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
Netanyahu’s Day of Atonement Gideon Saar was the first Likud member to make known his intention to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu for leadership of the party, but he is not alone in wanting to assume the crown. Israel
Turkish incursion threatens to unleash Islamic State in Syria, US officials warn The Donald Trump administration’s decision Sunday to allow a Turkish incursion into northeast Syria threatens to let loose thousands of Islamic State prisoners onto the battlefield, US officials are warning. Syria
Iraqi government seems powerless against protesters even as 'unknown' snipers take toll For the seventh day in a row, protesters challenge the Iraqi government across Baghdad and the south; the death toll rises to nearly 120 as unidentified snipers pick off demonstrators. Iraq
Israel-Palestinian tax deal has implications beyond economy The compromise over Israel's withheld tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority could present a step toward recognition of Palestinian sovereignty. Palestine
Netanyahu’s strategic failures on Iran, Trump Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had gambled on US President Donald Trump to spearhead the struggle against the "Iranian threat," in what now emerges to be a colossal strategic failure. Saudi Arabia
What is behind rising violence in Israeli Arab society? A spike in violence in Arab villages in Israel has many claiming that police indifference is at the root of the matter, but they are not the only to blame. Israel
Iranian officials growing concerned about Iraqi protests Iranian officials have become concerned over the growing protests taking place in neighboring Iraq. Iraq
Cleric rising to lead Iran’s new wave of hard-liners As a new generation of right-wing conservatives emerges in Iran, well-known cleric Alireza Panahian is upping his game as a vocal critic of Reformists and moderates. Iran
Have Iran, US slammed door on nuclear negotiations? Iran and the United States both have upcoming elections and other urgent domestic issues to focus on, and neither seems interested in cooperating on nuclear talks. United States
Volkswagen’s investment plan for Turkey fuels controversy Desperate to attract foreign investment, Ankara has offered lucrative incentives for Volkswagen to build a major plant in Turkey that will use outdated and polluting technology. Turkey
Visit from Vatican reps boosts Catholic-Muslim interaction Muslim and Catholic religious leaders observed the eighth centenary of St. Francis' pilgrimage to Jerusalem by visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque, illustrating what appears to be a golden age of relations between the religions. Palestine
Intel: Tunisia’s Islamic conservatives bounce back in parliamentary polls Exit polls from Sunday's nationwide parliamentary elections suggest that the pro-Islamic Ennahda came in first, followed by the newly established Qalb Tounes, or Heart of Tunisia, led by jailed tycoon Nabil Karaoui, who will be in the Oct. 13 presidential runoff. Tunisia
