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 Gaza rockets a first taste of next Israel-Hamas war? The rocket that hit a home in Beersheba on Oct. 17 made it clear that if Israel carries out threats for a war against Gaza, the price will be very steep. Palestine
After Brunson, Congress demands Egypt release US prisoner Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., says he won’t release $105 million in US military aid unless Cairo releases Egyptian-American Moustafa Kassem. Originals
Pompeo defends US-Saudi relations amid mounting criticism Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended himself from criticism that he appeared too eager to maintain business-as-usual relations with the Saudis, following the suspected gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia
Analysis: Israel torn between Saudi Arabia, Turkey on Khashoggi affair For Israel’s leadership, the anti-Iran alliance with Saudi Arabia is more important than reacting on the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia
Big score for Iranian women as doors open to men's soccer games For the first time since 1979, Iranian women are allowed to watch men's soccer matches in Tehran despite stubborn and stiff opposition from hard-liners. Iran
Why Iran must seriously act to address rent seeking While the top elites of the Islamic Republic are recognizing the need to address mismanagement of the Iranian economy, the core issue remains the rent seeking that is thwarting genuine reform. Iran
New details emerge in Khashoggi case as Pompeo tours Ankara The US secretary of state met today with Turkey's president and foreign minister to discuss the developing story of vanished Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia
Commentary: Can Russia make a positive change in Libya? Reports on the increase of Russian military presence in Libya sparked international controversy and triggered a debate within Russia over the need for a presence in the distant Mediterranean country. Russia indeed eyes a bigger role in the conflict, but one different from what the reports ascribe Moscow to play. Libya
What is behind Tunisia's rising illiteracy? Tunisians' first reaction to rising levels of illiteracy is to blame it on the economy, but experts say the mindset toward education has changed for the worse since the days of independence. Tunisia
Escalation in Gaza challenges Israeli leadership Heavy rockets fired from Gaza on Wednesday have sent Israel's military and political leaders into disarray while Egypt mediates a Hamas-Israel arrangement. Palestine
