Middle East
A New Syria?
The challenges facing Syria today are connected to three previous beginnings: the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, independence in 1946 after World War II and the fall of European colonial empires, and the birth of Hafez al-Assad’s regime in 1970.
Behind Israel’s Ceasefire Jubilation
Israelis are euphoric over the ceasefire in Gaza because it means the hostages will come home. The liberals see this as proof that their mass protests worked and that they still have influence. They have already forgotten the war, and there is no reckoning with its cost to Palestinians.
The Israeli Left Is Not Going To Save Gaza
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 Psychological Barrier Broken by Iran and Israel’s Missile Exchange
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.