As mid‑February 2026 approaches, opinion pieces in Jordanian newspapers such as Ad‑Dustour, Al‑Ghad, and Al‑Ra’i show a pattern of deep analysis that connects regional tensions, diplomatic dynamics, and internal economic and social challenges. This review highlights the most notable columnists, their main ideas, key quotes, and the political and social implications for following national developments in a complex regional context.

US Diplomatic Activity and Jordan’s Principles on the Palestinian Issue

In his column published on February 1, 2026 in Ad‑Dustour, Hussein Al‑Rawashdeh offers a careful analysis of the recent tours of the American ambassador Jim Holtstneider, describing them as part of routine diplomatic engagement but raising significant political questions in “a phase fraught with surprises, shifts, and challenges.” He characterizes the ambassador’s activity in Amman as routine meetings with elites and figures, but stresses that it should remain under the watchful eyes of the state to ensure it serves Jordanian interests, warning against any “agendas” that some may try to push.

Al‑Rawashdeh calls for a unified Jordanian position, insisting that the ambassador should hear “a clear political message” that reflects state positions without ambiguity or courtesy. One of his notable quotes is: “The ambassador must hear from Jordanians that they will never accept resolving the Palestinian issue at Jordan’s expense, displacement under any title is completely rejected, the alternative homeland will not pass” — interpreting this as a categorical rejection of any attempt to change demographic or geographic equations, while underscoring that supporting Palestinian steadfastness is a humanitarian and Arab obligation, not interference in their internal affairs nor turning Jordan into a base for factions or an alternative to the Palestinian Authority. He concludes that the Palestinian cause is central to Jordan’s security, and that Jordanians rally around their state to face any aggression, reflecting national awareness that links external and internal concerns, and warns against a “Trump logic” that the ambassador might carry in his messages.

This analysis presents the columnist as a voice urging strategic caution without unnecessary tensions.

Emergency Scenarios in Case of a Regional War

In a piece in Al‑Ghad published on January 31, 2026, Maher Abu Tair explores citizens’ daily fears of a potential war, whether limited or expanded, linking them to impacts on everyday life such as supplies of food, medicine, fuel, and border crossings. He recounts common questions among the public, comparing the situation to the June 1967 war, but notes that “timing has changed,” making rumors and media warfare more impactful. A standout quote is: “Amid the scene, media warfare and rumors intensify… even charlatans, astrologers, and liars of all kinds have entered the scene,” suggesting these are attempts at disruption perhaps by regional security apparatuses.

Abu Tair criticizes official quietude, which may express confidence, but argues it is insufficient to prevent “public panic” or “psychological recoil.” He calls for transparent official communication with “measured language” that explains preparations and emergency scenarios to bolster a sense of stability, particularly given Jordan’s geopolitical position between Palestine and the Iranian‑Iraqi axis. He concludes with a call for openness and frankness, which “does no harm nor reflects fragility,” but builds trust. This approach shows the columnist as a social observer linking popular anxiety with official responsibility, warning that waiting may serve the interests of adversaries and stressing that “Jordanians have many questions and need someone to address them.”

Fundamental Social Security Reform

In another Al‑Ghad article, Salama Al‑Draawi offers a critical analysis of amendments to the Social Security Law, warning against repeating superficial “mistakes” that focus on early retirement without structural solutions. He notes that early retirement drains the fund (more than 65 % of pensioners), but calls it a “secondary dilemma” compared to deeper problems in how the law is administered. A telling quote is: “All previous treatments in the Social Security Law were superficial and merely bought time,” suggesting that problems will return within a few years if the current approach continues.

Al‑Draawi expands on addressing “insurance evasion” (over 24 % in the private sector), likening it to the tax issue before 2019, and calls for decisive measures to regulate workplaces. He also emphasizes the need to “expand the coverage base,” noting millions of workers are uncovered, including more than two million private sector foreign workers. He warns of a “vicious cycle” if these points are not addressed first, before pension reforms, stressing that reform requires “a strong and decisive reform will that leads to radical, not symptomatic solutions.” This positions the writer as an economic expert urging closure of a long‑standing file, linking social security to economic stability amid regional challenges.

Those Who Will Join in Striking Iran — Regional Escalation and the Arab Role

In a column published on February 1, 2026 in Al‑Ra’i, Samih Al‑Ma’aytah provides a historical and geopolitical analysis of tensions with Iran, under the title “Those Who Will Join in Striking Iran,” warning of Iran’s long‑standing pattern of manufacturing adversaries since the time of Khomeini. He begins with a review of the Iran‑Iraq war as a preventive measure by regional states against “Iran’s ambitions in the region,” noting the export of revolution through the Revolutionary Guard and the creation of militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. One of his prominent quotes is: “Khomeini’s Iran is the same Shah’s Iran that seeks Persian influence,” seeing Palestine as a bridge for the Persian project, though Iran has moved away from Gaza after developments in Lebanon.

His narrative traces how Iran has sought regional influence through ideological and military networks, and suggests that a concerted regional response could involve Arab states aligning more closely, with Jordan’s diplomatic and strategic position being particularly sensitive to any escalation.

While external reporting from Al‑Ghad and other outlets notes heightened Western military coordination and troop deployments amid tensions with Iran, with the United States reinforcing forces in the Middle East and intelligence cooperation being a central part of strategic planning, no definitive decision on a strike has been publicly made by Washington as of early 2026, and any action is described as pressure to push negotiations rather than an immediate military operation.