Middle East
False Hopes, Hollow Protests
An open letter to President Trump from over 600 retired Israeli military and intelligence officials demanding an end to the war in Gaza made global headlines. Yet inside Israel, the letter barely registered as news and will have no policy impact.
The New Normal
The latest exchanges of missiles between Israel and Iran have broken a long-standing psychological barrier in the Middle East, and are being viewed by states in the region with profound ambivalence. With deterrence fading, what follows may be more volatile still.
The Left-Wing Activists Who Want to Change American Politics
The Democratic Socialists of America hope to parlay the latest “Trump bump” into a national movement, and maybe even launch a viable alternative party. But the organization faces serious challenges — both ideological and practical — that may hinder its ability to capitalize on the moment, and possibly threaten its very existence.
The War of Narratives in Jordan
On April 15, Jordanian authorities announced the arrest of 16 individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, accused of preparing rocket and drone attacks from within the country. The state’s narrative was assertive and unmistakable: This was not an external operation misdirected inward, nor an ideological protest gone too far. It…
Jordan May Be Ready To Challenge Trump
Today’s meeting between King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Donald Trump is being closely watched across the Middle East. Often seen as a pragmatic and cautious mediator, Jordan’s king is emerging as central in a new grouping of Arab states aligned against U.S. and Israeli regional policies.
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.
Fouad Elkoury’s Photography Finds Poetry Amid Destruction
Finding liminal spaces in war, capturing a ray of light or an unexpected moment suspended in time, Fouad Elkoury’s unique style makes his photography timeless. He has retraced a historical journey in Egypt, documented his own loneliness during a trip to Turkey and found poetry amid chaos and destruction.