US court overturns Trump global tariffs: What it means for MENA Trump's defining economic policy of his second term has been dealt a key blow, upending a tariff regime that set levies in the Middle East as high as 41% for Syria even as most regional countries were insulated from the fallout. Syria
From Egypt to Lebanon: What’s at stake for regional states on Trump’s visa ban list? The State Department claimed that citizens from the affected countries are more likely to use social welfare services at a high rate. Algeria
India’s Modi eyes closer ties with Jordan, Oman during visits Modi’s two-day visit to Jordan made investments and economic cooperation a central piece of the talks with Amman. Jordan
Culture World Cup: Iran fumes over LGBTQ+ themes as Jordan qualifies for first time Morocco is hoping to build on its historic run in 2022, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others in the region similarly vying to build on recent successes. Iran
Meet the Silicon Valley-linked AI startup targeting Gulf’s costly inefficiencies United Arab Emirates
Analysis Jordan’s water security caught between $5B megaproject, frayed Israel ties By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Israel-Palestinian peace requires realism on Jordan Valley Trilateral cooperation projects to save the Dead Sea and the Jordan River must be accompanied by transferring parts of the Jordan Valley to Palestinian sovereignty. Palestine
Al-Qaeda now frontline threat to Israel With gains in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, al-Qaeda and its affiliates threaten Israel more than ever. Iraq
Israel recognizes Assad's staying power Israel shifts its strategic posture, recognizing that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is staying on and that a jihadist alternative would be even worse. Palestine
Israel's new eastern front The value of Israel's alliance with Jordan is far greater than that of a battalion of Israeli soldiers in the Jordan Valley, the demand for which is threatening to derail Kerry’s initiative. Palestine
Jordan readies for possible framework agreement Jordan is taking care to make its positions clear ahead of an expected US “framework proposal” in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Palestine
Israel-Jordan water agreement not worth the hype An agreement to pump water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea fails to address Israel's unilateral appropriation of Jordan River waters. Palestine
US, EU pressure Palestinians to accept security plan The Palestinian government is resisting a US security plan it considers biased toward Israel, allowing the Israelis to maintain a military presence in the Jordan Valley. Palestine
Petra's former cave dwellers neglected by authorities Although the Jordanian government implemented a plan in the 1980s to relocate the cave dwellers of Petra to modern villages, they are now facing governmental neglect, with some families threatening to return. Jordan
Jordan's Daraa problem The battle against Salafists in Daraa, Syria, is becoming a shared interest between Damascus and Amman. Jordan
Israel, Egypt, Gulf fear US betrayal Israel has become part of an unexpected alliance with the Gulf countries, Egypt and Jordan, all disappointed by the US administration's lack of Middle East understanding. Egypt
Syrian tragedy plays out on Jordan's streets The majority of Jordan's 550,000 Syrian refugees live in urban areas, not camps. Jordan
Jordan rejects Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa mosque compound A bill before the Israeli Knesset would allow Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and, if passed, inflame Israel-Jordan tensions. Palestine