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
The woman who holds the key to Olmert's fate As Ehud Olmert's former chief of staff, Shula Zaken has decided to unravel evidence which might incriminate the former prime minister for corruption, after realizing that he left her legally unprotected while covering his end in this long legal battlefield. Israel
The war on Twitter, the blowback from Ukraine Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan follows through on his threat to shut down Twitter, as Saudi Arabia and Qatar also crack down on social media; US-Russia collaboration on Syria and Iran is so far holding on, despite tensions over Ukraine. Legacy: Gulf
Lebanon needs drastic steps to avoid bankruptcy After the growth rate of the public debt and the slow economic growth have reached alarming levels, the new Lebanese government must restore economic confidence in the country. Lebanon
Erdogan’s great patriotic war A recent video produced by the Justice and Development Party reveals an intense nationalistic vibe. Turkey
Israeli immigrants divided on Russia, Ukraine Israelis of Russian-Ukrainian-Belarus origins are divided between those who support Russian President Vladimir Putin, those opting for the democratic Ukrainian revolt and those claiming that the new Ukrainian forces are anti-Semites. Israel
Sisi's call for austerity falls flat with Egyptians While Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently called on Egyptians to embrace austerity, some question whether state officials will also have to cut down on their opulent spending. Egypt
One Arab woman in Israel Independence Day event Of 14 women, only one Arab will be among those participating in the traditional torch-lighting ceremony. Israel
Artists in Nile Project try to bridge political divisions Artists from Nile Basin countries are collaborating on a musical initiative called the Nile Project, with the aim of reducing tensions over water-sharing disputes. Egypt
Israel's defense minister speaks his mind about US Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's urge to vent his frustration in public is harming US-Israel ties. Palestine
Saudi Arabia cracks down on Twitter The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has turned its attention to political dissent on Twitter. Legacy: Gulf
Look for more assertive Russia in Middle East Unless there is a de-escalation of the crisis over Crimea, the Obama administration could expect to deal with a Russian president more willing to challenge US interests in the Middle East. Palestine
Israeli deputy FM: Palestinians haven't budged 'a millimeter' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to pay a political price for advancing negotiations, unlike the Palestinian partners. Palestine
