Israel
The Golan's Shadow
Israeli forces have pushed farther into the Golan Heights, displacing residents and raising fears over the region’s future. Although Syrians in the area, echoing their leaders, insist that they want to avoid conflict, many say they have no choice but to resist Israel’s moves — even if the costs are steep.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza
At a Feb. 4 White House press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump proposed the relocation of Gaza’s Palestinian population. He thus transformed population transfer from a near-taboo subject in Israel to a viable policy option, with dangerous implications for Palestinians, Israel and regional stability.
By Rejecting Evidence of Genocide in Gaza, the US Is Following a Familiar Pattern
The administrations of both Joe Biden and now Donald Trump have vociferously denounced a growing international legal consensus that Israel has been violating the Genocide Convention. This follows a decades-long pattern of the U.S. government denying, downplaying and rationalizing genocide and related crimes against humanity by American allies.
The Day After the War in Gaza
The Middle East faces a future of long-term political instability that will be grinding for everyone, particularly for Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians. Israelis, despite their triumphalism, face a future of constant military conflict and international opprobrium. But certain trends speak to a reimagined, functioning future.
Returning to Devastation in South Lebanon
Residents of villages along Lebanon’s southern border have returned to find their homes destroyed and Israeli soldiers still present. Although Hezbollah fighters have been pushed north, support for the group appears strong among some residents, with others decrying the destruction caused by its war with Israel.
Lebanon’s Recovering Drug Addicts Struggle With the Aftermath of War
The recent Israel-Hezbollah war added to the challenges faced by recovering drug addicts in Lebanon, who struggled to access medication and maintain sobriety amid the conflict. With resources thin and the path to national recovery long, some Lebanese who are struggling with addiction are considering leaving the country for good.
Iran and Israel’s Covert Pragmatic Friendship
Iran and Israel maintained a covert relationship after the revolution that brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power, continuing to engage in trade worth millions of dollars per year, even as Iran publicly denied Israel’s right to exist. This shows that the Iranian regime is and has historically been a rational actor.