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
Istanbul residents opt for New Year's celebrations on water Due to rising prices and security and sexual harassment concerns, a growing number of middle-class Turks will ring in the new year on the Bosporus. Turkey
Fear of indictment drives Netanyahu to call early elections By calling early elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing his own indictment. Israel
EU says it’s premature for Syria to rejoin Arab League Egypt's efforts to bring Syria back into the Arab League while the country remains unstable are raising concerns in the EU. Egypt
Can Russia succeed with Palestinians where Egypt has failed? Moscow has expressed its interest in facilitating an intra-Palestinian reconciliation as well as furthering Palestinian-Israeli relations, but Israel remains wary of such efforts. Palestine
Theater returns to Idlib A group of actors has formed the Syrian Troupe for Theatrical Arts and performed recently for the children in Idlib. Syria
Why this viral shot will not be Egypt's photo of the year A Danish photographer captured the view from the Giza pyramid with a photo that went viral all around the world — but Egyptians were far from pleased. Egypt
Egypt's tiny Jewish community celebrates state action to protect heritage Egypt has long promised to preserve the country's Jewish heritage, but only now have concrete steps materialized. Egypt
Soul-searching Reformists debate whether to run in Iran’s next polls Wary of having lost their political capital amid deepening public disapproval of President Hassan Rouhani’s performance, Iranian Reformists are debating whether and how to participate in coming parliamentary and presidential elections. Iran
IDF in West Bank refrains from arresting Jews Despite a dramatic increase in Jewish nationalist crimes, such as slashing tires, throwing stones, and cutting down olive trees in Palestinian settlements even within the Green Line, Israeli security forces have been remarkably helpless. Palestine
Education minister held secret meetings with settler leaders ahead of elections The Israeli settlers are exploiting their political leverage in this pre-campaign period to legalize West Bank outposts and push for the expulsion of family members of Palestinian assailants. Palestine
France’s yellow vest fever reaches Egypt Since the breakout of French protests and the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Jacket) movement, Egyptian media have been keen on showing the demonstrators in a bad light. Egypt
Female-only ride-hailing app to compete with Uber, Careem in Cairo Fyonka, Egypt's first all-female ride hailing service, is providing money-earning opportunities and transport for women. Egypt
