A couple of weeks ago Geminid wrote a comment on Syria that got me thinking about how to keep up with events in the Middle East when I can’t even keep up with what’s happening here at home.
Just wondering who seems to still be able to follow events in the Middle East and whether those of you who are interested and trying to keep up might share some of your knowledge and thoughts and resources in this thread.
And if that doesn’t grab you, feel free to talk about what’s happening in that neck of the woods with like-minded people.
WaterGirl
These days, it seems like I can’t even take a shower without coming back to the computer and finding yet one more tangent of awfulness from craven Republicans. But I repeat myself – anyone still calling themselves Republican is by definition craven and authoritarian.
Anyway, I’m headed out in a few minutes to spend an afternoon playing my favorite card game with friends.
Kosh III
I get daily emails for https://www.palestinechronicle.com/
Otherwise I look at BBC News most days and read whatever article on the ME there may be.
Frak Netanyahu and his genocidal apartheid government and of course frak the Felon.
Butigieg/AOC 2028
trollhattan
Coastal Destination Resorts Chronicle would seem like a good addition to the reading list.
Trivia Man
Using Next Door for good. Someone asked how to support immigrant neighbors. I posted the link to print out Red Cards. And the text / basically dont open the door and dont answer questions
pajaro
The Guardian is pretty good about news of the world. For Israel/Palestine I read Haaretz.
Ten Bears
Is it the Book of Revelation, or a Robert Ludlum novel? The Brits are about the best, the BBC, Guardian. Juan Cole is good, Middle East Monitor, Haaretz. Can’t trust the media here
Josie
I always look forward to reading the comments by Geminid. He is well informed, not only by our politics here, but by events and personalities in the Middle East. He recommended the Middle East Eye and Al Arabiya, among others. I am hoping that some of the wise heads in that part of the world will keep us from making some truly destructive mistakes.
Kelly
How about a cheery pet update? Our 8 month old border collie Daisy is a big girl now. She’s grown from 11 pounds in August to around 35 pounds. She has found her own signal to open the door and let her out. We have her crate next to the door. She walks up and scratches the wire door on the crate when she wants out. She likes her crate. Naps there sometimes. She has a firm sense of our daily schedule. She knows 9:30 is bedtime. Often goes to bed on her own and walks quickly there when we say “Go to bed”. Our supper time is also her crate time. She watches the kitchen and is off to her when our supper is dished up. She found herself a job in the kitchen. Our cat Phoebe has never conceded the kitchen counters are of limits. Daisy given herself the job of blocking Phoebe from the kitchen. We won’t leave her unsupervised but Daisy’s cat herding looks safe. No nipping just blocking. Daisy even notices from her crate when Phoebe is on the counters. It’s almost the only time she barks. Daisy walks politely on a leash most of the time. Better for Mrs Kelly than me. Mrs Kelly trained Arabian horses 40 years ago and operates with a firm, consistent hand. I’m the let’s go play guy. We play ball and tug in the kennel we turned the first story of our back porch into. I keep her toys on a wire shelf about a foot above the concrete. A couple weeks ago she started putting the toy she was done with on the shelf and bringing me another one.
pajaro
I have a lot of thoughts about Israel/Palestine, including the thought that I have no idea how this ends. I am close to certain, however, that Trump’s ideas for the place are a fantasy. We’ve said we aren’t sending troops, and the place will not be ready for our urban renewal as long as Hamas is still there. Israel has had 16 months to achieve total victory over Hamas in Gaza, and they have failed to do it, and the pause that is going on isn’t going to make it easier. Hamas will not turn it over to us. The people of Gaza are not willing to leave voluntarily. Egypt and Jordan, who have peace treaties with Israel that benefit Israel, are unwilling to take them.
So, IMO, the ethnic cleansing of Gaza just isn’t going to happen. Whether the current cease fire ends and the war grinds on, or whether Israel actually becomes willing to accept a peaceful outcome that leaves the Palestinians, in some way, in control of Gaza, is hard to predict, at least for me. There is, in theory, a peaceful way forward, with a regional peace agreement including Israel, its neighbors and a non-Hamas Palestinian entity in control of Gaza and the West Bank, with security underwritten by both the neighboring Arab states and us, and with Saudi funding of Gaza reconstruction, except for the small fact that there’s no evidence that either Israel or Hamas would be on board with it.
