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
As PMU gets involved in Iraqi protests, rumors about military coup spread PMU leaders who have been silent about the protests have started to get involved, as rumors are spreading in the capital about a possible military coup in the country. Iraq
Jordan willing to escalate to get back its citizens detained by Israel Jordan has recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv in protest against the ongoing administrative detention of two of its nationals, threatening to take further escalatory steps. Israel
Lebanon's revolutionary art flourishes despite culture sector strike Since the start of Lebanon’s protests on Oct. 17, street artists have mobilized to add their marks to the massive movement that has swept across Lebanon. Lebanon
US mum on Iran prisoner swap dangle The United States government is saying little about Iran’s recent announcement it is sending a list of names for a possible prisoner swap, but there are signs of possible movement behind the scenes. United States
Iran not letting Iraq go without a fight Iraqi protesters have had enough of Iran’s heavy hand, but don’t expect the Iranians to pack up and go home. Iraq
Israel 2019, at the mercy of the Chief Rabbinate The Haifa rabbinical court decided to take children out of their mother's custody, because the mother was not keeping a religious lifestyle. Israel
Amid rising protests, PMU prevents confrontation with US The Popular Mobilization Units try to distance themselves from the current confrontation between Iran and US in order to preserve PMU interests in Iraq. Iraq
Iraqi president pledges early elections while protesters call for more radical solutions After a meeting with heads of parliamentary blocs and other top officials, Iraqi President Barham Salih announces a reform plan in response to protester demands. Iraq
Palestinians criticize Hamas’ decision to appoint municipal presidents Hamas is lambasted for appointing municipality presidents without holding elections in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Trump’s amity with Erdogan deepens Turkey’s isolation The double blow the US House dealt Turkey over its military campaign in Syria shows how wrong Erdogan is to rely solely on his personal relationship with Trump to manage ties with the United States. Turkey
Cairo seeks mediation for talks on Ethiopian dam Cairo has decided to seek international mediation for struggling negotiations on Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Kurdish self-administration under fire People living to the east of the Euphrates in Syria wonder about the fate of the Kurdish self-administration after the Turkish military attack and the recent Russian, Turkish and US political agreements on the status of this region. Syria
