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
Obama ramps up on Syria The US president is giving new priority to the threat from terrorists in Syria, while calling for increased military support for opposition forces. Syria
Rouhani mocks his critics, reactionary clerics Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked critics who have publicly reprimanded him for saying that “heaven cannot be forced” onto people, comparing other clerics to the reactionary clerics who were once opposed to private showers and daylight savings on the grounds that it would harm religion. Iran
Israel launches all-out war against corruption This week, Israeli police finally raided the Ashdod Port, targeting the members of the trade union, perceived by many as a symbol of corruption and nepotism. Israel
Lapid housing plan targets Israel's 'next generation' The plan to reduce housing prices for young couples should earn back Finance Minister Yair Lapid's reputation as an ardent social activist, defending the rights of those who served in the army. Israel
Syrian voters shake up Lebanese politics The throngs of Syrian voters in Beirut shocked the Lebanese political establishment. Lebanon
Hamas warns West Bank arrests could derail reconciliation The West Bank has seen a spike in arrests of Hamas members, despite the reconciliation deal. Palestine
Syrian government focuses on high election turnout As the presidential elections approach, the Syrian regime is seeking validation in a high voter turnout. Syria
Saudi king’s sons well-placed for transition King Abdullah’s sons hold key positions of influence in the government as the kingdom transitions to the next generation of Saudi royals. Saudi Arabia
Will Netanyahu recognize new Palestinian government? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government will be challenged if the new Palestinian unity government accepts the Quartet’s conditions and receives international backing. Palestine
Turkey’s opposition no match for Erdogan, AKP Despite Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s missteps, the lead opposition parties are in disarray, and there is no challenger to his bid for president, if he decides to run. Turkey
KRG risks isolation in Iraq by exporting oil through Turkey Erbil’s decision to export oil without consulting the Baghdad government could also increase Turkish leverage on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq
Hamas will keep limited force in unity government Hamas will accept, and not challenge, the PLO's agreements with Israel. Palestine
