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
Political Agenda Seeps Into Israeli Army's Top Brass There is an effort afoot by right-wing activists in the national religious camp to influence the top Israeli military leadership, writes Akiva Eldar. Israel
Hamas Statements on Israel Show Flexibility Hamas' public stance toward the conflict with Israel has fluctuated since the 1990s, but the organization insists its goals haven't changed, Hazem Balousha writes. Palestine
Israel and Obama's New Plan For the Middle East President Obama has a new plan for the Middle East: to both revive the peace process and deal with Iran and nuclear proliferation, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
Meshaal to Lead Hamas for Third Term After promising to not seek a third term, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has reversed his decision as a result of several factors, including regional changes relating to the Muslim Brotherhood’s ascension to power in major Arab countries, writes Omar Shaban. Palestine
Defense Chiefs Distrust Israeli Political Leadership Recent revelations about the relations between former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak imply that the defense establishment questions the capabilities of the Israeli political leadership, writes Alon Ben David. Israel
Palestinians Must Unite Before Israeli Elections Clovis Maksoud writes that the likely victory by right-wing parties in the coming Israeli elections sets a deadline for Palestinian reconciliation. Palestine
Mali Conflict Threatens Security in Maghreb Region France becomes involved militarily in Mali as Islamist militants spread their influence, shedding a brighter light on potential regional implications of escalating conflict in the country, writes Ambassador Nassif Hitti. Lebanon
Iran Balks at Nuclear Talks Without Sanctions, Rights on Agenda A dispute over the agenda could be a factor in delaying a new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and a US-led coalition. Iran
Paris Murders Just One Element Of PKK Puzzle Tulin Daloglu writes that the recent murders of three PKK members in Paris may not derail the current initiative by Prime Minister Erdogan, but other issues might. Turkey
Lebanese Electoral Law Shakes Political Coalitions Political alliances are shifting and rifts widening as legislators again take up a new electoral law, reports Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Syrian Silent Majority Demands'Transition to Rationality' Syrians are voicing their desire for a new civil society based on rationality, negotiation and compromise, writes Geoffrey Aronson. Syria
Lebanon Faces Increased Pressures From Syrian Refugees Mohammad Harfoush reports on how Lebanon is trying to deal with the strain of increasing numbers of Syrian refugees. Lebanon
