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
Israeli Government Makes West Bank Settlements a National Priority The Israeli cabinet approved the national development priority map, adding to it more settlements in the West Bank. Palestine
Is Netanyahu Preparing To Bomb Iran? Is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “the weakest leader Israel has ever had,” about to make the historic decision to bomb Iran? Israel
Lapid: The Political Novice Who Never Makes Mistakes The reaction of Finance Minister Yair Lapid to the fiasco surrounding the appointment of a new governor of the Bank of Israel appears to show his inability to accept criticism. Israel
Former Chief of Staff Is a Convicted 'Terrorist' One needs to worry for younger Turkish generations as to what it means when the courts send Ilker Basbug, a former chief of general staff, behind bars for life as a “terrorist organization leader.” Turkey
Turkey’s Ergenekon Verdicts: Justice or Vengeance? After a case that lasted five years, more than 250 Turkish defendants were charged with belonging to "Ergenekon" and plotting an overthrow of the Erdogan government and were sentenced to, in some cases, life in prison. Turkey
Brotherhood Document Blames Israel, Iran, Gulf for Egypt Coup An internal Muslim Brotherhood document blames external forces for Egypt's coup without noting a single error by Mohammed Morsi. Egypt
Ergenekon Verdicts Mark Milestone for Turkish Democracy With the Ergenekon verdicts, Turkey is taking a very critical step on the path to true democracy. Turkey
Worries Grow About Fate Of Kidnapped Syrian Bishops The fate of the two bishops kidnapped in Syria on April 22 is still unknown, but they are feared to have been abducted and killed by Chechen jihadists, according to a Lebanese official. Lebanon
Slowly, Surely Iraqi Women Increase Visibility, Role in Society Although religious and conservative groups call for limiting the role of women in Iraqi society, women continue to flourish in the business and educational worlds. Iraq
Kurdish Civilians Fear Reprisals in Northern Syria Syrian Kurdish opposition groups claim rebel forces may be targeting Kurdish civilians. Syria
Syria’s Prime Minister Expects Elections in 2014 An exclusive interview with Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki. Syria
Why Egyptians Don’t Like America US popularity is sinking to new lows after the June 30 demonstrations that led to the ouster of Mohammed Morsi. Egypt
