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
Egypt braces for constitution referendum Amid growing concerns over violent activity across Egypt, the country’s interim administration is taking steps to ensure the success of the planned constitutional referendum. Egypt
Erdogan’s dream turns into a nightmare Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames an "international plot" for the corruption scandal that so far has seen three key AKP ministers resign. Turkey
Through the lens of Muhammad Hassunah: 1970s Gaza Prominent Gazan photographer and filmmaker Muhammad Hassunah speaks to Al-Monitor about Gaza in the 1970s and his artistic experiences. Palestine
Gaza’s strawberry crop damaged by storm The recent winter storm, striking right at harvest time, heavily damaged the strawberry crop in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Israeli youths spread goodwill at a Jerusalem market Dozens of young people roam a Jerusalem market every Thursday evening to help elderly people carry their grocery bags in exchange for life stories and tips on living. Israel
Netanyahu adds Pollard to Israeli-Palestinian equation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to use the American espionage as leverage for releasing Jonathan Pollard, a deal which might facilitate the acceptance by the Israeli right of an agreement with the Palestinians. Palestine
The battle for Egypt’s doctors' union A Christian female doctor leads an effort that wrests control of the Egyptian Doctors Syndicate from the Muslim Brotherhood for the first time in 28 years. Egypt
Will Tehran remain Iran’s political capital? The government may consider moving the capital, but a change is unlikely. Iran
Israeli right proposes taxing NGOs that back boycott HaBayit HaYehudi Knesset member Ayelet Shaked endorses a bill designed to limit foreign donations to Israeli groups supporting a boycott against Israel. Palestine
US-Turkey crisis averted over corruption probe The United States may be rankled, however, by the Turkish prime minister implying that Washington was part of international conspiracy behind the corruption scandal. Turkey
Gaza Christians yearn for Bethlehem Harsh travel restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities prevent Gaza’s Christian minority from visiting Bethlehem during the holidays. Palestine
Dawa official calls for opening another American university in Iraq The Islamic Dawa Party has long resisted “Western cultural penetration” in Iraq, but the dire state of education in the country has prompted Education Minister Ali al-Adeeb, a Dawa Party official, to call for opening an American university in Iraq. Iraq
