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
Iraqi Kurdistan’s Election Campaigns in Full Swing Unlike the electoral campaigns of the Iraqi local elections in April, the electoral campaigns now underway in Iraqi Kurdistan seem more organized and democratic. Iraq
Suicide Bombing Shakes Sinai Amid Security Crackdown North Sinai is witnessing a breakdown of law and order amid violence and bombings. Egypt
Japan’s Lesson of Tolerance for Iraq The Japanese government has opened a maternity and children’s hospital in Fallujah in honor of a Japanese journalist who died in the city, which should serve as a lesson of tolerance and reconciliation for Iraq. Iraq
West Bank Palestinians Ambivalent Toward Syria War Talk Palestinians in the West Bank find themselves relatively unaffected by the storm raging in Syria. Palestine
Israeli Goods Enter Gaza As Egypt Tightens Siege Israel has slightly loosened the noose on Gaza in response to Egypt's renewed blockade on the Hamas-ruled enclave. Palestine
Turkey's Opposition Parties Reject Military Strike in Syria The Turkish political opposition has doubts about whether it was the Syrian regime that used chemical weapons and concern over being pulled into a Middle Eastern quagmire. Syria
Shaul Mofaz Slams Decision By Netanyahu on Gas Masks Former Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz slams Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu: "It was a mistake not to provide gas masks to the entire population." Israel
The Costs of Turkey Joining the Anti-Syria Coalition Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu created excitement by saying Turkey would be part of a coalition of the willing in an operation against Syria — but can Turkey do it? Syria
Egypt: Reconciliation Or Repression? The Egyptian military's crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood is unlikely to succeed completely, and could radicalize young Brothers whose leadership is imprisoned. Egypt
Syria Offers Opportunity For US-Iran Talks Iranian President Hassan Rouhani emphasizes diplomacy, and US President Barack Obama should give it a try on Syria before going to war. Syria
Don’t Expect Iran To Fight for Assad Despite dire warnings and threats from some Iranian officials, Tehran is unlikely to respond directly in the event of a military strike on Syria. Syria
Israelis Pray for People of Syria Israelis are showing their sympathy for Syrian civilians who have died in the war and by the presumed use of chemical weapons. Israel