Starfish (she/her)
@Trivia Man: We should have a separate post on ICE enforcement and resistance.
This morning I listened to the call from School Board President Xochitl Gaytán on how the ICE raids impacted Denver Public Schools, and it was heartbreaking. Their preparation was so thoughtful though. They really had a lot of policies ready to go.
VFX Lurker
@WaterGirl – I think you meant to write “turmoil” in the title.
However, given that every day turns over a new tragedy to our country, “turnmoil” works, too.
Geminid
@pajaro: I am keeping my eye on the negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire that went into effect Sunday, January 25.
So far Phase One is proceeding according to plan. Besides a cessation of hostilities, an important element is the provision of 600 truckloads of aid per day to the Gaza Strip. Egypt has opened the Rafah Crossing after closing it last May.Now Palestinians in need of medical care are transiting the crossiing into Egypt while aid trucks are transiting into the Strip. Interestingly, the Palestinian Authority is involved there.
The ceasefire provision that get the most attention are the hostage/prisoner exchanges. They are on schedule for the most part, with the latest exchange occurring today. Three male Israeli hostages were delivered to the Red Cross by Hamas and I assume 90 “security prisoners” held Israeli prisons are being released to the West Bank today; although, 48 of the total of ~1000 security prisoners are supposed to be released to third countries. These are the ones convicted of multiple murders. An earlier draft I saw had a provision that Israel would leave all released prisoners alone unless they took up arms again.
Phase Two negotiations are important because they are intended to lay the foundation for Phase Three: a “sustainable calm” and commencement of reconstruction. That’s why they are difficult, because the question of future governance in Gaza is to be resolved. So far, Hamas has said they are willing to cede civilian control to another entity, but not to disarm.
The 42-day format for each of the first two phases was proposed by Qatari Prime Minister al-Thani a year ago, when the current round of negotiations began with a meeting in Paris between al Thani, CIA Director Burns, the Egyptian intelligence chief and David Barnea, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Al Thani had a dual role, as head of Qatar’s government and representative of Hamas, their attorney so to speak.
The 42 day format gets a lot of criticism, but the rationale is to get the war stopped first and then hash out the most difficult questions. An earlier version of the agreement I saw back in May said that if Israel and Hamas could not agree on a specific resolution the three mediators would decide. I don’t know if that is the case with the ceasefire agreement implemented January 25.
Now Burns has been replaced as lead U.S. negotiator by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s personal envoy. Witkoff played a key role in getting Israeli PM to finally assent to a ceasefire. Netanyahu was stalling for personal reasons; he’s in a weak position at home and is afraid the ceasefire will begin the unravelling of his shaky coalition.
Later, Witkoff is reported to have told Netanyahu that Trump wants him “to get Phase Two of the ceasefire done,” and that “your coalition is your problem.” (from Suleiman Masaweidah, reporter for Israel’s KANN News.). It’s unclear if Trump’s delusional Gaza redevelopment plan alters this. That’s something we’ll find out in coming days.
The reason these ceasefire negotiations are so important is they are intended to make this the last Gaza war. Many Americans are cynical and fatalistic about the prospects for peace in the area. That is an easy position to hold when you live 5,000 miles away. But the nations in the region do not have that luxury; they are determined to see this conflict ended, and that is the thinking behind this ceasefire deal.
Geminid
@Josie: Besides Middle East Eye and Al Arabiya, the Times of Israel is a good source. I think it’s best to see this war from different angles, and the Israeli perspective is an important one. And as I mention above, Israel’s internal politics play an important role; the TOI covers them well.
Someone above cited the Israeli newspaper Haaretz as a good source. They are, one reason being their sources in Israel’s security espablishment. Haaretz is resolutely anti-Netanyahu. Unlike the Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz is paywalled.
Geminid
@Josie: Middle East Eye is an excellent source for Syria news. They have reporters who are very knowledgeble in this area including Ragip Soylu, their Istanbul bureau chief. Soylu began his career as journalist in 2010 and the Syrian civil war broke out in March of 2011, so he’s been reporting on events in Syria almost his entire professional life.
