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
Will Iran postpone FM's visit to Beirut? In light of developments across the Middle East, there are signs that Iran might postpone an upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Beirut. Lebanon
Turks quietly find love online While official statistics suggest that very few Turks are finding their partners on the Internet, dating website figures tell another story. Turkey
Slow but steady escalation between Gaza, Israel The growing economic crisis in the Gaza Strip and frustration over Hamas' rule play into the hands of small jihadist terror organizations, which fire at Israel and destabilize the status quo. Palestine
The rise and fall of Israeli PR king Rani Rahav Public relations powerhouse Rani Rahav has represented most of Israel's rich and famous, until becoming himself the product he sells: a symbol of a society who cares little for the poor and cherishes fast money. Israel
As Assad lingers, Turkey focuses on ISIS Despite its predictions and aspirations, Turkey has lost what grip it had on many of today's political and military conflicts, to the amusement and satisfaction of many in the region. Syria
Israeli 'price tag' extremists determined to set the territories ablaze Both Israeli and Palestinian extremists try to inflame a new cycle of confrontations: marginalized settler youth on one side, established Palestinian terror organizations on the other. Palestine
No Palestinian tears for Sharon Palestinians will not be mourning the loss of Israeli strongman Ariel Sharon, whom they remember as the "Butcher of Beirut." Palestine
The crisis of Iraqi 'democracy' Many in Iraq have grown to despise the concept of "democracy" over the last 10 years because of the country’s limited experience with it and their failure to build a true, consensual democracy. Iraq
Anbar Council calls for end to military siege by Iraqi government forces Local leaders in Anbar seek a local solution to the current crisis. Iraq
Israel awaits Netanyahu verdict on Kerry framework Israel waits to see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position on a document of principles. Palestine
Egypt conducts global search for stolen antiquities Following successful diplomatic efforts to recover 90 smuggled artifacts from Israel last November, Egyptian authorities continue their efforts to crack down on the antiquities trade and repatriate stolen items. Egypt
ISIS foreign fighters spur backlash in Iraq, Syria Many Sunni Iraqis and Syrians are fighting back against the foreign fighters and extreme practices of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Iraq
