slavery? Israel watches the strange case of Goel Ratzon A court is soon expected to deliver its verdict on Goel Ratzon, who is accused of holding dozens of women and children in slavery and committing sexual offenses against them. Israel
Ignoring the Arab Peace Initiative could cost Bibi Unlike Ehud Olmert, Benjamin Netanyahu ignores the Arab League initiative, which will cost Israel its US backing at a crucial moment in the near future. Palestine
Young Gazans risk lives to escape to Europe War, poverty and an unrelenting blockade have made Gaza so unbearable that young Palestinians are willing to risk the dangers of illegally immigrating to Europe. Palestine
Abadi's balance draws praise, but governing Iraq a tightrope act Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi has shown balance and pragmatism in forming a government, but the danger of being drawn into sectarian rhetoric remains. Iraq
AKP pursues scorched-earth tactics against Gulenists Turkish prosecutors have dropped a corruption probe against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son and businessmen close to the government, marking the latest move in the government’s all-out war against the Gulen community. Turkey
