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
Egypt’s role in Africa during COVID-19 pandemic Although Egypt’s chairmanship of the African Union ended in 2019, it continues to focus on Africa, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
High Court greenlights Netanyahu’s unity government The High Court ruling of last night enables Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to go ahead with their deal and establish a unity government. Israel
In Israel, coronavirus crisis improves Jewish-Arab relations Contrary to past emergency situations, the COVID-19 crisis seems to have helped improve the relationship between the Jewish and Arab communities. Palestine
Turkey's occupation of northern Syria includes population transfers Turkey’s transfer of Syrian families to Tell Abyad from Afrin has reignited worries of demographic engineering in northern Syria. Syria
Iraq’s parliament approves government of new PM Kadhimi A new Iraqi government has been finally formed after months of deadlock and a political crisis that hit the country’s stability and economy. Iraq
Trump administration announces $225 million in emergency Yemen aid The Donald Trump administration announced $225 in emergency food aid for Yemen today, but the United States is still refusing to cooperate with the World Health Organization on vital programs. Yemen
Intel: Trump administration to return acquitted scientist to Iran, paving way for potential prisoner swap The United States is expected to deport an Iranian professor acquitted of sanctions evasion. United States
Turkish soccer to welcome back players — but not fans Turkey's professional soccer teams will begin playing in empty stadiums in June, the Turkish Football Federation president said Wednesday. Turkey
Israel announces major settlement construction project Israel officially plans to build new settlement housing units in the West Bank as the country builds momentum for annexation with some US support. Palestine
Intel: Biden vows to reopen Palestinian delegation in Washington Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Tuesday that he would move to reopen the Palestinian delegation in Washington, which President Donald Trump closed in 2018. Palestine
Qatar coup rumors leave trail to regional rivals An apparently doctored video made the rounds on Twitter Monday suggesting a coup was under way in Qatar. Saudi Arabia
Iran says it is exporting coronavirus diagnostic kits Iran announced the export of its first batch of domestically produced coronavirus diagnostic tests to Germany, saying it is receiving similar orders from other nations plagued by the pandemic. Iran
