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
Many candidates vie for position of Netanyahu's chief rival Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid considers himself leader of the Netanyahu-opposition camp, but there are several other candidates ready to step in. Israel
Lebanon’s army finds more ammonium nitrate near Beirut port A month after the blast that ripped through the Lebanese capital, the army has discovered an additional 4.35 tons of the same explosive chemical that caused the blast. Lebanon
Intel: House Democrats want answers from Saudi ambassador over jailed female activists A group of seven congressional Democrats laid into Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States on Wednesday for failing to respond to their repeated requests to discuss the kingdom’s continued detention of female rights activists. Saudi Arabia
Russia increased Wagner deployments as Hifter’s offensive faltered, UN report says A new UN report backs US claims that Russia sent more fighters to Libya as Turkey intervened against Hifter. Libya
Iraq TV station attacked by mob charged with insulting Shiite Muslims Dijlah TV was attacked after playing music during an event marking the Shiite holiday of Ashura. The owner, who has been charged with insulting Shiite Muslims, blames Iran-backed militias for the incident. Iraq
Turkey hit by ‘second peak’ of coronavirus outbreak A jump in COVID-19 cases, led by the capital Ankara, prompts new restrictions on social mobility. Dozens of health care workers have died, former government ministers have contracted the virus and doctors are warning that some cities could face a shortage of beds in intensive care units. Turkey
Iran prepares for a third wave of coronavirus outbreak Iranian officials have warned that the country would experience a third wave of coronavirus in the fall. Iran
Israel's El Al will operate first cargo plane from Israeli airline to Dubai Israel and the United Arab Emirates continue to work on flights between the two states following their decision to normalize relations. United Arab Emirates
Libya at ‘critical juncture’ as foreign sponsors defy arms embargo, UN warns UN acting Libya Envoy Stephanie Williams told the Security Council that foreign powers are fortifying their assets at air bases in the east and west of the war-torn country. Libya
Why Mediterranean tensions may not benefit Erdogan at home An equitable resolution to the crisis with Greece and France would be great for Turkey, but even that may not help the Turkish president’s approval ratings. Turkey
Intel: Macron makes appeal for Iraqi sovereignty in visit to Baghdad Iraqi President Barham Salih welcomes French counterpart as 'dear friend' of the country. Iraq
Farming study brings Sudan, Egypt closer amid Nile Dam crisis Egypt has agreed with Sudan to study a plan to grow crops together on Sudanese land within the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries. Egypt
