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
'Prisoner X' Draws Attention To Palestinians in Israeli Jails The case of Israel’s Prisoner X is drawing attention to other cases of Palestinians in Israeli jails, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
Iranians Support Nuclear Program, Blame West for Sanctions, Says Poll A recent Gallup poll in Iran reveals that Iranians support the government’s nuclear ambitions and blame the West for sanctions, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani. Iran
In Address, Obama Offers 'Steadfast' Support for Israel US President Barack Obama was eloquent in his State of the Union address, although there was no mention of Palestinians or Israeli settlements, writes Clovis Maksoud. Lebanon
Jordan King Launches ‘White Revolution’ King Abdullah II opened the first session of the newly elected parliament with ambitious plans for democratic transformation and enhanced parliamentary government that are unlikely to placate a restive population, writes Danya Greenfield. Jordan
Ahmadinejad Declares 'Viva Spring' in Iran Outgoing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seeks a populist mantle to retain leverage in Iran and possibly determine his successor, writes Mehdi Jedinia. Iran
PA Collapse Will Be 'Catastrophe,' Says Knesset Labor Leader “If the Palestinian Authority collapses, we will all regret it,” says Knesset Member Isaac Herzog, the Labor Party’s number two, in an interview with Mazal Mualem. Palestine
Knesset Member Elkin: 'I Don't Believe in Real Peace' Likud Knesset member Zeev Elkin is the reflection of the Israeli right's new elite: Russian, Orthodox and a settler, explains Lily Galili. Israel
New Turkish Airlines Uniform: Eye of the Beholder A proposal for new flight attendant uniforms on Turkish Airlines strikes some as too conservative, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
'Saudi Code' Prevents Arab Spring in Kingdom Fahad Nazer writes that the "Saudi code" will prevent a repeat in the Kingdom of what took place in Egypt. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi Sunnis May Postpone March on Baghdad Protesters in Anbar province are considering calling off their planned protest in Baghdad, amid unprecedented security measures from Iraqi authorities in the capital, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Algeria Seeks to Show Leadership In Fight Against Terrorism Following last month's hostage crisis, Algeria's officials are pushing efforts to punish those who facilitate and fund terrorists, writes Kaci Racelma. Algeria
Terrorism Case Against Samaha Moves to Next Stage Michel Samaha and Ali Mamlouk, along with a third accomplice known as Col. Adnan, have been indicted on charges of plotting to carry out terrorist attacks, writes Mohammad Harfoush. Lebanon
