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
Israel’s right engaged in wild anti-Arab incitement Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s attempts to establish a minority government with the support of the Arab Joint List is leading right-wing ministers to intensify their inciteful tone against Arab legislators. Israel
A Gantz-led government, recipe for Jewish-Arab reconciliation? Partnership with Arab and Muslim parties is not a "problem," but an opportunity to heal Israeli society and advance Jewish-Muslim reconciliation. Israel
Is COVID-19 lurking in Syria's Kurdish northeast? Residents of the Kurdish autonomous administration in Syria are complaining about the lack of sufficient precautionary measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Syria
A cleric's cure for coronavirus becomes butt of jokes in Iran A cleric’s bizarre response to treating COVID-19 in the guise of Islamic medicine has provoked widespread ridicule in Iran. Iran
Palestinians rediscover vast appetite for snails Snail recipes been passed from generation to generation in the Middle East, where many historical sources suggest the dish originated, and their popularity has led to a population decline in the West Bank. Palestine
Coronavirus damages Iraqi economy with fall in tourism, oil prices COVID-19 has harmed both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy. Iraq
Arabic Sesame Street helps children explore emotions Sesame Workshop, the non-governmental organization behind series like "Sesame Street," teamed up with the International Rescue Committee to produce a new show for Middle Eastern children affected by war and displacement. Jordan
How Iran’s next parliament will affect foreign policy Though Iran’s conservatives will rule the upcoming parliament, they might not rule with an iron fist as some expect. United States
Turkish envoy calls for more international support for Syria refugees, cease-fire deal Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic said Ankara is not receiving enough support from the international community as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels for meetings with the European Council and NATO. Syria
UAE shows path for peaceful nuclear development Fuel assemblies have been loaded into the first of four UAE nuclear power plants following the country's yearslong effort to develop major national and international support for nuclear energy. United Arab Emirates
Egyptian FM kicks off regional tour to boost support in Ethiopia row Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's seven-country tour comes amid escalating tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa over construction of the Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Former Turkish minister establishes party to challenge Erdogan Ali Babacan, who served as foreign minister and economy czar under Turkey’s powerful leader, has formally applied to set up a new political party, hoping his promise for greater economic and civil liberties will appeal to voters weary of Turkey’s "politics of fear." Turkey
