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
Is Israel dangling economic carrot to lead Hamas to a truce? Israel has allowed Gaza to import and export previously banned goods for the first time in 13 years, and some have interpreted the move as part of an effort to entice Hamas into a truce. Palestine
Outgoing Iraqi government's policies cause billions of dollars in economic losses Abdul Mahdi's resigned government causes billions of dollars in losses to the economy. Iraq
US expresses hope troops will stay in Iraq after parliament vote Iraq's parliament votes for a nonbinding resolution to expel US troops as the United States pauses operations against the Islamic State. Iraq
Can Karnak sphinxes survive on Tahrir Square? Egyptian and international experts and activists worry that moving four ram-headed sphinxes from Luxor to Tahrir Square will destroy the monuments. Egypt
Iraqi armed factions vow revenge for Shiite commanders’ killings Iraqi politicians and leaders of Shiite armed groups now incorporated into government forces have vowed to get revenge for the US drone attack that killed IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani and Kataib Hezbollah militia chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iraq
White House defiant as Iraq threatens to expel US troops over Soleimani strike Iraq’s potential vote to expel US forces for assassinating Maj, Gen. Qasem Soleimani could spell trouble for the campaign against the Islamic State. Iraq
Trump: Killing Soleimani intended to avert, not start war with Iran With no details to back up their claims, the Donald Trump administration asserts that the targeted killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani was to disrupt imminent attacks against US interests. Originals
What Iran lost with Soleimani’s killing The top military commander’s influence went beyond his military prowess, and will be something that no successor can likely replicate. Iraq
US prepares for potential Iranian escalation and Iraq expulsion The Donald Trump administration is bracing for potential Iranian attacks throughout the Middle East after a Pentagon strike killed the paramilitary leader Qasem Soleimani Jan. 3. Iraq
Iraq can’t survive a US-Iran war The Iraqi government is on edge after the United States takes out Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, calls for restraint. Iraq
Gulf investor asks US court to subpoena Kuwait lobbying records A multinational investor in a Kuwait-linked investment fund has asked a US court to subpoena US banks over allegations of misconduct by the fund. Kuwait
Top commander's assassination leaves Iran with very few options to retaliate Following Qasem Soleimani's assassination in Iraq, there has been heightened concern about an Iranian reaction. But due to Tehran's economic hardship, decreased support from the public in Middle East societies and international isolation, Iran isn't likely to seek revenge militarily against the United States. Iraq
