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
Under pressure, Sinai jihadists threaten more beheadings Though Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has been weakened by Egyptian security forces, the group continues to threaten the stability of the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt
Iraqis call to end sectarian quotas for some ministries Iraqi intellectuals and trade unionists have called for the appointment of qualified people to head government ministries rather than relying on sectarian quotas. Iraq
Europe blind to Islamic State's true threat With the Islamic State drawing recruits from across Europe, the continent must act against the movement in Syria and Iraq before it's too late. Near East
Regime tries to root out rebels surrounding Syrian capital Syrian government forces began an offensive last week on the major rebel stronghold of Jobar, the closest rebel-held area to Damascus. Syria
Syria, West explore cooperation to fight Islamic State Western intelligence officials have reportedly reached out to the Syrian government on potential cooperation over the Islamic State threat, but so far little progress has been made. Syria
Reformists lose Tehran city council chairmanship Reformists have lost the chairmanship of Tehran city council, an important position, in a possible indicator for future elections. Iran
Iraqi intellectuals start campaigns to end bloodshed Iraqi educational and cultural leaders are drawing wide support from Iraqis of all sects. Iraq
Muslim anti-Israeli views are not European anti-Semitism While the roots of anti-Semitism in Europe are deep, anti-Israel attitudes in the Muslim world can be changed with a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel
What's different in Damascus? Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made changes in the economic and services ministries of the new government in a bid to overcome economic challenges and gather support by addressing charges of corruption. Lebanon
Unity government at crossroads as Fatah and Hamas bicker It didn’t take long after the war for Fatah and Hamas to air disagreements publicly over the reconstruction and management of Gaza. Palestine
Despite limitations, Iranian Kurds support Iraqi Kurds Iranian Kurds have been moved by images of Iraqi Kurds fleeing the Islamic State and have attempted to contribute and help. Iraq
Israeli Golan residents tell government to 'wake up' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Eli Malka, head of the Golan Regional Council, expressed concern that with violence in Syria spilling over into the Golan, inaction by the Israeli government might lead to residents there living under conditions similar to those of communities along the border with Gaza. Palestine
