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
My perilous journey from Aleppo to Turkey The journey from Aleppo to the Turkish border once took 45 minutes but is now a 6.5-hour drive fraught with danger. Syria
The myth of Obama’s failure in the Middle East US diplomacy is actively engaged on all fronts in the region, while the president’s critics offer no feasible alternatives. Saudi Arabia
Israel has moral duty to recognize Armenian genocide On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israelis must rethink their stance on the Armenian genocide and act out of a moral imperative, not political considerations vis-a-vis Turkey. Israel
Ahmadinejad denies return to politics Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected the idea of re-entering politics and said that he would remain silent on current issues. Iran
US, EU reset Egypt policies The United States shipping Apache helicopters to Cairo, and the European Union decision to monitor coming presidential elections in Egypt, are signs that the US and EU are switching their Egypt policies. Egypt
Abbas goes big with Hamas deal; the Temple Mount fault line PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas plays the Hamas card; watch out for the "Hebronization" of the Temple Mount; Al-Monitor launches Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish newsletters. Palestine
Egypt's Minya province flashpoint for Muslim-Christian violence The political turmoil following the ouster of Mohammed Morsi last July has been felt the hardest in Minya in Upper Egypt, where Muslim-Christian violence is becoming frequent. Egypt
Can Erdogan overcome Azeri obstacle in ties with Armenia? Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh is blocking improved ties between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey
Maliki goes on offense as elections approach With Iraq’s parliamentary elections only days away, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has accused his adversaries of failing to take responsibility for their role in the current crises. Iraq
The Palestinian trend in Israeli cuisine Modern Palestinian restaurants are flourishing in Israel with dishes inspired by the medieval Muslim empire, reflecting a growing interest in Islamic and Arabic culture. Palestine
Violence, alcohol take toll on Israeli youth The stabbing to death of a youth in a nightclub this week has shaken the Israeli public, revealing a society exposed to harsh violence and alcohol abuse. Israel
Palestinian orphans suffer discrimination The tribal nature of Palestinian society frowns upon abandoned children whose parents are unknown. Palestine
