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
Intel: Saudis to discuss oil price war with new Republican detractors Saudi officials will hold a phone call to discuss the kingdom’s record high oil output with two Republican senators that have become the ringleaders in conservative efforts to pressure Riyadh into ending the price war. Saudi Arabia
Roadside bombing in southeast Turkey kills five civilians While no group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack, Ankara is pointing the finger at the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party. Turkey
Islamic State seeks comeback under cover of coronavirus Iraqi authorities are worried the Islamic State will rear its head again now that the US-led coalition's anti-terror efforts have been put on hold, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Iraq
Gantz, Netanyahu trample Basic Law with mind-boggling hutzpah In negotiating a unity government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz are making a mockery of Israel's parliamentary system and Basic Laws. Israel
Gantz has played into Netanyahu's hands Thanks to the coronavirus crisis and high poll numbers, Benjamin Netanyahu is even better off than he'd hoped, but he still needs Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to get him back into the Prime Ministry. Israel
Is Israel's Gantz crafting his political demise or a new beginning? Even if Blue and White's Benny Gantz fails in his attempt to form the next Israeli government, he could emerge from the effort looking like the adult in the room and the person who put the interest of the state above his own. Israel
Israel passes ball of prisoner exchange deal back to Hamas On the back of the coronavirus crisis, Israel is now examining a three-phased plan proposed indirectly by Hamas for the exchange of prisoners. Palestine
Egypt joins worldwide race for coronavirus cure Egypt’s Cairo University recently announced that it has found a treatment protocol for COVID-19 and is awaiting its approval for use. Egypt
Services emerge to help Middle Eastern men beat high costs of marriage In Gaza and Egypt, men are seeking help from religious authorities and matchmaking services to persuade their prospective brides' families to lower financial demands. Palestine
Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s diverging regional coronavirus strategy The United Arab Emirates is showing openness to Iran during the coronavirus crisis, which could point to the UAE’s aim to break loose of the policies of its tradition Saudi ally. Saudi Arabia
‘All hands on deck:’ Middle East embassies inundated with citizens stranded in US Middle East embassies are overwhelmed with calls from citizens trying to return home as COVID-19 spreads in the United States. Oman
Intel: Key Democrat says Yemen war restrictions 'on the table' in major defense bill House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., told Al-Monitor today that Democrats are considering renewing last year’s push to cut off US support to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels as part of Congress’ annual defense authorization bill. Saudi Arabia
