Sami Michael Broke New Ground by Centering Arabs in His Hebrew Novels
The novelist Sami Michael died last year aged 97. Born and raised in Baghdad, he introduced characters previously marginalized or omitted in Hebrew literature: immigrants, Mizrahim, women and especially Arabs. His portrayals are sympathetic but unsparing, and his writing tackled issues central to Israeli society that were previously cloaked in silence.
Sectarian Violence Simmers in Homs
The Syrian city of Homs is plagued by kidnappings and killings. The victims are largely members of the Alawite minority, and the motives appear to be sectarian. The situation remains volatile, with little transparency from the authorities and ongoing fear among residents.
CPAC Argentina Signals the Rise of a New Kind of Diplomacy
Argentina’s eccentric President Javier Milei — whose signature chainsaw has been taken up by Elon Musk — recently hosted the Conservative Political Action Conference in Buenos Aires. The growing influence of such unconventional forums signals the rise of a new kind of diplomacy, defined by presidential branding and ideological alliances.
A Tribal Leader Becomes an Oil Tsar
Amr bin Habresh, leader of the Hadramawt Tribes Alliance, has deployed his armed men to block oil supplies in Yemen's Hadramawt province. His demands include a greater role for the region in national politics and an end to the economic crisis.
The Humiliation Is the Point
Humiliation has become inextricable from the exercise of U.S. power. It is tempting to attribute this development to Trump alone, but his role as humiliator-in-chief should be understood as part of a dynamic of humiliation and counter-humiliation going back to 9/11 and America’s response to it.