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
Intel: How an Air Force vet’s indictment reveals US vulnerability to Iranian cyber-espionage Originals
Iran says Warsaw meeting will only escalate Mideast crises Iranian officials and media outlets are still busy panning US efforts to advance an anti-Tehran agenda at a two-day conference in the Polish capital, saying the event will only fan the flames of chaos in the Middle East. United States
Saudi crown prince looks to Asia trip to boost image Facing fallout in the West over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hopes his upcoming trip to Asia will project an image of business as usual. Saudi Arabia
Khashoggi fiancee grieves slain journalist, demands justice in new book Turkish researcher Hatice Cengiz has released a memoir of her relationship with the murdered Saudi journalist and says she hopes it will keep up public pressure to punish those responsible for his death. Saudi Arabia
Turkey frustrated over Western inaction in Khashoggi murder case Ankara’s push for an international investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is also widening the gap between Arab regimes and Turkey. Saudi Arabia
Turkish town gets a splash of color with local black rose Turkey's southeastern town of Halfeti claims to be the home of a rare black rose grown only on the riverbeds of the Euphrates River. Turkey
Routed FSA faction likely to accept Turkish aid, demands After being ousted from the western Aleppo countryside, the Nour al-din al-Zenki Movement seems to have no choice but to accept Turkey's offer of aid — and meet its conditions. Syria
Murder of Iraqi novelist stirs fear, outrage A popular Iraqi writer was killed by unknown gunmen, stoking already rampant fears of violence among educated Iraqis. Iraq
Why did Netanyahu confirm Israeli attack in Syria? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel attacked Iranian targets in Syria on Feb. 11, reflecting the intensified battle by the Israel Defense Forces against Iranian entrenchment there. Israel
Will Palestine finally recognize local evangelicals? In light of the growing influence of Christian Zionism in the West, the Palestinian leadership is revisiting recognition of evangelicals in the Palestinian territories and engaging local evangelicals to speak with Western Christians about support for Israel and the Palestinian movement. Palestine
Hamas leader presents 3 options for Gaza Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly proposed three scenarios to change the deteriorating situation in Gaza, including allowing the UN or Egypt to deploy in the besieged enclave. Originals
Will Israeli Jews support Arab Knesset candidate? Ahead of April 9 elections, Jewish voters on the left have surprisingly come out in support of Taal, headed by Israeli Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi. Palestine
