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
Deir ez-Zor residents protest rule by Syrian Kurdish group The Deir ez-Zor military council, affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been firing on protesters and believes they are being fed anti-SDF propaganda by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Israel turns to anti-terror technology to counter coronavirus Awaiting Cabinet approval, the Shin Bet plans to implement digital counterterrorism technology to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. Israel
Coronavirus imposes calm on Gaza front Calm has returned between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, mainly because of the outbreak of the coronavirus and fears of it spreading in the besieged enclave. Palestine
Tourists stay away as Egypt reopens oldest pyramid Egypt has finally reopened its oldest pyramid after 14 years of restoration work, but the timing could have been better. Egypt
Egyptian program aims to send first Egyptian into space Egypt's young but ambitious space agency is accepting applications from cititzens who would receive training to go into space as the first Egyptian by 2026. Egypt
‘Dragon storm’ batters Egypt with torrential rains, killing nearly 20 The intense storm comes as the country struggles to contain a coronavirus outbreak within its borders. Egypt
Bahrain pardons hundreds of prisoners as coronavirus fears spread While authorities have attributed the release to humanitarian reasons, human rights groups link the decision to efforts to contain the outbreak. Bahrain
A new generation lays its predecessors' ghosts to rest In Al-Monitor's latest longform, we look at young people throughout the Mideast who have been at the forefront of efforts to turn the page on decades of sclerotic and rigged politics in favor of a more democratic alternative. Iraq
Historical context: Biden’s 2002 vote on Iraq war Congress passed a new resolution on the use of force in the Middle East; the United States retaliates against Iran-backed militias in Iraq; and an 18-year-old debate returns. Iraq
Could baby-faced rival of Erdogan be 'remedy' for Turkey's problems? Can Ali Babacan, Turkey's former deputy premier, be a beacon of hope for the center-right? Turkey
Mercury hires British lobbyists as Israeli spyware firm faces global backlash Mercury Public Affairs is tapping former British officials to help lobby for Q Cyber Technologies and its better known subsidiary the NSO Group as the Israeli spyware company faces a global backlash. Originals
Israel's new Knesset members sworn in empty parliament building The traditionally festive swearing-in ceremony for the Knesset's incoming members was tainted by tight biosecurity measures and an unending political crisis. Israel
