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
Turkey gets comfortable in northern Syria Turkey appears to be preparing to remain in Syrian areas under its control without much thought for the long-term financial and political costs. Syria
Egypt’s top fatwa authority raises controversy after describing Ottoman control of Constantinople as 'occupation' Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta described the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople as an invasion, raising controversy in Turkey and among critics who believe religious authorities should not get involved in politics. Egypt
Death of activist Sarah Hegazy highlights struggle of Egypt's gay community The death of activist Sarah Hegazy has renewed the debate over gay rights in Egypt amid an ongoing crackdown against the LGBTQI+ community. Egypt
Tunisia’s removal from EU financial blacklist should help boost economy Three years after being designated as a high-risk country with strategic anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing deficiencies, Tunisia is officially off the list and getting ready for foreign investments. Tunisia
Netanyahu's popularity undamaged by accusations against his wife Over the years, and again this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been blaming the media for going after his wife in order to hurt him. Israel
Interview Chief rabbi of Iran: Israel does not represent Judaism In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Rabbi Yehuda Garami, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, explains about their daily lives and why he paid a condolence visit to the family of assassinated Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Yehuda Garami Chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran
The Takeaway: Are Egypt, Ethiopia on brink of water war over Nile dam? Highlights: Trump administration may be last, best bet to head off conflict; Also: Egypt’s fading hookah culture; Basra’s dirty water; Turkey’s currency dump; Amberin Zaman talks Syria, the Kurds and Turkey on new podcast! Originals
UAE condemns Turkish and Iranian military interventions in Iraq Turkey and Iran are conducting operations against Kurdish groups in the country. United Arab Emirates
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen denies civilians targeted in Saada airstrike The Houthi group said 13 civilians, including four children, were killed in a coalition airstrike Monday. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia approves dexamethasone as coronavirus treatment The kingdom's Ministry of Health has begun using the cheap drug on critically ill patients. Saudi Arabia
Bashar al-Assad’s uncle sentenced to four years in French prison for money laundering A French court convicted Rifaat al-Assad, 82, of misappropriating Syrian public funds to expand his holdings in Europe. Syria
Inspired by US protests, Ethiopian-born Israeli ministers battle against police brutality Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata and Deputy Public Security Minister Gadi Yevarkan, both of Ethiopian origin, are reinforcing their battle against police brutality. Israel
