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
Erdogan coalition partner calls for outlawing pro-Kurdish party Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli said Turkey's Constitution should be changed to ban the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party. Turkey
British Airways stops flights to several Gulf cities The airline will no longer fly to destinations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman in 2021 as global air travel continues to take a hit amid the pandemic. Legacy: Gulf
Israeli duo looks to recreate Biden-Harris dynamic to pull off win With Knesset member Yifat Shasha-Biton joining him, Likud-rebel Gideon Saar may be presaging a campaign similar to that waged by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Israel
Iran's Christians face renewed fears ahead of Christmas The case of Dabrina Bet Tamraz and her parents highlights a string of crackdowns against Evangelical and Protestant Christians across the country that have forced many to flee. Iran
Archive Upfront from Dec 17, 2020 10 years on, Tunisian emotions mixed in birthplace of Arab Spring Ten years after the first Arab Spring protests erupted in the central Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid, the locals are still suffering economic hardships amid a lack of government support. Tunisia
Despite sometimes cool relations, Egypt welcomes Morocco’s deal with Israel Regardless of the estrangement over the past years, more rapprochement between Egypt and Morocco is expected during the next stage, after the kingdom joined other Arab countries in normalizing relations with Israel. Egypt
Egypt gearing up for mass COVID-19 immunization Egypt is gearing up to start a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign, after receiving two shipments of about 100,000 doses of a Chinese vaccine. Egypt
Lebanese citizens see no relief as economic downturn worsens Amid plans to lift subsidies and private universities’ decision to raise tuition fees, the Lebanese people continue to suffer under the country’s crumbling economy with no end in sight. Lebanon
The Takeaway: Is Erdogan wooing Biden by antagonizing Iran and Russia? Six signs of possible change in Turkish policies. Turkey
Iran nuclear deal parties discuss salvaging the accord The nuclear deal's remaining signatories met virtually in an effort to preserve the landmark agreement. Iran
US treasury secretary to tour Middle East in final push for Abraham Accords Steven Mnuchin plans to stop in Israel, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Qatar. United Arab Emirates
US sanctions companies in UAE, China over Iranian petrochemical sales A slew of new sanctions in Trump administration's final weeks could complicate Biden's pledge to rejoin the Iranian nuclear agreement. Iran
