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
Northeast Syrian women to participate in meetings on tribal matters Some women in the autonomous, Kurdish-led statelet welcome the move. Syria
Intel: Pompeo, French counterpart discuss Libya war Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the situation in Libya today with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement. Libya
Intel: US offers no new funding at Yemen donor conference The emergency aid pledged for Yemen’s humanitarian response plan at a June 2 donor conference falls short of what is needed, with the United States not offering any new funding at this time. Yemen
Intel: House Middle East panel chairman questions Trump’s commitment to two-state solution The chairman of the House’s Middle East panel questioned the Donald Trump administration’s stated commitment to a two-state solution during a Zoom interview with the Israel Policy Forum today. Palestine
Syria’s stock market stops trades of Rami Makhlouf’s telecom company The company, owned by President Bashar al-Assad's embattled cousin, has been suspended from the exchange indefinitely. Syria
Turkey issues warrants for over 100 accused of Gulen ties The Turkish prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of 118 people suspected of ties to the outlawed Gulen movement. Turkey
Qatar makes massive LNG ship order The purchase by Qatar Petroleum from three South Korean companies comes as oil prices continue to rise from the lows earlier in the year. Qatar
Turkey ignores its own record, denouncing press clampdown in US protests Turkish officials have denounced the crackdown on journalists in the United States, drawing criticism given Ankara's own record on press freedom. Turkey
Minorities in Turkey on edge amid threats, attacks Vulnerable groups have faced intimidation or worse in recent weeks in what both the government and the opposition warn are efforts to stoke conflict, though they disagree on who’s to blame. Turkey
Libya’s warring parties agree to resume cease-fire talks, UN says The United Nations Support Mission in Libya said the rival governments would resume talks over securing a lasting truce in the war-torn country. Libya
Intel: US returns acquitted Iranian scientist, no apparent prisoner swap The United States has returned an acquitted Iranian scientist to his home country after holding him for months in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Iran
Israeli museums reopen with a bang after COVID-19 Several museums in Israel are reopening their doors this week, after having been closed for more than two months due to the coronavirus outbreak. Israel
