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
Russia eyes role in formation of Syria’s National Defense Forces Amid the uncertainty over the future of Idlib, Russia eyes its participation in reforming Syria's National Defense Forces as a tool for balancing Iran's influence in the country. Syria
Congress dangles Turkey trade deal as carrot to Trump’s stick Lawmakers are floating a free trade agreement with Turkey as the president doubles steel and aluminum tariffs on Ankara for its ongoing detention of a US pastor. Turkey
FSA takes hit with slump of Turkish lira The collapse of the Turkish lira paralyzed markets in Operation Euphrates Shield areas and is harming the livelihood of more than 100,000 families. Syria
What would 'post-America' Turkey look like? Turkish-American relations are suffering one crisis after another, threatening an end to the longtime alliance, unless current issues can be resolved. Turkey
US-Turkey cooperation against Islamic State ongoing, Pentagon says Ankara and Washington remain committed to the joint mission of rooting out Islamic State holdouts despite the diplomatic row over Pastor Andrew Brunson, Pentagon and State Department officials say. Syria
Iraqi Kurds throw lifeline to Iranian Kurds as sanctions begin to bite Iraqi Kurds, who remember the help they received from Iranian Kurds in the past, want to return the favor now that their brethren are suffering under US sanctions. Iraq
IS targets rural area near Baghdad Tarmiya, a rural area near Baghdad, is in the sights of the Islamic State; sleeper cells there are spreading through the Mashhadani tribe. Iraq
Turkey strives to unite rebel factions in Syria against Assad Turkey is sponsoring talks between two groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to unite their forces ahead of a looming offensive at Idlib by the Syrian regime. Syria
Will Egypt's public sector get longer weekend? The Egyptian government is considering adding Thursdays to the weekend for public sector employees. Egypt
PA declares truce with clan in tribal court after weeks of unrest The Palestinian Authority turned to the local tribal justice system to settle a conflict with the Arab al-Jahalin tribe after the Palestinian police killed one of its members, leaning on the local elders to restore and keep the peace. Palestine
Kurds put conditions for allying with Shiites to form government Shiite parties seek to gain favor with the Kurdish parties to include them in the majority charged with forming the new government, while the Kurds consider this a historical opportunity to impose their conditions on those wishing to ally with them. Iraq
Will Israel's defense minister hand over Arab town to PA? Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is campaigning again for the transfer of the Israeli Arab city of Umm al-Fahm to the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
