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
How a falafel shop owner may have accelerated Israel's unity government A falafel vendor's tearful account in a TV interview about his livelihood and how he has been personally affected by the coronavirus pandemic has resonated across the country, so much so that it shook Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz into action. Israel
Why Russia’s grip on Syrian military is weaker than it seems Russia’s attempts to centralize the command of numerous pro-Assad militias operating in Syria have been a mixed bag, to say the least. Syria
Lebanon records zero new COVID-19 cases for first time since virus emerged Anti-government protesters return to the streets of Beirut, the Lebanese parliament approves an IMF loan and the Health Ministry reports no new cases of COVID-19. Lebanon
Intel: Trump to 'look at' blocking Saudi oil exports as Republican pressure mounts President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to "look at" a potential embargo on Saudi oil shipments to the United States as record low oil prices turned negative for the first time ever. Saudi Arabia
The message behind Israel’s drone attack Hezbollah is on edge as Israel continues its drone war in Lebanon. Israel
Gantz-Netanyahu deal legitimizes annexation The possibility of further Israeli annexation of occupied territories has received legitimacy from the Israeli government, pushing even further into the abyss the slight possibility of a two-state solution. Palestine
Iran says it's released 1,000 foreign prisoners since outbreak began Amid criticism from rights organizations, Tehran said it has temporarily released more than 1,000 foreigners due to the pandemic. Iran
Media, rights groups decry Houthi court's execution orders Yemen is without a doubt hostile to the press, but the death sentences imposed on four journalists by a Houthi court shocked many observers. Yemen
Israel’s new foreign minister, the man without a tie In Israel’s Foreign Ministry, diplomats hope that their new minister, former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, can extract the ministry from the terrible budget cuts it has suffered over the past few years. Israel
Domestic violence in Lebanon spikes under lockdown More women are reporting abuse and domestic violence in Lebanon as the country's citizens remain stuck at home to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Lebanon
Defections threaten Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib The internal differences in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham push its most prominent leaders to defect, and a clash with al-Qaeda’s Guardians of Religion Organization may accelerate the defections. Syria
Israel's two-headed regime likely to paralyze itself Under the power-sharing deal they've signed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz are taking Israeli politics into uncharted territory. Israel
