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
Iran scores PR win in intelligence wars with Israel Israeli security sources admit that Iranian intelligence scored a point by recruiting former Minister Gonen Segev to spy against his country, but downplay his access to any sensitive information. Israel
Will Gaza kites lead to war with Israel? Many have been surprised by the effectiveness of the incendiary kites flown from Gaza that are frustrating Israeli politicians, flummoxing the Israeli military and attracting worldwide attention. Palestine
Egypt to comb black-sand deposits for hidden riches Major new deals and projects with foreign companies to extract valuable minerals from Egypt's black sand promise to create more jobs and enhance local industries. Egypt
Morocco helps ease burden on Gaza hospitals Given the medical and humanitarian crisis crippling Gaza’s hospitals while the Great Return March continues, Morocco delivered an aid convoy that included a field hospital to ease the burden on the territory's overtaxed and underequipped health care services. Palestine
No Turkish party free to speak up for captives held by PKK Dozens of Turkish captives held by the Kurdistan Workers Party seem forgotten by Turkey's politicians, none of whom have much to gain and everything to lose by calling attention to their plight. Turkey
Iraq's Sadr calls for disarming factions after Baghdad explosion After an unsanctioned weapons cache exploded recently in Sadr City, Muqtada al-Sadr is proposing an initiative to hand over to the state the weapons of Iraqi factions — beginning with his own movement. Iraq
Legendary Iranian soccer player urges consumer boycott to root out ‘thieves’ As consumer prices continue to hit ordinary Iranians hard, a popular former soccer player is leading a consumer boycott on social media in an effort to reduce prices. Iran
Renewed fight over Libya’s oil threatens entire country The repeated attacks against the country’s main oil lifeline will always be a looming threat as long as no central government is in place with full power over the entire territory of Libya. Libya
Iran denies supporting Qandil operation, fueling Turkish resentment Pro-government analysts say Iran is trying to prevent Turkish influence in Iraq, and they accuse Tehran of “strategic shallowness,” which they say it will come to regret. Iraq
Palestinian security forces criticized for attack on press Palestinian journalist associations and rights organizations condemned the Palestinian security forces’ handling of reporters covering the protests that took place in Ramallah in support of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
How a tea kettle came to symbolize Turkish election opposition The Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and their imprisoned leader and candidate, Selahattin Demirtas, are running a positive and creative election campaign, rattling the nerves of an increasingly anxious Justice and Development Party and government. Turkey
Israeli defense minister calls for compromise on draft dispute Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman advances a compromise outline on the enlistment of the ultra-Orthodox, even though the opposition accuses him of caving in to them. Israel
