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
Reality Check For Egypt’s Revolution The co-founder of Egypt’s Al Dostor, National Association for Change and El Ghad Parties argues that the new government is on the right path of compromise. Egypt
Gaza Construction Halts As Siege Tightens Gaza's construction unions have pleaded with Europe and the United States to pressure Israel to allow in raw materials after Egypt border closure. Palestine
No Longer 'Sick Man,' Turkey Is Lonely, Tired Just as it was branded as the “sick man of Europe" in the 19th century, Turkey is now called the “lonely man of Middle East,” spelling serious consequences for the entire regional system. Turkey
Hamas Hopes Iran's Rouhani Will Renew Ties The election of moderate Hassan Rouhani in Iran might open the door for repairing ties with Hamas. Palestine
Amid Yemeni Unification Efforts,Houthis Remain Delicate Issue As various Yemeni factions strive to reach a national consensus and achieve progress in the post-revolution period, the separatist Houthi movement in the north remains contentious. Yemen
Labor Knesset Member: Israeli Parliament Becomes Irrelevant Knesset member and Economic Affairs Committee Chairman Avishay Braverman presents a disturbing picture of an enfeebled and sick Knesset, pointing a blaming finger at the current government as a dysfunctional partnership. Israel
Iraqi MP: Maliki, Barzani Close to Solving Oil Dispute Rapport between Baghdad and Erbil seems relatively warm as the two governments continue to settle oil disputes. Iraq
Leader of Hezbollah in Iraq Threatens More Sectarian Violence The leader of Hezbollah in Iraq, Wathiq al-Battat, continues to amp up talk of Shiites exacting revenge against al-Qaeda and Baathists. Iraq
Erdogan's Symbolism Might Spell Trouble With Arabs A series of statements and actions by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and AKP members could sound ominous if their symbolism is understood. Turkey
Israel's Former Defense Minister Supports Dermer as Ambassador Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens rejects criticism of Dermer’s appointment as Israel’s ambassador to Washington. Israel
Is the Aoun-Nasrallah Alliance Stagnating? As relations between Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Party, led by Gen. Michel Aoun, and Hezbollah appear to be stagnating, both sides take time to reflect on the rationality of sustaining Lebanon’s first Shiite-Maronite coalition. Lebanon
Hamas Mitigates Fallout After Muslim Brotherhood Defeat Hamas is seeking to assuage fears among its members and supporters that they will suffer the same fate as the Muslim Brotherhood. Palestine
