Jordanian opinion pages on Tuesday featured a wide range of regional and domestic issues, with columnists examining Tunisia's renewed protests, the implications of Iran's recent actions toward Jordan, escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank, and the outlook for fuel prices amid mounting regional tensions.

Maher Abu Tair: Tunisia Returns to Square One, Raising Fears of a New Arab Spring

Columnist Maher Abu Tair argues that Tunisia is once again at the center of political upheaval, as demonstrations demanding the government's downfall have revived memories of the country's pivotal role in igniting the Arab Spring.

According to Abu Tair, the first wave of the Arab Spring fundamentally reshaped the region rather than representing a temporary episode. He contends that many countries that experienced the initial uprisings avoided a second wave because of weak state institutions, foreign intervention, internal political rivalries, and struggles for power among political elites.

He views the latest protests in Tunisia as carrying significance beyond the country's borders, warning that renewed unrest in the birthplace of the Arab Spring could encourage populations across the Arab world, particularly those facing severe economic and social hardship, to mobilize once again.

Abu Tair also revisits the widely promoted notion that "the alternative to the current regime is worse than the regime itself." He argues that this narrative has been used across the region to discourage demands for political change, while questioning whether it still holds credibility after years of persistent economic crises, corruption, and deteriorating living conditions.

He concludes that addressing Tunisia's political and economic grievances requires urgent action, cautioning that failure to respond to public demands could pave the way for a broader resurgence of unrest across the Arab world.

Munther Al Hawarat: Iran Has Shifted Jordan from a Transit Corridor to a Direct Target

Political analyst Dr. Munther Al Hawarat writes that recent developments mark a significant shift in Iran's posture toward Jordan. While Tehran previously claimed that missiles and drones crossing Jordanian airspace were not intended for the Kingdom, it has now openly declared that American facilities inside Jordan are legitimate targets, fundamentally altering the security equation.

Al Hawarat traces the roots of strained Jordanian-Iranian relations back to the Iran-Iraq War, when Jordan openly supported Iraq. He argues that the 2003 fall of Baghdad represented a strategic turning point, enabling Iranian influence to expand westward and bringing Tehran's regional reach closer to Jordan's borders.

He also recalls King Abdullah II's 2004 warning about the emergence of a "Shiite Crescent," describing it as an early warning about the expansion of Iranian-backed armed groups across the region.

The article further argues that the Syrian conflict and the deployment of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias in southern Syria created new security challenges for Jordan, including weapons trafficking, drug smuggling, drone threats, and cross-border instability. These developments, Al Hawarat contends, made Jordan's security partnerships with the United States and Western allies a strategic necessity rather than a political choice.

He stresses that the presence of American forces cannot justify attacks on Jordanian territory, arguing that any missile or drone entering Jordanian airspace constitutes a violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty regardless of its declared target.

Al Hawarat also claims that Iran has sought to exploit the Palestinian cause to create divisions within Jordanian society, but maintains that the overwhelming majority of Jordanians have distinguished between supporting the Palestinian people and safeguarding Jordan's national security.

He concludes that Jordan has borne considerable costs resulting from regional conflicts, ranging from border threats and drone attacks to increased shipping and insurance costs, making its international security partnerships an essential component of its national defense strategy.

Hamada Faraana: Describing Settler Violence as "Jewish Terrorism" Signals a Shift in Israeli Discourse

Columnist Hamada Faraana focuses on the recent use of the term "Jewish terrorism" by former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon to describe attacks carried out by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, arguing that the terminology represents an important development within Israeli political discourse, even if it does not amount to a broader political transformation.

Faraana notes that Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats Party, adopted the same terminology while pledging to confront what he described as Jewish terrorism, dismantle armed groups associated with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, remove unauthorized settlement outposts, and return the Israeli military to what he considers its primary security mission.

The columnist argues that these positions may signal the early emergence of an alternative political current challenging Israel's far-right leadership, despite its current electoral weakness.

He also points to similar criticism voiced by former Israeli leaders including Ehud Barak, Ehud Olmert, and Avraham Burg, suggesting that opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies is gradually expanding within parts of Israel's political establishment.

According to Faraana, although these figures do not advocate policies in favor of the Palestinians, they increasingly argue that the current government's approach harms Israel's own long-term interests, potentially opening the door to future political change.

Hashem Aql: Fuel Prices Expected to Rise as Regional Conflict Drives Energy Costs Higher

Economic commentator Hashem Aql examines the expected increase in Jordan's fuel prices, attributing it primarily to escalating military tensions across the region rather than domestic factors.

He predicts that gasoline and diesel prices could rise next month if international oil prices remain at current levels, although the Jordanian government may intervene to soften the impact on consumers.

Aql explains that Jordan's fuel pricing mechanism relies on monthly international averages rather than daily market fluctuations, while transportation, storage, insurance, taxes, and distribution costs also play a significant role in determining local prices. As a result, a late decline in crude oil prices does not automatically translate into lower fuel prices.

He argues that military escalation has significantly increased geopolitical risk premiums as well as shipping and insurance costs, particularly amid growing concerns over the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, both of which are critical routes for global energy supplies.

The article emphasizes that the current crisis extends beyond higher oil prices to include disruptions in global supply chains, prompting some countries to draw on strategic petroleum reserves to offset supply shortages.

Aql also rejects the assumption that purchasing oil from regions outside the Strait of Hormuz would necessarily reduce costs, explaining that oil is traded in a global market where geopolitical instability affects prices worldwide. He concludes that the Jordanian government has sought to absorb part of the price increases in an effort to preserve economic stability and protect consumers' purchasing power.