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
Saudi Arabia cracks down on illegal immigrants The latest crackdown raises larger questions about the role of foreign labor in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Turkey's approach toward Iraq's Shiites will reduce sectarianism Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has visited the holy Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala, as Ankara shifts its approach toward Iraqi Shiites. Iraq
Jordan rejects Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa mosque compound A bill before the Israeli Knesset would allow Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and, if passed, inflame Israel-Jordan tensions. Palestine
Public opinion sways Gaza death penalty verdicts There are concerns that Gaza's judiciary is being influenced by public opinion, obstructing defendants seeking to avoid a death penalty from receiving a fair trial. Palestine
Up close and personal with Hamas' Mourabitoun unit In an exclusive, Al-Monitor gained rare access to one of Hamas' most reputable brigades, the Mourabitoun, which are likely to play a lead role in any future confrontation with Israel. Palestine
Gaza's unmarried couples defy social traditions Relationships outside marriage remain taboo in Palestinian society, but some are daring to challenge tradition. Palestine
No respite for Tunisia's working women The revolution has not been felt among Tunisia's working-class women, who work long hours in taxing jobs to provide for their families. Tunisia
Some Iraqis remain in Damascus despite war Many Iraqis who live in Syria prefer to stay despite the war, because they consider the killings in Baghdad to be more "random." Iraq
Syrian Kurdish Party declares transitional government The move by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) is opposed by Turkey and the Syrian National Coalition. Syria
Iran’s red line on enrichment Forget France and Israel; talks are probably stuck on Iran’s insistence on its right to enrich uranium on its own soil. Iran
8 pillars of Egypt's economic recovery Egypt’s economic situation is urgent; the government needs to deliver on reforms. Egypt
Will Israel wag the dog on Iran? The Obama administration is struggling to make the case that Israel will benefit from a nuclear deal with Iran. Saudi Arabia
