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
US Strike in Syria Won't Affect Stalled Turkey-PKK Peace Talks Turkey-PKK negotiations are already stalled. Syria
Sinai's St. Catherine's Starves, Monastery Shuts Down The government shutdown of St. Catherine's monastery over possible attacks has left the community suffering. Egypt
Egypt Needs Proportional Electoral System Elections based on single-member districts may contribute to sectarianism, corruption and instability in Egypt. Egypt
Israel's Checkpoint Princesses The Israeli women of Machsom Watch mediate between Palestinians traveling through checkpoints and the Israeli soldiers who operate them. Palestine
Is Israel a 'Jewish and Democratic' State? Both left and right camps mistakenly argue that the State of Israel cannot reconcile the term "Jewish" with the term "democratic." Israel
Israelis Amazed by Open Debate In US Congress on Syria If Israel was to discuss striking Syria, it would never have taken place in a Knesset open debate — as is the case in the US Congress — but behind closed doors. Israel
Privatization Threatens Israeli Education System With the opening of the school year, educators decry the inequality of the Israeli educational system, which has become expensive and selective. Israel
Israel's 6 Million Jews Live In Demographic Insecurity On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Israeli Jews must consider choosing between keeping the Jewish character of Israel or holding on to territorial claims and dealing with the demographic genie. Israel
Israel Awaits Cyberattack From Syrian Electronic Army The Syrian Electronic Army, related to elements supporting President Assad, intensifies its targeting of government bodies and global media outlets. Israel
Netanyahu Alone at Top of Israeli Politics Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu is unrivaled for primacy in Israeli politics. Israel
Egypt's Buffer-Zone Move Shocks Hamas Egypt's decision to establish a buffer zone on the Gaza border has raised Palestinian fears of a possible armed confrontation. Palestine
Religious Leaders in Najaf Support Iraqi Protesters Najaf’s influential religious authorities have come out in favor of the latest round of protests and their demands, and against the government crackdown. Iraq
