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
Former US Official Links Syrian Disarmament to Iran Nuclear Talks Robert Einhorn says President Obama’s flexibility on Iran will be affected by the Syria chemical weapons disarmament plan, and the US and Iran should adopt a more informal approach to nuclear negotiations. Iran
Israel's Miscalculation On Egyptian Natural Gas Police protocols published this week shed light on the decision of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to solely rely on Egyptian natural gas, against partnering also with the Palestinians. Palestine
Are Protests on Rise Again in Turkey? Turkey may risk a new wave of unrest if the government fails to address the grievances of minorities. Turkey
Danny Ayalon on the US, Russia, Syria and Iran Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon says Israel can count on the United States in dealing with Iran. Israel
France Out on Limb Over Syria An assertive French policy on Syria has revealed the marginalization of France, and the EU, in dealing with Syria. Syria
Iraqi Kurdistan Minister Addresses Syria, Refugee Crisis An exclusive interview with Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq. Iraq
Iraq’s Faw Port Project Faces Continued Setbacks Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, planned to be one of the largest maritime ports in the gulf region, has been stalled due to political disputes. Iraq
Is Hezbollah’s Syria Approach Tied To Shiite End-Times Doctrine? Some believe that Hezbollah’s approach to the Syrian conflict is tied into Shiite doctrine concerning Judgment Day. Lebanon
Egypt Strives to Revive Tourism Sector With Egypt’s most vital economic sector, tourism, at record lows since revolution, the new government is launching a number of initiatives to attract tourists. Egypt
Israel Escapes Retaliation Threat from Syria Russia and Syria have offered the US a respectable way out, without damaging its deterrence, and relieving the region from an immediate retaliatory threat. Israel
The Uncertain Fate Of Egypt’s Political Parties A special report on the status of Egypt’s political parties in transition. Egypt
Putin, Obama Should Team Up For WMD-Free Mideast The channel opened between the United States and Russia to resolve the Syrian chemical-weapons crisis could provide leverage for ridding the Middle East of all non-conventional weaponry. Israel
