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
Are Palestinian Industrial Parks Illusion or Real Development? While the Palestinian Authority and others push plans for West Bank industrial parks, critics say the projects give the illusion of economic growth while entrenching Israeli occupation. Palestine
Does Khamenei Have A Favored Candidate? The perception of being Khamenei's candidate could mean 12 million votes in Iran’s presidential election. Iran
NGO Workers Sentenced By Egyptian Court The verdicts in the case prove the timidity of the Obama administration in engaging with the failures of Egypt’s democratic transition. Egypt
Palestinian Children Traumatized After House Demolitions A new study reports that Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses in east Jerusalem are having a detrimental effect on the mental health of children who have lost their homes. Palestine
Which Way Is Turkey Going? Are we witnessing a clash between Islamism and Kemalism in Turkey? Lebanon
Erdogan: 'We’ve Been Patient For Too Long' Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen to escalate the tension on the streets with his June 9 speech in Ankara. Turkey
US Needs Iran, Turkey For Diplomatic Surge in Syria The latest UN report on Syria calls for a “diplomatic surge” to end the war, which has reached “new levels of brutality.” Israel
Syrian Rebels Clash With Kurdish Militias Fights erupted between Kurdish militias and groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in northern Syria after allegations the Kurds did not support an embargo on two Shiite villages in Aleppo. Syria
Young Turks use 'disproportionate wit' to shake up Erdogan The peaceful protests and accompanying satire have plunged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan into uncharted waters. Turkey
Will Egypt Have Its Second Revolution on June 30? There is speculation about massive protests to occur on the anniversary of President Mohammed Morsi’s first year in power. Egypt
Iranian Press Mostly Quiet In Run-up to Election The crackdown on the media which started five months before the election has effectively stifled critical press inside Iran. Iran
UN Must Address Syrian Humanitarian Tragedy While the UN issued the biggest financial appeal in its history, a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Syria and for Syrian refugees abroad. Lebanon
