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 Gaza policy: a recipe for escalation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading a caretaker government that shouldn’t last long, yet he authorized a complicated operation that generated a barrage of Gaza rockets. Palestine
Europe seeks diplomatic next steps on Iran Warning about the resumption of enrichment at Iran’s underground Fordow facility, Europeans look for a diplomatic path that could get the United States and Iran back to the table, and keep the deal alive through 2020 US elections. United States
Ancient Kurdish festival offers taste of enduring love, mysticism Mythology, mysticism and tributes to love dominate the Pir-Shalyar wedding festival in a rocky Kurdish village in western Iran. Iran
Democrats fight Trump stonewall over Lebanon military aid freeze Democratic leaders are pushing the White House for answers over its hold on $105 million in foreign military aid to Lebanon after the US administration refused to respond to questions about the decision from Congress. Originals
Iran debates end of confession broadcasts An outspoken Iranian lawmaker is pushing legislation that would abolish the state broadcaster's controversial tradition of airing forced confessions. Iran
Iran’s Rouhani shows spark of old self against hard-liners Now that the Iranian president is out from under the pressure of his brother’s corruption trial, he appears to be returning to the outspoken moderate-reformist views that got him reelected. Iran
Russia chides Turkey over Idlib — again Russia's foreign minister has demanded Turkey end tensions in Syria's Idlib, indicating Russia will continue to use Idlib as a pressure point to keep Ankara in line. Syria
Iran displeased by deal between Yemeni government, southern separatists Although Tehran has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, it also doesn’t want a Riyadh-led resolution to the war. Saudi Arabia
Can Arab parties oust Netanyahu without empowering Liberman? Though its constituency's top priority is toppling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Joint List has not forgotten the vitriol expressed over the years by Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman. Israel
Iran's Rouhani threatens to reveal economic corruption President Hassan Rouhani and Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi clash over corruption cases. Iran
Amr Moussa: In five years, 'you will not recognize' Mideast In an interview, the former Egyptian foreign minister and secretary general of the Arab League reflected on the changes taking place in the region. Iraq
Erdogan doesn't let facts interfere with rhetoric The spin Turkey's president puts on his country's most recent incursion into Syria wanders far from reality. Turkey
