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
Alternative Holocaust ceremonies draw young Israelis Young Israelis prefer the alternative Holocaust ceremony over the state one, where suffering is not reclaimed by Jews only and the trauma is a basis on which to rebuild the society. Israel
Are preschoolers ready to learn about the Holocaust? The new initiative by the Education Ministry to introduce the Holocaust into the preschool curriculum has provoked a heated debate as to whether its motives are educational or nationalist. Israel
Al-Monitor mourns Bassem Sabry The Al-Monitor family is deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of our friend and colleague Bassem Sabry. Egypt
Allawi battles for his share of Iraqi votes Ayad Allawi expressed pessimism toward the upcoming Iraqi elections and called on Iran to contribute to ensuring security in Iraq. Iraq
On eve of elections, Iraq's waters become weapons of war While confrontations continued in various regions of Iraq between armed militants and the government, both sides have tried to take control of water resources to achieve their interests. Iraq
Saudi Wahhabi leaders see Turkish threat over caliphate Saudi Wahhabi leaders have gone on the attack to promote what they believe is the sole, Saudi claim to the restoration of the caliphate. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey’s endless Syrian refugee crisis There may be a limit to Turkey’s open-door policy for Syrian refugees, one that is taxing Turkey’s economy and society. Syria
Iraqi elections threatened by terror The Iraqi government is scrambling to address the terror threat to polling stations and voters with elections scheduled for April 30. Iraq
Rouhani responds to controversial documentary about him Iran's president has obliquely responded to an unauthorized documentary about his career by condemning "us[ing] the public treasury to destroy an administration elected by the people." Iran
Israelis unmoved by Abbas Holocaust statement It's best to leave the Holocaust out of politics. Palestine
Holocaust survivors feel abandoned by Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allocates huge resources to the Iranian nuclear threat, which he qualifies as "a second Holocaust," but is facing criticism for not doing enough to assist elderly Holocaust survivors. Israel
Palestinian street doubtful of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation The latest Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement has yet to convince the Palestinian public that this is the deal that will end the internal division. Palestine
