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
Kerry names Indyk peace envoy, calls for reasonable compromise Secretary of State John Kerry has named former US envoy to Israel and Clinton peace negotiator Martin Indyk as his new special peace envoy. Palestine
Knesset to investigate Gaza operation In an interview with Al-Monitor, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Zeev Elkin explains his decision to open an inquiry of the Gaza operation, in spite of objections from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel
Ford Likely to helm Egypt mission With Anne Patterson expected to be nominated as Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, US officials have told Al-Monitor that Syria Envoy Robert Ford is likely to be nominated as the next Ambassador to Egypt. Egypt
HFAC staff moves There has been a major shuffle in the House Foreign Affairs committee Minority Staff. Originals
Ashton congratulates Iran's Rouhani, urges renewed nuclear talks European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton sent a letter to new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulating him and expressing an eagerness to pursue a deal on Iran's nuclear program. Iran
Appointments: Counselor Outgoing US Ambassador to Brazil Tom Shannon is expected to be tapped as Counselor to US Secretary of State John Kerry. Originals
NPR's Deborah Amos reports on Syria from front lines Veteran National Public Radio Middle East correspondent Deborah Amos has reported from Syria that the regime forces and rebel groups are fighting for supply lines to their respective regional allies. Syria
Kerry, Rice brief Jewish, Arab American groups on Mideast peace talks US Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan Rice briefed Jewish and Arab American groups Thursday and Friday on the Israel-Palestine peace talks in an effort to bolster support. Palestine
Appointments: Econ, Syria, NEA US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein is expected to be tapped as PDAS in the NEA bureau, US Ambassador to France Charles Rivkin is expected to be nominated Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, and more. Originals
Obama tries to strike balance on Egypt after crackdown President Obama announced the US would cancel a planned joint military exercise with Egypt over deepening concern after a government crack down on Muslim Brotherhood protesters killed 500. Egypt
Top Iran, EU diplomats agree to meet to plan new nuclear talks EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and new Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif have agreed to meet, fueling speculation that Iran's nuclear negotiating file might be put under the control of newly elected President Hassan Rouhani. Iran
Israelis dream of Europe The Gaza incursion provoked a wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and a surge in the number of Jews emigrating to Israel, but in Israel, the war has provoked some to consider emigration to safer, less polarized countries. Israel
