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
How long can Lebanon’s private sector bail out government? Despite the mismanagement and corruption in the Lebanese government, the country’s economy has not collapsed yet because of its private sector and foreign remittances, but that situation may not last long. Lebanon
Saudi Arabia’s commercial class looks to future Jiddah’s thriving business environment represents one of several competing visions of the kingdom’s future. Saudi Arabia
Divided Iraqi leaders shirk responsibility With each successive outbreak of violence or natural disaster, Iraqi leaders, particularly Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, continue to point the finger of blame at their opponents. Iraq
Nasrallah warns of consequences of Sidon violence In a speech on Dec. 20, Hassan Nasrallah warned of the grave implications an increasingly volatile Sidon could have for the whole of Lebanon. Lebanon
Yemen wastes time Yemen's National Dialogue is hindered by a lack of accountability and effective time management. Yemen
Iran increases role of clerics in public schools Social activists are worried about a new policy that will station clergy in an expanding circle of public schools in Iran. Iran
Christmas in Turkey Snapshots of changing Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Turkey portray a picture of cultural divisions. Turkey
Erdogan goes on offense against corruption charges The government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims a foreign plot is behind the corruption charges. Turkey
Saudi Arabia moving ahead with Gulf union Opposition from Oman will not deter Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from seeking strength in GCC unity. Saudi Arabia
Turkey flirts with Asian arms suppliers Turkey looks east for alternatives to NATO arms markets. Turkey
Turkish academia and the Armenian genocide Turkish newspapers have exposed attempts by official institutions to control academic research on the Armenian genocide. Turkey
Iran, Saudi Arabia key to Syria peace conference The Islamic Front snubs US Ambassador Robert Ford; Turkey rocked by scandal; reactions to the American Studies Association vote to boycott academic exchanges with Israel. Saudi Arabia
