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
Gingrich considered registering as a lobbyist for Iran regime change The former House speaker sought advice late last year on whether to register as a foreign agent for the Iranian opposition. United States
Iranian photographer reclaims iconic image used in controversial Trump tweet Iranians react against harsh messages by officials in the United States on the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. United States
Turkish ruling party sets up mobile food stalls to lure votes Turks are lining up in the thousands to buy subsidized vegetables at mobile stalls in Istanbul and Ankara as the ruling party attempts to fight soaring food prices ahead of elections. Turkey
Erdogan asks paramilitaries to 'safeguard' local elections As state propaganda frames Turkey's upcoming municipal elections as a matter of the president's survival, the government is welcoming paramilitary groups that declare allegiance to the state. Turkey
Challenges in Jerusalem, Gaza threaten Palestinian legislative elections The Palestinian Authority must be able to hold elections in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip for the polls to be legitimate. Palestine
Tunisians celebrate landmark ruling against president Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has lost his legal case against a citizen, a decision being hailed as a first for civil rights progress there. Tunisia
Ahead of elections, Israel fears foreign cyber meddling Israeli experts warn against foreign manipulation on social networks ahead of the elections, but also against lack of regulation in the war against cyber-attacks. Israel
Hamas, others say Israel's new border wall can't stop attacks Israel is spending 3 billion shekels to build a steel barrier along the Gaza border that Palestinians and even Israelis believe will not be 100% effective against Hamas-built tunnels. Israel
Why Egyptian farmers' sons would rather migrate than work in fields Agriculture in the Egyptian countryside is in decline as farmers' offspring would rather move abroad than stay at family farms. Egypt
First municipal real estate department opens in northern Syria The Azaz local council in Aleppo’s northern countryside opened a real estate department with Turkish support. Syria
Diminished Israeli Labor Party explores new niche in social justice Israel's once-powerful Labor Party is no longer perceived as a viable alternative to the ruling Likud, but it could re-establish itself as a fresh, young social justice platform. Israel
Navy's reversal on 355-ship goal raises doubts on countering Iran The US Navy will re-evaluate plans to grow its force to 355 ships, a move that could upset the Fifth Fleet’s Middle East strategy. Legacy: Gulf
