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
Turkey's tourism renaissance The number of tourists visiting Turkey has risen from 1.6 million to 39.2 million in three decades, placing it sixth among the world’s most popular destinations. Turkey
Qasem Soleimani says disarming Gaza resistance is wrong The head of Iran's Quds Force has officially stated that Iran will continue to support those who fight Israel. Iran
Framework text: US, Russia reach deal to remove Syria chemical arms After three days of negotiations in Geneva Russia and the US have reached an agreement under which Syria would declare all of its chemical weapons sites within seven days and have all of its chemical weapons destroyed or removed by mid 2014. Syria
Framework text: US, Russia reach deal to remove Syria chemical arms After three days of negotiations in Geneva, the US and Russia have reached an agreement which requires Syria to declare all of its chemical weapons sites within seven days and submit to the removal and destruction of its chemical arms by mid-2014. Syria
Obama corresponds with Iran's Rouhani, holds out hope for nuclear deal President Obama said he has exchanged letters with newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and said and has said that while he hopes a nuclear deal can be reached it will be a difficult process. Originals
In letter, Obama told Iran's Rouhani he sees way to resolve nuclear issue In an interview with NBC's Ann Curry, Iranaian president Hassan Rouhani said he has "full authority to make a nuclear deal with the west" and that the letter he received form President Obama had a "constructive tone". Iran
Iran's Rouhani urges West to 'seize' moment for diplomacy In a Washington Post op-ed newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged world leaders to "seize" the opportunity to work with the more moderate Iranian President and focus on improving issues from Syria to concerns over Iran's nuclear program. Iran
Who would broker an Obama-Rouhani encounter in NY? US Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communications Ben Rhodes said there could be US-Iran "interaction at different levels" at the UN this week. Iran
Kerry and new Iran FM Zarif to meet in NY After meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif will join a P5+1 ministerial meeting where he will meet face to face with US Secretary of State John Kerry. Iran
Kerry’s draft cease-fire a rookie mistake US Secretary of State John Kerry got himself stuck in the Middle Eastern quagmire when he failed to understand that a cease-fire must be accompanied by a comprehensive agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, or else fighting will resume. Palestine
Against the grain: Israeli group calls for dialogue with Gaza Members of the Other Voice organization fear the daily rockets from Gaza being fired over their homes, but also worry for the safety of their friends in Gaza, so they have called upon the Israeli leadership to find a long-lasting diplomatic solution. Palestine
Why no Obama Rouhani meeting: White House offered, Iran declined A meeting between US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is "too complicated for the Iranians to do at this point" according to senior administration officials. Iran
