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
Netanyahu, Danon battle for future of Likud In an interview with Al-Monitor, Likud Central Committee Chairman Danny Danon challenges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly, orchestrating internal changes within the party to strengthen the settlers' wing. Palestine
Egypt considers referring Renaissance Dam file to The Hague Egypt’s Specialized National Councils have filed a report to the Egyptian presidency about referring the case of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute to international organizations, since the negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia have reached a deadlock. Egypt
ISIS shifts tactics in Fallujah Local fighters in Fallujah opting for reconciliation with the Iraqi government may have forced the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to change strategy. Iraq
Egypt seeks extradition of Brotherhood members Egypt is expanding security cooperation with Arab states to hand over Muslim Brotherhood officials, including those exiled in Doha. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza patients suffer as Egypt keeps Rafah crossing closed A sick Gaza toddler died in his parents' arms while waiting for the Rafah crossing to open to get specialized medical treatment abroad. Palestine
Palestine needs stronger laws against incest Palestinian law, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, fails to clearly prohibit incest and does nothing to protect female victims of sexual abuse within families. Palestine
Jenin and Nablus refugee camps: enclaves of fear The dire economic situation, coupled with disappointment in the Palestinian Authority, have turned West Bank refugee camps into enclaves of violence, led by armed youths from various organizations. Palestine
Ayatollah Sistani for Nobel Peace Prize? Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has been increasingly critical of the Iraqi government, is getting support for a bid for Nobel Peace Prize. Iraq
Israeli defense minister closes debate on US security plan Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has rejected the US security plan for the West Bank. Palestine
Lapid pushes plan to fix housing crisis For the first time since he was elected, Finance Minister Yair Lapid has justified the trust placed in him by his voters and advanced his program to lower housing costs. Israel
ISIS emerges as threat to Turkey Most Turks would prefer that Ankara step back from its current Syria policies and distance itself from any support for jihadist groups. Syria
Was shoot down of Syrian plane linked to Turkish elections? Is it possible to disentangle the shooting down of a Syrian plane on March 23 from the Turkish local elections on March 30? Syria
