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
Turkey seeks alternate oil sources as US ends Iran sanctions waivers Ankara vowed to defy US sanctions on Iran, but figures show Turkey heeding US restrictions and curtailing oil imports from Iran. Turkey
Biden’s pro-Israel record could help with defense of Iran nuclear deal The former vice president’s foreign policy experience and pro-Israel credentials could make him an effective supporter of the Iran deal but open him up to attacks from the left. United States
As food prices soar, Ankara wobbles on solution Turkey’s food inflation has climbed to nearly 30% amid an alarming decline in the agricultural sector, but Ankara remains far from a viable solution, wasting time with unrealistic projects. Turkey
Will PA take over Gaza crossings again? The Palestinian Authority has recently asked Egypt to take over the Gaza crossings once again in what officials say is aimed at controlling the projects to be developed under the truce between Hamas and Israel. Palestine
US envoy's NYT piece about Hamas stirs speculation President Donald Trump's envoy for the Mideast peace process, Jason Greenblatt, directly addressed Hamas in a New York Times opinion piece, calling on the Palestinian movement to choose peace over violence. Palestine
Hamas denies plot to infiltrate Palestinian Authority security A recent Israeli newspaper report claims Hamas penetrated Palestinian security services in the West Bank. Palestine
Has Egypt ditched Arab NATO? Uncertainty surrounds Egypt’s membership in the US-promoted Middle East Strategic Alliance amid the country’s unconfirmed withdrawal from the project. Egypt
Qatar brings Gaza beaches back to life The Gaza Electricity Distribution Co. completed April 18 a Qatar-funded project designed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the wastewater treatment plants, which will subsequently stop seawater pollution and revitalize the beaches. Palestine
After years of undermining judiciary, Netanyahu needs its help Israel's prime minister and New Right leader Naftali Bennett are ironically seeking justice through the same court system they attack on a regular basis. Israel
Iraqi bill on Yazidi female survivors stirs controversy If passed, a draft bill in the Iraqi parliament would guarantee financial compensation for Yazidi women kidnapped by the Islamic State, but a clause on the religion of children born from rape has provoked controversy. Iraq
Egypt's opposition fears for future as constitutional amendments pass Egyptian activists criticized the integrity of a recent referendum vote that saw the passing of a constitutional amendment to extend the president's term to 2030. Egypt
Iraq hopes for dilemma-less summer Iraq’s new government faces potential problems and a cast of quirky characters. Iraq