I’ve found a couple good Syrian news site. One is Levant24 which is a good news aggregator. And DeirEzzor 24 provides good reporting from the city and Governate of Deir Ezzor
Deir Ezzor is the largest city in eastern Syria, and is at the intersection of the war on ISIS and the conflict between the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces and their Syrian and Turkiye-supported opponents. That conflict is the source for much the remaining fighting in Syria, mainly around the northern cities of Manbij and Kobani. Another one is the fighting between the new government and dead-ender Assad forces.
The central government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa is negotiating with the SDF over their future role in the new Syrian Army, and also with Kurdish leaders about the status of Syria’s Kurdish minority within the national government. The SDF would like a federal system that affords a level of autonomy for Syria’s Kurds, while al-Sharaa emphasises that Syria must be a unitary state.
I like the granular reporting on Syrian life I find in DeirEzzor24, like an article I saw titled, “Truffle season begins amid fears of mines.” For most of my life I’ve thought of Arabs as different, a strange people who run around with guns and blow each other up. But they are people like you and me, just poorer, who like to go out into the countryside to hunt truffles in late winter but have to look out for mines. Syrians have a lot of hard work ahead of them and mine clearance is just part of it.
RobinS
@Geminid: Haaretz is paywalled but! I get a free daily newsletter from them that has short blurbs about the big stories – not teasers but short encapsulation of the story. It’s about all I can handle
WaterGirl
@VFX Lurker: Yes, I did! The Ns and Ms are still fucked up on my keyboard.
Betty
I find Al Jazeerah is pretty fair in their coverage. Their coverage is international, including reports in the US.
JaySinWA
@WaterGirl:
I’ve had to take a break from following ME stuff. Both Ukraine and most of the ME are too much right now along with the Junior Musk-o-vites here.
So maybe we can have a poll about what we think your favorite card game is.
My guess is poker, just because.
Trivia Man
@JaySinWA: cribbage
Geminid
Journalist Oz Katerji is best known for his reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including his book The Battle of Kyiv about the first weeks of the war.
Katerji is British/Lebanese, and when the war in Lebanon intensified last October he made some very pointed commentary about Hezbollah’s malign role in Lebanese politics.
Then when the Syrian civil war culminated with the rebel offensive launched late last November, Katerji recommended Hassan I. Hassan for reporting on Syria. I started following Hassan and was introduced to the magazine he edits, New Lines Magazine.
New Lines is quite a resource, with in-depth reporting on stories from the Middle East and the wider world. Some recent Middle East headlines and bylines and headlines:
I never thought of Pakistan having glaciers. This New Lines article by Aina J. Khan set me straight:
A few Saturday nights ago I posted about this New Lines article about archeological discoveries in the Orkney Islands:
Author Lydia Wilson also produced a video featured in New Lines:
And there are podcasts like this one by Gustavo Carvallo and Kwanju Liwewe:
New Lines assistent editor Tami Hussein returned to Malmo, the Swedish city where his immigrant parents raised him, in order to report this story:
Popular culture provides a window into a society at a given time, which is the subject of a New Lines article by Andrew Simon titled, “Shaabi Chic”:
My only criticism of New Lines Magazine: there are too many intriguing articles, and I’m too conditioned by following shorter-form reporting to easily read in-depth journalism. But that’s my problem; I need to learn to slow down.
Geminid
Rudaw English and Kurdistan24 are also good resources. Rudaw English is published in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, the four northern Iraqi provinces that have semi-autonomous status guaranteed under Iraq’s constitution. It’s the closest Kurdish people have come to self-rule in the modern era, and there are a lot of positive stories coming out of there along with some that are concerning
Rudaw English and Kurdistan24 report on political development in neighboring Northeast Syria. That is where a U.S. military mission with 2,000 soldiers is based. It’s future is unclear, and that is an important Syrian story that bears watching.
wmd
I get two emails a day from Ha’aretz for free. Check Juan Cole’s blog sporadically – probably 3-4 times a month. I don’t feel like I know what’s happening – there’s a lot of noise about Iran losing power. Not a lot about how the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is handling this, but given the US rivalry with China, and enmity towards Russia I don’t see Iran being abandoned.
Geminid
@wmd: I don’t know about China; Russia won’t abandon Iran. But this Iranian regime’s biggest danger is from within. The Iranian people may abandon it, and may already have in their hearts.
WaterGirl
@JaySinWA: It’s #8!