Gendarmerie operation sparks controversy in Petra, Jordan Petra’s tribal entrepreneurs react to a security operation carried out inside Jordan’s most-visited UNESCO World Heritage Site with criticism and concern for their livelihoods. Jordan
Culture Despite war, thousands of Israeli Hasidim make pilgrimage to Ukraine Much like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine won’t stop thousands of Hasidim from reaching the city of Uman and the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov just before the Jewish New Year. Israel
Middle East airlines to suffer losses again in 2022 The International Air Transport Association said that airlines in the region will fare somewhat better financially due to the return of long-haul flights. Legacy: Gulf
Israel expects post-COVID tourism rebound this summer Israeli experts do not expect tourism to reach this summer the record level of 2019, but they certainly notice a trend of increase on both outbound and incoming tourism. Israel
Veteran Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat dies at 65 Erekat, who contracted the coronavirus last month, died in a Jerusalem hospital on Tuesday. Palestine
Israeli fashion industry could collapse from pandemic losses Shopkeepers warn that if the government does not take serious steps to save them from the coronavirus-induced crisis, the whole national fashion industry could go down. Israel
Israel in talks for Pfizer's vaccine, official says US drug company Pfizer said on Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective. Israel
Unions rally workers against controversial new Egyptian laws Hundreds of employees from Egypt’s Workers University, a private university, began a strike and sit-in because salaries of employees have not been paid in the past two months, as Egypt approves controversial amendments to the law on the public sector. Egypt
WHO regional director says COVID-19 threat far from over, despite vaccine progress In a lengthy interview with Al-Monitor, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed al-Mandhari warns the coronavirus "remains a cause for concern," as he discussed his organization’s efforts to help the countries of the region cope with the pandemic. Legacy: Gulf
Jordan reaches record COVID-19 death count Jordan reported 62 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 1,029. Jordan
Dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Israel test positive for COVID-19 As of Tuesday evening, more than 80 prisoners at the Gilboa prison in central Israel had contracted the coronavirus, according to the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners' Affairs. Palestine
Algeria's president hospitalized in Germany for COVID-19 Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune flew to Germany last week after several of his aides tested positive for coronavirus. Algeria
Bahrain approves Chinese COVID-19 vaccine for front-line workers The experimental vaccine is currently in phase III clinical trials. Bahrain
Israel's COVID-19 vaccine administered to first trial volunteers Two volunteers received doses of the vaccine Sunday in the first phase of human trials. Israel
Iran announces new record in COVID-19 deaths The Health Ministry confirmed 440 deaths on Monday, bringing the death toll to 35,738. Iran
With polls plunging, Netanyahu rebrands himself as responsible adult Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu realized that if he wants to preserve his popularity and save the Likud party from plunging in the polls, he must focus on one thing only: defeating the coronavirus pandemic. Israel
