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
Assad's Speech and the Syrian Political Solution Sami Moubayed analyzes prospects for a political solution in Syria following the speech by President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Netanyahu Needs A Partner From the Center Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs not only right-wing parties in his next coalition, but also a center party partner — thus, minimizing pressure from the international community on one hand, and leaving him with some maneuver space from within the coalition on the other, writes Nadav Eyal. Israel
Winter Storm Brings More Misery to Gaza Last week's fierce storms proved extra costly for the many families in Gaza living in makeshift or war-damaged homes, Abeer Ayoub reports from Gaza. Palestine
E1 Protest Boosts Palestinian Resistance Palestinian activists have set a new precedent with the Bab al-Shams tent village, which drew quick support for its peaceful nature, Dalia Hatuqa reports from the West Bank. Palestine
Transitional Justice in Iraq Is Anything But Transitional justice in Iraq has been a front for political score-settling and vengeance and that must change, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Young Palestinian Activists Seize Initiative at Bab Al-Shams The grassroots Palestinian move to erect an outpost in an area wanted by Israel for illegal settlements could be the start of a new tactic, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
New Generation of Political Stars Under Spotlight of Israeli Elections The new generation of young Israeli political stars will be tested in the current campaign and beyond, writes Mazal Mualem. Israel
Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense US President Barack Obama has made an inspired choice by nominating Chuck Hagel to be US Secretary of Defense. Pan Arab
'Sheratongate' Shakes Tunisian Ruling Party The scandal implicating Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem — the son-in-law of Ennahdha party head Rached Ghannouchi — over expensive hotel bills is yet another challenge to Tunisia’s ruling party and government, reports Mischa Benoit-Lavelle from Tunis. Tunisia
Erdogan to Continue PKK Talks Despite Paris Murders Cengiz Candar analyzes the potential motivations for the murders of three PKK activists in Paris and what it might mean for the Turkey-PKK talks. Turkey
Russia Sees Al-Qaeda Growth in Lebanon Russia has voiced fears that al-Qaeda is spreading in Lebanon, and Nasser Chararah reports that the group is setting down roots to help fighters in neighboring Syria. Lebanon
The Bahrain Blackout in Arab Media The state-sponsored Arab news networks in the Gulf have given scant coverage to the reform and protest movements in Bahrain, writes Ali Hashem. Bahrain
