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
Iranian Women’s Rights Activist Defiant Even in Death Widows, orphans, refugees and scholars came out to commemorate the passing of Shahla Farjad, who died in Tehran. Iran
Iraqi Religious Leaders Nix Maliki's Electoral Plans Shiite authorities in Najaf have sided with the prime minister's oppenents over the country's new electoral law, hampering Maliki’s chances of dominating the next government. Iraq
Netanyahu’s Threats Undermine Possible Nuclear Deal With Iran Among President Obama’s many challenges in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear file stands the greatest chance to achieve a swift resolution, according to Iran's former nuclear negotiator. Israel
Iran's Pivot to the East Iran's trade patterns have shifted in recent years as a result of sanctions, making Asia a new market for Iranian goods. Iran
Ankara Warns Against Kurdish Autonomy in Syria While the Kurdistan Democratic Union (PYD) takes control of Syrian territory close to the Turkish border, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warns Kurds against declaring an autonomous Kurdistan. Syria
Israel Awaits Rouhani's Next Move Just as in the last four years, the summer of 2013 has also started with Israeli intimations about a strike on Iran — but the elections there have staved off the winds of war, at least until next spring. Israel
Iran-Saudi Relations Under Rouhani President-elect Hassan Rouhani's expected pursuit of pragmatic foreign and regional policies should lead to improved relations and cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood Is in Shock Over Egypt Jordan's government is feeling confident after Mohammed Morsi's fall in Egypt, which may demoralize the local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Israeli Official Report: No Rule of Law In Occupied Territories The Israeli state comptroller’s report stating that the law isn’t being enforced in the settlements is only an earth-shattering revelation to Israelis and the Israeli media, who have ignored what is going on across the Green Line for the past years. Israel
Syrian Kurds Prepare For Self-Governance The PKK-affiliated Democratic Union Party is consulting the political parties of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq on plans to form an interim government for Kurdish-controlled enclaves in Syria. Iraq
Turkey Adds Fuel to Fight Of Iraqi Kurds for Independence Despite Turkey’s age-old fear of Kurdish independence in contiguous regions near its border, energy ties are growing between Turkey and Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
New Religious Campaign Targets Baghdad's Cafes Authorities in Baghdad have begun to encroach on personal freedoms, closing cafes even when they only serve coffee and tea after Ramadan fasting is over. Iraq
