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
Hypocrisy and Theatrics Over Palestinian Prisoner Release Seven ministers opposed the decision to release Palestinian prisoners without endangering the prime minister's majority, and without leaving the government about to jump-start negotiations. Israel
The Coming Rapprochement Between Iran and the Brotherhood As both Sunni and Shiite groups in the Middle East are targeted by the West and its allies, some predict a forthcoming Sunni-Shiite rapprochement. Egypt
Shiite Seminaries Divided On Fatwas for Syrian Jihad While Shiite clergy in Iran and Iraq mostly prefer to stay out of issuing fatwas, a minority is calling for jihad in Syria against salafist groups. Iraq
Hamas Goes on Offensive Against Egyptian Media After initially staying silent on Egypt, Hamas has decided to respond to media accusations against it by launching a campaign of its own. Palestine
Has Turkey Made U-Turn On Syria’s Kurds? The leader of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD), Salih Muslim, says Turkey has given the green light for autonomy for the Kurds in Syria. Syria
Islamic Jihad, PFLP Slam Renewed Peace Talks The PFLP, Islamic Jihad and human rights activists have all strongly condemned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to resume negotiations with Israel. Palestine
Al-Qaeda's Syrian Recruits: The Case of 'Abu Majed' Amer Ghajar went from being a student at a prestigious private university to al-Qaeda jihadist, falling in battle last week. Syria
US Uneasily Adjusts to 'New Egypt' US Ambassador Anne Patterson had it right about the perils of "popular democracy." Egypt
Netanyahu Crosses Red Line With Prisoner Release Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to release Palestinian prisoners as a token of good will toward the Palestinians, instead of a settlement freeze. Palestine
During Ramadan, Militants Target Baghdad Liquor Stores, Cafes Since the start of Ramadan, attacks by militants against liquor stores and other shops deemed “morally corrupt” have increased in Baghdad, with some accusing the government of being involved. Iraq
US Courts Will Not Determine Jerusalem's Fate The latest US decision on the legal status of Jerusalem citizenship is just another round in the American political and legal battles over Jerusalem's fate. Palestine
Jordan Brotherhood Leader Says Morsi Ousted for Opposing Israel The deputy leader of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, Zaki Bani Arshid, warns in an exclusive interview that Egypt's crisis will have a "great effect" on Jordan. Egypt
