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
Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia face attacks The repeated attacks against Egyptian nationals in Saudi Arabia may have become a phenomenon that has even escalated into killings lately in the absence of any deterrence. Saudi Arabia
Could humanitarian bank project advance US, Iranian interests? The complex network of sanctions on Iran means that even exempted humanitarian transactions remain difficult, and a humanitarian bank could provide the Iranian-American community with a legitimate, closely monitored channel to conduct business as well as prevent black market activities. Iran
The Takeaway: Timing of return to nuclear deal depends on Iran Blinken reiterates Biden policy to return to nuclear deal, once Iran is in compliance; Israel readies its war room as possible last resort. Israel
Protests in northern Lebanon against virus-related lockdowns turn deadly Lebanon's 24/7 lockdown has angered people in Tripoli amid a crippling economic crisis, and clashes have left hundreds injured and at least one dead. Lebanon
'A prudent first step': State Department reviewing UAE, Saudi arms sales The administration has suspended major foreign arms sales in what the State Department characterized as a routine decision. United States
Biden administration pauses arms sales to Gulf pending review The freeze includes the F-35 deal for the United Arab Emirates and bombs for Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Iran hosts Taliban delegation to discuss US presence in Afghanistan Both Iranian and Taliban officials criticized the United States' role in Afghanistan during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, amid peace talks in Qatar. Iran
Algerian courts use cover of pandemic to reverse protesters' gains Reforms sought by Algeria's Harek, or mass movement, are "stillborn" as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originals
Popular Lebanese music streaming platform Anghami moving to Abu Dhabi The Beirut-based company said they failed to attract investment in Lebanon amid the financial crisis. Lebanon
Biden Administration increases B-52 bombers in region as deterrent to Iran The United States Air Force has sent a sixth sortie of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Middle East. United States
Turkish firms fined over 'exorbitant' food prices as inflation soars Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce announced Wednesday it would issue nearly $500,000 in fines for companies it found to be charging "exorbitant" prices for food as the nation grapples with high inflation. Turkey
Iran’s Rouhani in tug of war with hard-liners over internet bans The Iranian president attacked the hard-line judiciary’s move to summon his telecommunications minister over ambitious internet access improvement plans. Iran
