Lorenzo Cogliolo

After October 8, 2023, amid Hezbollah’s involvement in cross-border fighting with Israel in solidarity with Hamas’ ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, Tel Aviv escalated the conflict into a full-blown war on September 17, 2024. After more than 4,000 Lebanese killed, 16,500 wounded, 1.6 million people uprooted, a ground invasion, and relentless bombings resulting in what analysts refer to as urbicide, on November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement was signed. Accordingly, the Israeli army has 60 days to withdraw from Lebanon. Despite numerous violations of the ceasefire, early reconstruction efforts have already started. Lessons from the rebuilding of Beirut’s city center following the Lebanese civil war and Haret Hreik after the 2006 July War, can shed light on the interplay between post-war urban recovery and social equity and yielding insights into the current reconstruction process.

​Sahm Tell

In an era where alliances are the bedrock of global stability, Jordan’s strategic partnership with NATO epitomizes the delicate balance between regional diplomacy and international security. The recent establishment of NATO's Liaison Office in Jordan marks a pivotal development in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. This diplomatic maneuver underscores the strategic significance of Jordan as a stable and influential actor in a region fraught with conflict and political instability. The timing of this development is particularly notable, as it coincides with the ongoing war in Gaza and its implications on the region and the world. NATO’s presence in Jordan is seen as a stabilizing factor, reinforcing the kingdom’s role as a mediator and a beacon of stability in the Levant.

Maria Boulos
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​Privatization of beaches is regarded as an infringement on the right of people to access and enjoy public spaces, and the source of continuous debates over many years. To start, it can be defined as the legal ownership and control of a certain entity (individual or company) over beaches for the purpose of profit. Those engaged in the legal sphere argue over the legality of beach privatization and the laws that define it, or in some cases, lack thereof. While businesspeople and investors are mostly in favor of privatization, ordinary citizens have expressed various viewpoints around the issue. 

Maria Andraos

Right-wing political parties are sweeping the West in response to a wave of populism and nationalist sentiment. With the European elections, many voters, especially youth, have cast their votes for right-wing parties out of dissatisfaction with the left and socio-economic grievances. The loss of trust in left-wing parties to implement effective socio-economic policies, coupled with a generation growing more anti-immigrant and pro-nationalist, has opened a political vacuum for strong populist candidates. These populist candidates share a similar platform: a united and closed national stance. Right-wing parties have traditionally promoted sovereignty, national identity, and closed-border policies. Given the increase in migration flows and anti-immigrant sentiment, the topic of border security further fuels right-wing parties' tickets to securing future elections.