Netanyahu’s Gaza war hangs in the balance with Trump’s planned visit to the Gulf
By James M. Dorsey Logic suggests it may only be a matter of weeks before Donald J. Trump pressures Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza war. The…
The Israeli-Palestinian battle of the narratives
By James M. Dorsey Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkeli pinpointed the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as he reflected on a post-interview conversation with Yasser Arafat, the late chairman of the…
A brighter future for Syria’s Kurds?
It is now common practice to refer to Ahmad al-Sharaa as Syria’s interim president. Following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad, Sharaa was appointed on January 29, 2025 by the…
Gaza’s anti-Hamas protests mean different things to different players
By James M. Dorsey The United Arab Emirates is betting that recent anti-Hamas protests in Gazan towns, supported by influential tribes and clans, will strengthen Abu Dhabi-based Mohammed Dahlan’s chances…
Whither the Israel-Hamas ceasefire?
By James M. Dorsey Israelis and Palestinians have moved in diametrically opposed and mutually exclusive cycles for much of the past six decades. A significant segment of Israeli society favoured…
Egypt’s power play
Egypt is currently playing a crucial role in two of the most significant efforts related to the Gaza conflict. As a mediator, along with the US and Qatar, of…
Reading tea leaves: Is the US signalling potential differences with Israel?
By James M. Dorsey A stickler for language, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu twice this month remained conspicuously silent when senior Trump administration officials chose words that signalled potential changes…
Gaza’s fault lines are less linear than meets the eye
By James M. Dorsey Like much else in the Middle East, Gaza’s fault lines are less linear than meets the eye. At first glance, it’s Israel, backed by the United…
Want to fight ant-Semitism? Check your ant-Semitic antecedents at the door.
By James M. Dorsey It’s ok to be anti-Jewish as long as you support Israel. That is Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bottom line. Mr. Netanyahu is willing to risk…
Netanyahu gambles on Trump
By James M. Dorsey At first glance, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could not have a better friend in the White House. In his first two months in office, President…