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
Turkmen caught between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Turkmen are getting pressure from the Turkish government to work more closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq. Iraq
Turkey’s Armenians in crisis over patriarch A rift over the spiritual leadership of Turkey’s Armenian community exposes the Turkish state’s political machinations in dealing with this minority. Turkey
Ukraine’s effect on Russia's Syria policy? Not much While Moscow will be preoccupied with the crisis in Ukraine, its support for a political settlement in Syria will not vary. Syria
Erdogan enraged The corruption probe and alleged phone leaks between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his advisers raise grave concerns about Turkey’s political direction. Turkey
Israeli sperm donor crisis Contrary to widespread medical procedures designed to help women get pregnant, the sperm donation procedure is controversial among Israeli heterosexual couples, be it for psychological or religious reasons. Israel
Bibi becomes victim of Israel’s radical right Twenty years after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the campaign of incitement against the “Oslo criminals,” he has become a victim of the same messianic political movement that he nurtured. Palestine
Gaza political cartoonist faces censorship, death threats A Gaza artist has been threatened for drawing a cartoon that demonized Islamic Jihad. Palestine
Russia deals with rise in terrorism linked to Syria, Mideast Fresh terror attacks have made Russia more concerned about the threat of Islamic terrorism and have shaped the country's policy in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
China seeks to buy Israeli food company With no proper regulation or restrictions to safeguard Israeli national interests, China multiplies its efforts at taking over leading Israeli companies in the food, insurance and high-tech sectors. Israel
Merkel visits Israel as violence flares on Temple Mount The violent clashes on the Temple Mount and the attack on an arms convoy on its way to Lebanon, both while German Chancellor Angela Merkel was visiting Israel, are warning signs of the current situation's fragility. Palestine
Fatah leadership rejects Dahlan's comeback bid Fatah infighting between rival camps of President Mahmoud Abbas and Mohammed Dahlan is continuing to escalate as Dahlan seeks to revive his political career. Palestine
Iraq’s battle against extremists spreads outside of Anbar Although the Iraqi government launched a military operation in Anbar in December 2013 aimed at eradicating terrorism, it seems the protracted clashes have resulted in terrorist groups expanding their scope to other provinces. Iraq
