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
First series of Fight Island UFC events wraps up in Abu Dhabi Several fighters of Middle Eastern heritage competed in the event without fans in the Emirati city on Sunday. United Arab Emirates
Israeli-Iranian couple welcomed nowhere, fights for their love Israeli Lital and Iranian Vinas are in love, but no country will take in both of them. Israel
US enthusiasm seems to be fading on Netanyahu’s annexation plan According to a recent report, the Trump administration is now conditioning its support of the annexation plan on a broad agreement on the issue between Blue and White and Likud. Israel
PMU pitches in as COVID cases surge in Iraq Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, including those of populist cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, have plugged gaps in Iraq’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases surge and well-known fighters fall ill. Iraq
Palestinian tribes in Hebron asked to help stem the spike in COVID-19 cases The sharp rise in the spread of the coronavirus in the Hebron district is blamed largely on weddings and public events, and the tribes have been asked to help stem the spread. Palestine
Jordan gearing up to reopen kingdom to tourism The government is hoping to reopen the country for medical tourism amidst growing fears of a second wave and skepticism about the health protocols that will be adopted. Jordan
Israel creates plan to develop, protect Sea of Galilee The Galilee Sea development plan aims to regulate the local tourism industry and protect the region’s sensitive ecosystems. Israel
Ultra-Orthodox threaten unity government over coronavirus measures Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members are threatening to leave the Netanyahu government over anti-coronavirus measures they feel disproportionately target their sector. Israel
Erdogan: Turkey on path to ‘unstoppable power’ in region Turkish president throws his lot in again with Russia and Iran in Syria, expands plans for influence in North Africa and moves to convert the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. Turkey
Algeria reimposes domestic travel restrictions amid surge in COVID-19 cases Following the Algerian government easing several restrictions in June, the country has registered several hundred cases a day in July. Algeria
First confirmed COVID-19 case detected in northwest Syria The first case of the coronavirus in Idlib follows a veto at the UN Security Council today of a resolution that would have allowed aid to reach the embattled area via Turkey. Syria
Intel: US CENTCOM commander meets with head of Syria’s Kurdish forces The head of Syria’s Kurdish-led militias said he met today with the top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, in northeast Syria. Syria
