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
Battle to Lead Labor Party Begins in Israel Knesset member Isaac Herzog, running for Labor Party leadership, claims that the public is looking for a new diplomatic alternative. Israel
Syria Brotherhood Leader: US Position on Syria 'Negative' In an exclusive interview, senior Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader Ali al-Bayanouni says, "There is no room for a political solution" with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Iran Revives Planning Agency To Enact Economic Reforms Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will reestablish the Management and Planning Organization, which former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had dissolved in 2006. Iran
Eight Reasons Why US, Iran Must Manage Syria Crisis A volatile Middle East makes it even more urgent that the US and Iran work together through the UN Security Council to resolve their disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and Syria. Syria
Sadr Reconsiders Political Role, Mahdi Army Tensions have boiled over between the Mahdi Army and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq near Baghdad, as the Sadrist movement re-evaluates its military wing and vies for greater political sway. Iraq
Syrian Heavy Metal Bands Rock On During War With the situation in Syria deteriorating daily, Syria’s rock and heavy metal artists continue to make music despite pressure from more than just their government. Syria
Looming Attacks Grip Lebanon Following three major bombings since July 9, various Lebanese parties have traded accusations, while the Lebanese speculate regarding a potential future attack. Lebanon
Kurdish Jihadists Fight Kurds in Syria Some young Iraqi Kurdish men are being lured by al-Qaeda's call for jihad in Syria, even if it puts them into combat with their Kurdish brethren. Iraq
Egypt Envoy to Palestine Accuses Hamas of Incitement Egypt's ambassador to the Palestinian Authority warns Hamas that its continued support for the Muslim Brotherhood will only cause it harm. Palestine
Report on Larijani Attack Reveals Factional Divide in Iran A special report on the February attack on parliament speaker Ali Larijani in Qom reveals an organized campaign to disrupt the public events of political rivals. Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan Elections Could Be Turning Point The legislative elections on Sept. 21 could bring new political alliances to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq
Egypt’s Justice System on Trial The trials of both former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the deposed Muslim Brotherhood leaders reveal the flaws in Egypt’s court system. Egypt
