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
Jordan’s days of rage force PM to resign Jordan’s King Abdullah II has accepted the resignation of the prime minister in a bid to appease the Jordanians who have been protesting IMF-backed austerity measures. Jordan
What’s next for Syrian refugees in Lebanon? As pressure is increasing on Lebanon’s economy, the Lebanese authorities are working to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees, despite the hesitation of the international community and the United States. Lebanon
Flaming kites, aid flotillas fill lull at Gaza border As calm prevails for now on the Gaza border, Palestinian activists have turned to both peaceful and violent modes of resistance. Palestine
Palestinians outraged at Israeli bill to ban filming of IDF The Palestinian Ministry of Information and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate are fighting a bill under discussion in the Knesset to ban the filming and photographing of Israeli soldiers. Palestine
Palestinian campaign settles debts of those killed during Great Return March A Gaza-based charity campaign is helping the families of the Great Return March victims to settle debts with a newly launched campaign. Palestine
US-Turkey road map in Syria risks Kurdish blowback The Pentagon’s Kurdish allies could get shut out as the United States and Turkey move closer to a deal to settle a dispute over the contested Syrian city of Manbij. Syria
Electoral noose tightens in Turkey's critical southeast Turkey's ruling party has the country's largest pro-Kurdish bloc in a chokehold as the clock winds down toward the elections. Turkey
Iran undeterred by possible Russia-Israel deal on Syria Iranian analysts believe any possible deal for Iran to pull back from Syria is designed to prevent the end of the country’s civil war. Palestine
Truckers display new face of popular protest in Iran The recent trucker strike in Iran was characterized by its geographical spread and focus on economic demands. Iran
UAE, Russia leaders affirm common ground in Moscow meeting The crown prince of the United Arab Emirates visited Russia last week for the seventh time in five years, meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss many areas in which they agreed to collaborate. United Arab Emirates
Turkey’s opposition battles media banishment ahead of polls Ahead of critical elections this month, Turkey’s public broadcaster and mainstream TV channels are under fire for an unprecedented level of bias in favor of the government, while signs are emerging of audience fatigue with Erdogan. Turkey
Turkish public decries life sentences for young cadets A spate of life sentences handed down to young Turkish military cadets involving the 2016 coup attempt seems disproportionately harsh, especially as some top officers received short sentences. Turkey
