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
Will COVID-19 crisis bury PM Netanyahu? With an unprecedented economic crisis generated by the coronavirus pandemic, it is not at all sure whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can regain public trust. Israel
Why Turkey is trying to improve its profile in the Maghreb In parallel with its military activities in Libya and rising profile in Africa, Ankara moves to strengthen its geostrategic and geo-economic ties with Maghreb countries. Turkey
Intel: Turkey lashes out at new US support for Cyprus Turkey is lashing out at the United States as Washington moves closer to providing Cyprus with military aid as the disputed island nation develops closer energy ties with Israel. Turkey
Algeria calls on France to reckon with colonial past as BLM rocks globe As the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrations continue, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has demanded an apology from France for its treatment of Algerians under 132 years of French occupation. Algeria
Intel: US lawmakers tussle over key condition on restoring Palestinian aid Democrats and Republicans clashed today over a newly proposed restriction on Palestinian assistance in this year’s foreign aid spending bill — the latest chapter in the struggle to resume economic support for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestine
What would President Kanye West's Middle East policy be? Rapper Kanye West has yet to develop a foreign policy platform for his announced presidential candidacy, but his past lyrics, tweets and travels may reveal some of his views. Iraq
Turkish lawyers protest as parliament debates bar association bill As Turkey’s parliament debates a controversial proposal to weaken the influence of established bar associations, lawyers are protesting in the nation’s major cities. Turkey
US military consolidates footprint in Iraq amid pressure from Baghdad The Pentagon's top general overseeing forces in the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, visited Baghdad this week amid a reshuffle of the US troop presence in the country in coordination with plans to bring in more NATO advisers. Iraq
Second fireworks explosion in a week kills police in Turkey Thursday's blast followed a massive fireworks explosion at the same factory last week in the northwest. Turkey
Turkey expels Protestant missionaries for 'threatening public order' The Turkish Protestant community is witnessing a purge as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government turns up pressure against the church. Turkey
Nine Iranian MPs test positive for coronavirus Iran has continued to see a rise in coronavirus-related deaths as the virus spreads across provinces. Iran
Why is France a useful adversary for Turkey? Although France has the means to hamper Turkey, both in the European Union and Africa, its current strategy often plays into Turkey’s hands, as evidenced by its recent failure to squeeze Turkey through a NATO probe. Turkey
