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
Netanyahu leaves annexation on back burner in talks with Pompeo Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of annexation in his press conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, focusing instead on the pandemic, the US peace plan and Iran. Israel
Gaza municipalities suspend services amid coronavirus crisis Municipalities in the Gaza Strip issued a decision to reduce some services provided to citizens in light of the coronavirus crisis. Palestine
How a jailhouse letter to Abbas could fast forward Palestinian unity talks It remains unclear whether tentative steps will lead to a genuine unification of the fractured Palestinian national movement. Palestine
Sudanese activists skeptical female genital mutilation law will stop practice Sudanese activists told Al-Monitor that female circumcision continues in rural communities and that laws prevent women's rights. Sudan
World’s tallest building in Dubai doubles as coronavirus ‘donation box’ For every light purchased along the Burj Khalifa’s exterior, a meal will be provided to a person in need. United Arab Emirates
Intel: Progressive coalition pushes Biden on Middle East policy More than 50 progressive advocacy groups on Monday sent a letter to former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, urging him to make concessions to the left on Middle East policy. Palestine
Is Russia pulling support from Libyan strongman Hifter? While Russia doesn't want to see Khalifa Hifter’s self-styled Libyan National Army collapse, there are signs Moscow’s interests may align more closely with other figures in the country’s eastern government. Libya
Saudi announces 24-hour lockdown for Eid holiday Saudi Arabia previously relaxed some of its anti-virus restrictions. Originals
Intel: US sanctions squeezing Iranian forces in Syria, says US envoy Cash-strapped Iran is reining in some of its forces in Syria as a result of American sanctions, US envoy James Jeffrey said today. Syria
Turkey targets US-backed Syrian Kurdish peace talks Turkey is openly disgruntled over the US-backed effort to unite disparate Syrian Kurdish factions that kicked off last month. Syria
Saudi Aramco first-quarter revenues fall The state-owned company still had a profit of $16.7 billion and gave its shareholders a big payout. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu appoints senior Likud member as his right-hand man in US Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, appointed to be Israel’s new envoy to both the United States and the UN, is a true Likud ideologist and ardent supporter of annexation. Israel
