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
Despite reconciliation deal, Hamas controls Gaza Although Hamas has officially handed the reins over to a new consensus government, it maintains power on the security level. Palestine
Revolutionary Guard calls Iran 'island of stability' The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s was instrumental in bolstering Iran's security. Iraq
Obama administration holds up environmental grants to Iran Despite its support for efforts to confront climate change, the United States is blocking key multinational environmental projects for Iran that would have global benefits. Iran
Egypt's kangaroo courts The Egyptian legal system is characterized, increasingly since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's election victory, by unfair sentencing whereby judges prevent defendants to attend their court hearings and sentence "in absentia." Egypt
Saudi king's short victory lap in Egypt Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz makes a rare visit to Egypt for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's inauguration, as the threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) complicates its regional policies. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi Turkmen feel abandoned by Turkey Many Iraqi Turkmen claim Turkey has given priority to its relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government at their expense. Iraq
Knesset takes action on kidnappings Legislation introduced in the Knesset to prevent future kidnappings may just be to please constituencies on Israel's right. Palestine
ISIS advance should mean more arms for Syrian opposition The advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) into Iraq should spur action to bolster moderate Syrian opposition groups against both ISIS and the Assad government. Iraq
Radical clerics add fuel to fire in Iraq crisis Amid the advancement of militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and other armed groups in Iraq, radical Sunni and Shiite clerics are issuing statements that flare up the sectarian tension in the country. Iraq
Hamas fears Israel will deport its leaders Hamas leaders are also concerned that Israel will launch a military campaign if the kidnapped boys are not found. Palestine
Israel sees Palestinian unity as possible casualty of kidnapping As Israel deals with the kidnappings, US-Israel relations are at an all-time low. Palestine
Mosul's rude awakening on ISIS Edward Dark writes that Iraqis who may have welcomed the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as liberators will soon have a rude awakening; a first-hand report of Syria’s barrel bombs; the ISIS threat to Lebanon; video of the IPI Free Media Pioneer Awards. Iraq
