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
Did Egypt go behind Hamas’ back to meet with Israel? Egypt’s security delegation visited Israel and held talks in Netanyahu’s office without visiting Gaza. Palestine
Will Egypt’s protests reach Jordan? The online calls for protests to bring down the regime in Egypt and other calls on social media for protests demanding reforms in Jordan encouraged Jordanian activists to unify their ranks. Egypt
Protesters rise up as Lebanon’s leaders grapple with multiple economic crises Hundreds of Lebanese took to the streets to protest deteriorating economic conditions and the high cost of living, which prompted the Central Bank to issue a new measure aimed at easing the currency crisis. Lebanon
Hamas orders its supporters not to comment on anti-Sisi demonstrations Hamas decided to distance itself from Egyptian demonstrations demanding the departure of Sisi. Palestine
Egypt, US combine efforts to boost family planning programs Egyptian parliament recently approved amendments to a deal signed with USAID that would provide $10 million for Egypt’s family planning program. Egypt
Egypt tries to get new Sudan government to its side Egypt has recently hosted a meeting of Sudan’s revolutionary forces and armed opposition to help advance negotiations and peace talks, as Cairo believes security in Sudan is linked to its own internal stability. Egypt
Congress pushes Trump to get tough on Idlib Congress is calling on the State Department to get tougher on calling out reported Syrian war crimes as forces loyal to the Bashar al-Assad regime attempt to advance deeper into Idlib, one of the opposition’s last holdouts in the war-torn country. Syria
Congress aims to keep spotlight on Saudi Arabia one year after Khashoggi murder One year after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, Congress still seeks to hold Saudi Arabia accountable despite resistance from President Donald Trump and his allies in the Senate. Saudi Arabia
Israel’s ambassador to Egypt still sitting at home Amira Oron is an experienced diplomat, who was supposed to be the first woman to serve as Israel’s ambassador to Cairo; yet one year after her appointment was approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is still sitting at home. Egypt
One year on, Turkish human rights advocates lament inaction on Khashoggi murder One year after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, advocates for human rights and press freedom highlight failures in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Saudi Arabia
Will Erdogan's plans for northern Syria be realized? Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may keep everyone guessing about his next move in Syria, but it is not certain if he has clear plans himself. Syria
The new Knesset's uncertain start As members of the 22nd Knesset took their seats, speculation swirled about a third round of elections within a year and the twilight of the prime minister's political career. Israel
