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
Israel reimposes restrictions amid surge in COVID-19 cases Despite the country's success early on in the pandemic with its lockdown and use of controversial surveillance technology, a new surge in infections has prompted a return to closures. Israel
Russia considers Saudi Arabia as trial site for COVID-19 vaccine The two countries are also discussing having Saudi Arabia manufacture the drug. Saudi Arabia
Iran’s Khamenei nips Rouhani impeachment in the bud Iranian lawmakers behind a motion to impeach President Hassan Rouhani immediately backpedaled on their bid after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly opposed it. Iran
Families get green light to visit Palestinian prisoners in Israel Despite the increase in coronavirus cases, the Israel Prison Service has decided to allow visits by family members to Palestinian prisoners to resume under strict sanitary conditions. Palestine
Netanyahu's Bastille Night The violent July 14 demonstration outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence reflected the level of rage and frustration sensed by many Israelis. Israel
Israeli court rejects Islamic leader’s appeal against conviction, imprisonment Five months after his sentencing, the Haifa District Court rejected an appeal submitted by Sheikh Raed Salah, chief of the outlawed Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, against his imminent imprisonment. Originals
UN Yemen envoy calls for investigation after strikes kill civilians The United Nations said 11 civilians were killed in airstrikes Wednesday in al-Jawf province in northern Yemen. Yemen
Intel: Pompeo thanks Qatar for facilitating Afghanistan peace talks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for agreeing to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Qatar
Iran claims Israeli ‘propaganda’ on nuclear facility attack In today's Iran media review, Tehran claims that speculation regarding Israeli attacks are "propaganda." Iran
Intel: White House sympathizes with France in Libya row with Turkey White House National Security adviser Robert O’Brien on Wednesday expressed sympathy for France’s account of events in a Mediterranean naval standoff with Turkey last month over a Libyan arms smuggling allegation. Turkey
Jordanian court dissolves Muslim Brotherhood branch The organization said it would appeal the decision by Jordan's highest court. Jordan
Iraq to reopen airports this month The country is still registering around 2,000 COVID-19 cases per day, close to its highest-ever daily toll. Iraq
