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: Iran sanctions debate highlights fissure between Democratic hawks, progressives The debate over how to respond to President Donald Trump’s sanctions regime against Iran in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is creating a fissure between the hawkish and the left wings of the Democratic party. United States
Saudi Arabia to pay some private sector salaries amid coronavirus fallout Riyadh has announced it will cover a portion of private sector salaries in the industries most impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Saudi Arabia
Syrian refugees villainized as Turkey faces costs of coronavirus The Turkish government is under fire for being less generous to its own needy citizens hit by the coronavirus crisis than it has been to Syrian refugees, who are said to have cost Ankara more than $40 billion. Turkey
How COVID-19 will change GCC labor markets A siren is blaring for local labor markets as the global pandemic and falling oil revenues begin to upend the Gulf states' economies. Saudi Arabia
Algeria’s protesters say COVID-19 will not kill movement, just transform it Amid the spread of the coronavirus in Algeria, the country’s yearlong popular protest movement had to transform its tactics and launched online campaigns to raise awareness about the novel virus. Algeria
Coronavirus bursts Israeli ultra-Orthodox bubble With the number of coronavirus carriers in the ultra-Orthodox community exploding, it is important for this community to realize that anyone who keeps it from knowledge and information is keeping it from making educated decisions. Israel
Hamas blusters for Israeli coronavirus aid Hamas has neglected the health system of Gaza for years, so its only weapon against the coronavirus is threatening Israel or offering a deal for help. Palestine
Coronavirus curfew fails to clear Iraqi protest squares Despite a curfew and other restrictions imposed by the Iraqi government to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, Iraq’s major protest squares remain packed with demonstrators. Iraq
In Cairo, different architectural styles mingle with each other Egypt's plans to celebrate its multi-layered Islamic heritage stumbles upon coronavirus measures. Egypt
Religious authorities across Syria join fight against the coronavirus Most religious authorities in Syria called on their constituents to abide by the government’s preventive measures aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Syria
Coronavirus revives Gaza's sewing sector as tailors turn out PPE As COVID-19 spreads across the Middle East, Israel is having medical gear made in the Gaza Strip, where clothing manufacturers have shifted production to sorely needed personal protective equipment. Palestine
Syrian students turn to e-learning amid pandemic The opposition-led government in Syria has activated distance learning for students in the areas under its control to help curb the spread of the coronavirus in schools and universities, though some students aren't able to benefit from the program. Syria
