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
In new roles Erdogan, Davutoglu tackle regional challenges Doubt is spreading that the new administration in regionally isolated Turkey will rise to meet its long list of formidable challenges that require international cooperation. Turkey
No winners in Israel-Hamas cease-fire To justify the deaths and devastation in Gaza, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal needed an achievement, and so did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose approval ratings continue to drop from one week to the next. Palestine
New Iran-Contra book shows how US-Iran ties were scuttled Malcolm Byrne, deputy director of the National Security Archive, presents new details about how US officials convinced themselves they were aiding “moderates” who planned to overthrow the Iranian government but who could also engineer the release of US hostages in Lebanon. Congress
Alawites prepare as IS, Jabhat al-Nusra close in on regime areas Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad long dismissed the threat from the Islamic State, but that threat has become real as jihadists move into the Homs countryside, approaching Alawite and Christian areas. Syria
Questions remain on Egypt’s Suez Canal project The cost of Egypt’s ambitious project to build a parallel canal at the Suez Canal is expected to skyrocket, raising questions about the immediate financial return to the Egyptian economy. Egypt
Syrian refugees in Gaza suffer second war Palestinian refugees from Syria and Syrian refugees who came to the Gaza Strip to escape the war in Syria are caught in Israel’s war on Gaza. Palestine
Clashes between Druze, Bedouins rattle Syria’s south Violent clashes erupted last week between Druze residents of Suwayda province and Bedouins backed by Jabhat al-Nusra, threatening to drag this relatively quiet area into Syria’s civil war. Syria
What exactly is the 'New Turkey?' The “New Turkey” that President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan hails in every speech simply refers to a Turkey ruled by religious conservatives. Turkey
Iran interior minister says advisers sent to Iraqi Kurdistan Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has admitted that Iran sent advisers to Iraqi Kurdistan at the request of Kurdish officials. Iraq
Israelis near Gaza again feel abandoned by their government Despite evacuation plans elaborated two years ago, Israel has not decided to evacuate the residents near Gaza, who have come to feel that no one in the government assumes responsibility for their safety, while the government allocated huge resources for the West Bank settlers. Israel
Russian bonanza or ‘Russian roulette’ for Turkey? With Turkey’s agricultural output already hit by drought, a deal to increase agricultural exports to Russia threatens to fuel the country’s unruly inflation. Turkey
Baghdad welcomes Lebanese, but they don't see eye to eye The Lebanese delegation to Baghdad offers diplomatic help to confront the Islamic State (IS), but it seems both parties have different priorities. Iraq
