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. By Nicolas Reeves
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. By Israel Hershkovitz
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. By Al-Monitor Staff
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. By Doron Peskin
World Bank praises Palestinian easing of COVID rules, criticizes Israeli control By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Survey: Displaced Iraqis experiencing job losses, food shortages amid pandemic The survey by the International Rescue Committee is the latest proof of economic hardship in Iraq as it grapples with a steep jump in COVID-19 cases. By Al-Monitor Staff
Rights group: Detainees in overcrowded Yemen prison at risk of COVID-19 Prisoners at an overcrowded detention center in Aden face serious health risks, Human Rights Watch says in a report. By Al-Monitor Staff
Palestinian Authority to pay civil servants half their monthly wages amid cash crunch Faced with a worsening financial crisis, the Palestinian Authority has slashed the salaries of its public sector employees. By Al-Monitor Staff
OPEC continues oil export cuts in June Global oil prices continue to hold up relative to earlier in the year as oil-producing countries in the Middle East struggle economically. By Al-Monitor Staff
Crackdown on Egypt’s front-line health care workers continues Egyptian doctors are outraged by authorities’ handling of medical personnel after a number of doctors were arrested and others were criticized. By A correspondent in Egypt
Turkey criticizes exclusion from EU list of safe travelers The European Union's list of countries it will allow visitors from did not include Turkey. By Al-Monitor Staff
Egypt resumes international flights, reopens pyramids for summer tourism More than three months after Egypt closed its major tourist attractions, two flights from Ukraine arrive in Red Sea and South Sinai governorates. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey sends coronavirus aid to Iraq Turkey delivers coronavirus aid to Iraq as it continues its operations against Kurdish groups in the country's northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region. By Al-Monitor Staff
IMF official: Gulf economies to contract by 7.6% in 2020 The International Monetary Fund official's predictions are worse than earlier ones as the Gulf deals with oil price drops and the COVID-19 pandemic. By Al-Monitor Staff
Emirates Airlines to resume flights to Cairo, Tunis The Dubai-based airline is continuing to rebuild its flight network after resuming international passenger services in May. By Al-Monitor Staff
Negative virus test required to enter UAE As the oil-rich Gulf country announced more than 400 new cases of the virus, it rolled out new movement restrictions in the capital. By Al-Monitor Staff
Lebanese banks raise exchange rate to dollars as crisis worsens A member of the government's IMF negotiations team also resigned in opposition to the government's handling of the worst financial crisis in decades. By Al-Monitor Staff