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
Was Boris Johnson’s great grandfather an Ottoman traitor or a hero? Boris Johnson ascending to power in the United Kingdom has triggered a debate on the role and views of his great grandfather, Ali Kemal, in Turkish history. Turkey
Can Syrian Kurds’ offer unlock door to compromise with Turkey? The Syrian Kurds have offered Turkey a 5-kilometer-deep buffer zone that would see the pullout of Kurdish forces and heavy weaponry, without seeking the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Afrin, but only that of aligned militia. Syria
Golden Triangle to boost development, increase investments in Upper Egypt Egypt is preparing to launch work on the Golden Triangle project in Upper Egypt, with the aim to develop the region, boost the economy and create job opportunities. Originals
Lawyer couple use own wedding to advocate for civil marriage in Lebanon A high-profile civil marriage between two lawyers is pushing Lebanon's new interior minister to make a choice on civil unions in the country. Lebanon
Will Netanyahu's Putin connection backfire in his hunt for votes? Contrary to the thinking of Likud advisers, Russian-speaking Israeli voters might actually be repulsed by election campaign efforts highlighting the friendship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Israel
PA mulls over importing fuel from Iraq The Palestinian Authority weighs its options to import fuel from Iraq through Jordan as a step toward economic disengagement from Israel, but will the Paris Protocol allow it to do so? Palestine
Netanyahu pushes a religious-right, far-right merger Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes the United Right platform under Ayelet Shaked to merger with far-right Jewish Power group. Israel
New UK government signals continued support for Iran nuclear deal The new British government led by Boris Johnson's expresses support for the Iran nuclear deal as the pact faces a possible new obstacle involving the reduction of proliferation risks at Iran’s Fordo and Arak facilities. United States
Shin Bet warns Israelis against all Bedouins Israel’s Bedouin community is outraged at a Shin Bet statement hinting at Bedouin involvement in terrorism. Palestine
Israel's electoral threshold: A matchmaker for marriages of convenience The four-Knesset-seat threshold has forced several parties to form alliances despite starkly contrasting ideological differences between them. Palestine
'Broken Wings' carry Khalil Gibran home to Lebanon Addressing issues of patriarchy, immigration and religious power, beloved writer Kahlil Gibran’s century-old novel 'Broken Wings' and a musical based on it are powerfully relevant today. Lebanon
New Yazidi prince appointed in Iraq amid sharp divisions A new Yazidi prince has been appointed in Iraq amid sharp division in the community that recently survived genocide. Iraq
