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
Netanyahu’s coronavirus strategy erodes Israel’s democracy Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exploits the coronavirus panic to erode Israel’s democracy, limit the Knesset, introduce emergency-mode regulations, and prevent Blue and White from implementing the majority garnered by the opposition bloc. Israel
UAE sends medical aid to Iran as coronavirus outbreak intensifies The coronavirus outbreak is hitting Iran, which is already suffering under economic sanctions, hard, but the United Arab Emirates is offering substantial assistance. United Arab Emirates
On near-national lockdown, Israelis ordered indoors unless ‘absolutely necessary’ Israel's new steps, which are aimed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, include further restrictions on Palestinian day laborers entering Israel. Palestine
Jerusalem alliance fills gap in coronavirus awareness A group of Jerusalem-based activists launched an alliance to raise awareness and provide emergency needs to the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem amid the coronavirus outbreak. Palestine
Coronavirus cripples Egypt’s tourism industry Some analysts fear long-term effects on Egypt’s tourism sector from the coronavirus outbreak. Egypt
Banksy's hotel offers dark humor as Bethlehem becomes ghost town Bethlehem's Walled Off Hotel painted its facade black in protest of US President Donald Trump's peace plan, but the situation is even darker with the coronavirus alert in the city. Palestine
Israel tightens grip on Palestinian workers to limit COVID-19 The Israeli authorities have decided to prevent Palestinian construction workers who are crucial for the Israeli construction sector from commuting from and to the West Bank for fear that this could help spread the coronavirus in Israel. Palestine
Coronavirus spreads in Egypt, can authorities control it? Egypt announced a set of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus as the number of infected cases rise across the country. Egypt
Egypt suspending all flights amid coronavirus spread As the number of Egypt's COVID-19 cases rise to 150, Cairo says that all flights will be suspended for nearly two weeks and that tourism sites will be thoroughly sanitized. Egypt
Netanyahu’s habit of spying on his own citizens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no qualms about exploiting the coronavirus crisis as a pretext to track phones, violate privacy, refuse to replace the speaker of the Knesset and postpone his own trial. Israel
Ultra-Orthodox leaders ignore coronavirus threat, endanger Israelis Ultra-Orthodox educational institutions continued to operate despite orders by the government to close all schools to try to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Israel
Coronavirus imposes calm on Gaza front Calm has returned between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, mainly because of the outbreak of the coronavirus and fears of it spreading in the besieged enclave. Palestine
