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
Bogie could be Bibi's number one contender After the first anniversary of Israel's current administration, polls show Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon in first place when it comes to public satisfaction, but not threatening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's seat — yet. Israel
Yemen’s decade of division Since the start of the decade, Yemeni society has gone through partisan splits that have devolved into sectarian divisions. Yemen
EU expresses support for Iraqi, Syrian civil society An Iraqi-Syrian civil society delegation has met with decision-making bodies in the European Union, with the latter promising assistance in efforts to confront sectarianism in these two countries. Iraq
Creative Gazans develop new crafts to cope with siege Gazans try to adapt to the miserable conditions brought by the siege via creative means. Palestine
Turkey boxed in by Russian moves in Crimea The Ukraine crisis will likely harden Russia’s support for Syria, further complicating Turkey’s regional policies. Syria
The Qatar channel between Gaza and Israel Qatar, which has taken upon itself major construction projects in the Gaza Strip, has become an indirect communication channel between Israel and Hamas. Qatar
Netanyahu's world Jewry dilemma Statements by Israeli officials against the two-state solution confront members of world Jewry with their latest dilemma: supporting Israel even when it endangers their interests in their countries of residence. Palestine
Lebanese minibus hero helps thwart suicide bomber Hussein Msheik, a Lebanese minibus driver who survived a suicide attack on Feb. 3, speaks to Al-Monitor about the incident and his future plans. Lebanon
Iraqi justice minister presses Shiite personal status law Despite lack of support from Iraq’s Shiite religious establishment, the Jaafari personal status law has been endorsed by the cabinet and moved to parliament. Iraq
Cement shortage in Gaza leaves thousands jobless Israel's restrictions on cement imports into the Gaza Strip are having a devastating effect on the local economy. Palestine
Israeli raid fuels internal divisions in Lebanon The Israeli raid along the Lebanese-Syrian border generated reactions of embarrassment among the Syrian regime and the opposition, and from Bashar al-Assad's allies in Lebanon and their opponents, but each for different reasons. Israel
Diplomacy, not sanctions, key to deal with Iran As the American Israel Public Affairs Committee holds its annual policy conference, it would do well to remember that the Obama administration's diplomacy, not sanctions, has yielded better results, according to a former senior Iranian diplomat. Israel
