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
Mystery surrounds Turkey’s $40 billion refugee bill Turkey says it has spent $40 billion on Syrian refugees, but figures available in official records don't add up. Syria
After unprecedented shutdown, Lebanon’s banks reopen, mitigate nationwide panic Lebanese banks have been shut for two weeks straight, not only because of the unprecedented nationwide protests but also because of the accumulation of an unresolved economic crisis. Lebanon
Draft law on hydrocarbons sparks another quarrel between regime, protest movement in Algeria The Algerian government recently approved a law to regularize the energy sector, which was rejected by protesters. Algeria
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Qatar repair ties frayed since May A Palestinian Islamic Jihad delegation recently met with Qatar’s ambassador to the Palestinian territories in a bid to improve relations between the two parties. Originals
Israel threatens to cut electricity in West Bank The Jerusalem District Electricity Company is plagued by an ongoing crisis preventing it from paying its debts to the Israeli electricity company. Palestine
Egypt renews state of emergency for 10th time Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has extended a state of emergency in place since April 2017, which some say violates the constitution and is used by the regime to suppress the opposition. Egypt
Syria looks to revitalize oil production to attract investors Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is tightening the regime's grip on oil fields with an eye toward their eventual rehabilitation. Syria
Pentagon: Islamic State will survive leader’s death The death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi will not extinguish the Islamic State’s ideology, US Central Command said, even as the Pentagon keeps up pressure to thin out the group's leadership with raids in Syria. Syria
The Takeaway: October 30, 2019 Highlights: ‘Kick queen’ brings spotlight to women in Lebanon protests; Putin keeps Erdogan on road to Damascus; GCC official says attack on Saudi Arabia “like our Pearl Harbor”; Kim Kardashian — Armenia’s secret weapon … and more! Originals
As Syria constitution talks kick off, is Kurdish administration 'finished'? As representatives from Syria's government, opposition and civil society meet in Geneva to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country, Al-Monitor spoke with French academic Fabrice Balanche on prospects for the talks. Iraq
Psychologists build bonds between Turks, Syrians even as refugee sentiment sours Turkey may be pushing for the return of refugees to Syria, but their advocates are still working to create ties between children, preparing for what is likely to be a much longer stay. Syria
Iran worried by Lebanon 'vacuum' after Hariri resignation The political uncertainty arising from the resignation of Lebanon's prime minister is sparking worries in Iran, which maintains key interests in the tiny but strategic Arab country. Lebanon
