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
What will it take to defuse US-Turkey crisis? The US Treasury's sanctions against two high-level Turkish officials — a move unprecedented between NATO allies — has pushed the ailing Turkish lira to record lows against the dollar and the two sides could become trapped in an escalating spiral. Turkey
Why Israel’s Nationality Law could be good for Palestinians The recently adopted Nationality Law could actually help Palestinians in a way, as they might not need to specifically recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jews as part of peace negotiations. Palestine
IMF option looms larger for Turkey amid row with US Turkey’s economic woes keep growing, exacerbated by central bank inaction and simmering tensions with the United States, in what many see as an inevitable march to the IMF. Turkey
Iranians flock to greener pastures on Caspian coast The nationwide drought in Iran is triggering internal migration and its water-rich areas are already suffering shortages. Iran
Israel’s Bedouin sidelined as Netanyahu makes deal with Druze The Bedouin community is bitter over the offer outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assuage the Druze community's concerns about the controversial new Nationality Law. Israel
Senior Iranian clerics ask Rouhani to fight corruption Grand ayatollahs in Iran are asking the judiciary and the Rouhani administration to fight corruption rather than blaming sanctions. Iran
Idlib takes center stage at Sochi Syria talks The latest round of Syria talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey held in Russia's Sochi discussed important issues, but deadlocks remain. Syria
Turkey fumes over US sanctions, vows to retaliate The US sanctions may make the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is at the heart of the current US-Turkey crisis, much harder for Ankara. Turkey
The coming battle for Idlib Syrian regime forces are deploying near and around Idlib province, in northwestern Syria, suggesting that the battle for Idlib is shaping up despite diplomatic gesturing and a statement by Russia denying an imminent operation. Syria
Will Riyadh-Tehran rivalry kill Iraqi Kurdistan's investment drive? A visit to Erbil by a Saudi trade delegation in late July has the potential to bear fruit in advancing economic cooperation and investment in the region, helping ease its current financial crisis, but the Saudis' move has raised eyebrows in Tehran. Saudi Arabia
As protests rock southern Iraq, Basra calls for autonomy Amid the ongoing protests in Iraq's southern province of Basra, an old demand for autonomy has re-emerged. Iraq
Trump makes good on threat to sanction Turkey The US president is sanctioning two top officials in hopes of pressuring Ankara to release a US pastor, with uncertain results. Turkey
