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
GCC Railway: a train across a fractured Gulf? The repeatedly delayed rail network could boost regional trade and ease mobility. Originals
Iran’s government spokesman tests positive for COVID-19 According to his office, Ali Rabiei has been hospitalized but is in good condition. Iran
Lebanon sees spike in COVID-19 cases Lebanon's daily coronavirus cases have gone up by about a hundred in recent days as the economic crisis continues. Lebanon
Fighting breaks out on Israel-Lebanon border Tensions keep escalating on the Israel-Lebanon border, with IDF and Hezbollah exchanging heavy fire. Israel
Iraqi government not giving up on early elections Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is seeking to manage disparate political blocs to allow early electons. Iraq
Turkey untroubled by conflict with Egypt, UAE in Libya Ankara believes a large-scale Egyptian ground operation is highly unlikely in Libya, considering the likely dynamics of power struggles in the skies of Sirte and al-Jufra, between tribes in southern Libya and on air and naval logistical routes between Libya and Turkey. Egypt
Are Sinai attacks linked to Egypt’s plan to intervene in Libya? The Egyptian army thwarted a terrorist attack in the city of Bir al-Abed in the northern Sinai Peninsula, which analysts believe is associated with Egypt’s possible military intervention in neighboring Libya. Egypt
Moroccan activist calls for revolution of ideas While female entrepreneurship is steadily increasing in Morocco, cultural barriers stand in the way of women achieving their full economic potential. Morocco
Jordan PM's comments on single state trigger uproar Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has said in a recent interview that a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could be an alternative, causing uproar among Jordanians. Jordan
Winning Israeli idea helps urban agriculture take root The Forest City initiative is taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis by encouraging urban agriculture while Israelis stay home and garden. Israel
Famed Kurdish Iranian journalist receives asylum in New Zealand Behrouz Boochani is known for exposing conditions at Australia's offshore immigrant detention center on Manus Island. Iran
Rockets hit Iraqi base used by coalition troops, no casualties The attack came as the US-led coalition prepares to hand over the base to Iraqi security forces. Iraq
