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
Islamic Jihad, Hamas Hold Military Summer Camps for Children Islamic Jihad has launched its summer camps, which include a military program for children, sparking internal Palestinian debate. Palestine
Conditions for Takeoff for Geneva II Russia and the United States must reach an understanding to set Geneva II up for success. Lebanon
Kuwait’s Liberal Bloc Welcomes Court Ruling on Parliament Kuwait’s liberal bloc is seizing the opportunity to restore its political voice with the dissolution of parliament. Legacy: Gulf
Erdogan and the Battle For the Memory of Gezi Park Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's depiction of Taksim Square protesters as looters and marauders is an attempt to spin the facts on the ground into an "official" history of Gezi Park uprising. Turkey
Brazil's Experience Offers Lessons For Egyptian Civil Society Brazil's former president offers advice on Egypt's civil society and the draft NGO law. Egypt
Likud's Miri Regev Challenges Netanyahu's Grip on the Party Knesset member Miri Regev prepares to take over one of the Likud institutions' key roles and confronts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the two-state solution. Palestine
Turkey-Kurdish Peace Process on Hold? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government says the talks are on track, but the Kurdish side is warning of a break in the process. Iraq
Israel’s Nuclear Option for Peace The leadership change in Iran and the growing interest in the Arab Initiative present a new opportunity: nuclear demilitarization in exchange for comprehensive peace. Israel
Paranoid Nationalism Changes Hands in Turkey If Turkey's present crisis deepens, the Justice and Development Party may become even more paranoid, angry and authoritarian. Turkey
Israeli Minister's Blunt Opinion On Two-State Solution Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett's provocative statement on the two-state solution exposes true nature of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Palestine
Iraqi Kurds Join Pro-Erdogan Protests Fearing setbacks in Kurdish-Turkish relations, Iraqi Kurds have taken to the streets in support of Erdogan, whom many regard as being the most tolerant of Turkey’s leaders toward the Kurdish population. Iraq
Credit Card Fraud Goes Unpunished in Gaza An absence of effective local laws, and the international boycott of the Hamas government, has allowed cyber crime to gain a foothold in Gaza. Palestine
