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
Coronavirus-stricken Israelis indifferent to Netanyahu’s diplomatic victories Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps registering diplomatic achievement with Gulf countries, but most Israelis are preoccupied only with coronavirus troubles. Israel
Cleric reopens scars of acid attacks after threatening Iranian women Threats by an influential hard-line cleric against Iranian women with loose headscarves has opened up old wounds left behind in acid attacks perpetrated by religious extremists. Iran
Israel’s president warns of growing social schism, loss of moral compass The fault line between the “only Netanyahu” tribe against the “anyone but Netanyahu tribe” appears unprecedented, and the social chasms seem unbridgeable. Israel
Palestinians displaced from Syria's Yarmouk camp to finally go home The camp had been the focus of fighting and seizure by Islamic State and Syrian government forces. Palestine
Cairo pushes for military agreements in Libya Following talks in the Egyptian city of Hurghada, Egypt is supporting Libya’s warring sides as they discuss how to dismantle the militias and unify Libya’s military institutions. Egypt
Egypt embarks on new project in Congo amid faltering Nile dam talks Congolese media announced that Egypt’s Armed Forces Engineering Authority is in the process of implementing a project to make the Congo River navigable, while the negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam falter. Egypt
New Turkish indictment prolongs ‘torture’ for philanthropist Kavala’s family Months after he was acquitted on charges he sought the government’s overthrow with popular protests, Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala faces life in prison for his alleged involvement in a failed coup. Turkey
Israel’s Cabinet ratifies Abraham Accords Shortly before the Cabinet approved the normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke over the phone and agreed to meet "soon." United Arab Emirates
Khamenei: Iran must look inward to address economy In today's Iran media review, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said the country must look at domestic solutions to address its economic woes. Iran
As US elections near, GCC states chart middle course between US and China Former Vice President and Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden's previous statement to make Saudi Arabia a 'pariah' hangs over the region. Saudi Arabia
For Arab youth, the future is in the Gulf The most recent Arab Youth Survey shows the United States is gaining ground on Russia and China as perceived "allies." United Arab Emirates
Egypt, Russia to hold joint naval drills in Black Sea, Moscow says Exercise Friendship Bridge 2020 will involve aircraft and ship-based artillery, Russia's Defense Ministry said Egypt
![A member of the Syrian pro-government forces rides a bicycle through a damaged street in the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus on May 22, 2018. - The government seized earlier in the week the Yarmuk Palestinian camp and adjacent neighbourhoods of Tadamun and Hajar al-Aswad from the Islamic State (IS) group , putting Damascus fully under its control for the first time since 2012. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadat](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/10/GettyImages-961403346.jpg/GettyImages-961403346.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=kveoFn-S)
