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
Fleeing civilians become targets in Shajaiya Chaos and fear reign in Gaza's Shajaiya neighborhood, where civilians hurried back to search for their families during a cease-fire that was cut short. Palestine
Will foreign investment in Turkey return to pre-crisis levels? Foreign direct investment is rising in Turkey and expected to reach $16 billion by the end of the year and eventually the pre-2008 crisis level of $20 billion. Turkey
Netanyahu's renewed legitimacy The international legitimacy enjoyed now by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will last for a short while only, unless he renews the diplomatic negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestine
Operation Protective Edge continues cycle of violence The high price paid by Gaza residents over the IDF operation will not erode their support of Hamas and only a diplomatic solution will dissuade them from pinning their hopes on violent resistance. Palestine
Gloves come off between Syrian regime, Islamic State A deadly assault by the Islamic State on a regime-held gas field in Homs province marks a new chapter in Syria's civil war as government forces and Islamic State face off. Iraq
Saudi Arabia denies visas to Egyptian pilgrims As Saudi authorities denied Umrah visas to more than 50,000 Egyptians, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism says the crisis with Saudi Arabia is being solved. Saudi Arabia
Fall of Amran sends shock waves across Yemen The causes of the Yemeni government’s failure to hold the city of Amran against Houthi militias are deeply rooted in history. Yemen
Iran judiciary investigates Ahmadinejad-era hiring practices In Iran’s latest corruption case, the administration of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stands accused of overseeing the hiring of hundreds of thousands of unqualified ministerial staff members. Iran
Relations with Turkey sink lower after Erdogan's Israel comments The surge of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli demonstrations in Turkey, inspired by critical remarks from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, forces Israel to set aside attempts at reconciliation. Israel
Gaza tunnels take IDF by surprise For years, Hamas has constructed an ''underground Gaza'' designed to fire rockets at Israel, send infiltrators and protect Hamas' leadership, while investing nothing in the welfare of "upper Gaza." Palestine
Egypt scrambles to stop missiles launched at Israel from Sinai Reports of rockets fired at Israel by militants in the Sinai Peninsula are an embarrassment for the Egyptian government as they struggle to contain insurgent groups in the region. Palestine
Iraqi crisis highlights need for dialogue In light of the escalating security situation in Iraq, political figures need to do more than broadcast their message through the media and official channels. Iraq
