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
Tunisia goes into 'diplomatic coma' Following the Turkish intervention in Libya and the Tunisian diplomatic silence in the face of the Libyan developments, Tunisians have launched a campaign calling on officials to break their silence and play an effective role in any mediation process aimed at putting an end to the Libyan conflict. Turkey
Hamas-Fatah division deepens with Soleimani’s assassination Palestinians express conflicting opinions over the US assassination of Iran's Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, while faction leaders praise him as a martyr. Palestine
Senate Armed Services Chairman Inhofe endorses Iraq sanctions Key Republican leaders are lining up behind President Donald Trump’s threats to hit Iraq with crippling sanctions. Iraq
Europeans rebuff Trump call to abandon nuclear deal amid growing rift on Iran The United States and Europe continue to be divided on Iran, with points of contention including how to react to the Iran protests and how the United States has doubled down on pressure after the Soleimani killing. United States
Libyan rebels lobbied US energy officials, GOP lawmakers amid oil dispute Lobbyists for strongman Khalifa Hifter’s forces helped set up meetings with US officials for Libya’s rival government. Libya
As Russia mediates Syria-Turkey talks, can new Idlib truce hold? As the international spotlight was on intra-Libyan talks in Moscow, Russia mediated talks between Syria-Turkey security chiefs Syria
Years after coup, purged civil servants feel trapped in Turkey More than 130,000 dismissed civil servants continue to fight for their jobs and basic rights in post-coup Turkey, including those acquitted of their original charges. Turkey
Can Iran mobilize allies to end US Mideast presence? Iran seeks an end to the US presence in the Middle East, but can it bring Russia and Turkey on board? Iraq
Intel: Why the US is expelling dozens of Saudi military trainees Washington is expected to expel more than a dozen Saudi military trainees from the United States. Saudi Arabia
Protests continue in Iran over plane crash Iranians' outrage continues unabated since their government admitted to shooting down a Ukrainian plane, killing 176 people. Iran
Has Netanyahu outsmarted himself in push for right-wing merger? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing right-wing parties to unite ahead of March elections, but his past success at encouraging such a merger might thwart his efforts this time around. Israel
Israel’s Minister Kahlon: social mobility and caring for the poor Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon plans to quit politics, leaving behind not only bitterness but also a legacy of the 'Second Israel' rising to high positions. Israel
