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
European court rules against French conviction of BDS activists The European Court of Human Rights ruled that boycotts are protected forms of protest, saying France erred in convicting activists of incitement to discrimination for asking people stop buying Israeli products. Palestine
US-Iraq strategic talks launched with increasing national, regional support Iraq has begun a strategic dialogue with the United States that promises to shape various aspects of the two countries' relationship. Iraq
Asylum-seekers in Israel face additional hardships over coronavirus Asylum-seekers in Israel are now losing their jobs and social security over the coronavirus outbreak. Israel
Parliament speaker opens new conservative era in Iranian politics Parliament Speaker Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf starts his new job at a time when Iran faces great challenges, with the conservatives set to dominate Iranian politics in the near future. Iran
US response muted as Turkey gives consulate employee harsh prison sentence A Turkish staff member of the US Consulate in Istanbul has been handed nearly nine years in prison in what some analysts suggest is a sign that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "new era" in US-Turkish relations will be one of increasing US leniency. Turkey
Egypt to allow foreign tourists at select resorts Egypt will open resorts in the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea to foreign travelers in July in an effort to boost tourism during the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Assad sacks prime minister amid deepening financial crisis Prime Minister Imad Khamis, who has held the position since 2016, will be temporarily replaced by the country's water minister. Syria
Turkey’s news channels can’t breathe Journalism in Turkey is choking under a censorship mechanism in which newsroom managers, leaders often act as “government commissars.” Turkey
Will Netanyahu opt for partial annexation? Some reports say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might opt for a phased annexation plan for the West Bank that, at least at first, would exclude the Jordan Valley. Palestine
With no end to pandemic in sight, Iran looks to fully reopen Iran’s president said the country is looking to reopen under certain health guidelines. Iran
Qatar’s World Cup organizers accused of not paying migrant workers Human rights organization Amnesty International said roughly 100 employees of a Qatari subcontractor went up to seven months without receiving salaries. Originals
Intel: China may pose greater challenge to US hegemony in Mideast than Russia The top US military commander for operations in the Middle East said that China’s economic influence in the Middle East may one day pose a greater challenge to US strategic interests than Russia in the region, even as the Kremlin seeks wider military presence in Syria and Libya. Originals
