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
UPDATE: Egypt may take Nile dam dispute with Ethiopia to UN After negotiations broke down between Cairo and Addis Ababa regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Egyptian government is considering internationalizing the issue through filing a complaint with international bodies. Egypt
Iraq a hotbed of human trafficking Although the Iraqi government enacted a law criminalizing human trafficking in 2012, it's rarely if ever enforced. Iraq
Egypt’s Brotherhood appeals to International Criminal Court Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has filed a complaint with the ICC to investigate alleged abuses committed by the current authorities since June 30 in an attempt to internationalize their cause amid decreasing domestic support. Egypt
Bibi’s final status map leaves little room for Palestine The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks eventually come down to the map. Palestine
Kurdish movement worries crisis in Turkey might undo the 'peace process' The Kurdish movement is giving conditional support to Erdogan and his party, which are experiencing a serious legitimacy crisis as a result of corruption and bribery allegations. Turkey
Erdogan vs. Gulen: Who has God on his side? Political secularism may be the best path to moderation. Turkey
Russia, Iran set stage for Geneva II; Turkey’s slow turnaround on Syria Russian and Iranian diplomacy have helped shape the Geneva II agenda to include a cease-fire, humanitarian relief and counterterrorism in Syria. Syria
Lifestyles of Israel's rich and rabbinical The revelations on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tax haven account are overshadowed by a bribe scandal involving top police officers, Rabbi Pinto and an American politician. Israel
Coffee in Gaza is a ritual for grief and creativity Despite the emergence of modern cafes and the growing popularity of espresso, some Gazans have preserved ancient Arabic coffee-drinking traditions. Palestine
Russia plays the Iran card Moscow believes that Iran's role in the Middle East will only become more prominent in the future, prompting it to further boost relations at the expense of US regional influence. Syria
Turkey shifts toward Iran on Syria Turkey is resetting its relations with Iran, including over Syria. Syria
Israel debates legality of 'Nazi' A new bill prohibiting the inappropriate use of the word "Nazi" brings into Israeli public debate the limits of free speech in a country dedicated to spreading the lessons of the Holocaust. Israel
