Perceptions of Weakness
In his panic-stricken effort to disentangle America from the Middle Eastern mess, Trump now appears to be falling into line with Tehran’s wishes.
Benny Morris
· 13 min read
Lebanon
A collection of 21 posts
Four Inconvenient Truths About the Conflict in Lebanon
Western political will and good intentions are no match for a complex reality rife with conflicting interests and ideologies.
Eric Bordenkircher
· 9 min read
The Axis of Renewal
Israel and the United States have already done much to dismantle the Axis of Resistance, but the broader network supported by Iran remains most active in Western Europe.
Aurele Tobelem
· 11 min read
Dan Schueftan on Gaza, Iran & the Future of Israel
Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.
Pamela Paresky, Dan Schueftan
· 31 min read
Iran’s Risky Gamble
The war with Iran is reshaping the entire Middle East from the Gulf States to Lebanon with surprising speed.
Benny Morris
· 13 min read
A Fragile Alliance
Despite public displays of mutual support, the Trump–Netanyahu partnership is on shaky ground.
Benny Morris
· 9 min read
The Middle East Powder Keg
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
Benny Morris
· 14 min read
The Middle East Will Not Improve
Decades of free riding has meant that many Middle East countries lack the skills and institutions necessary to maintain and build upon the favourable circumstances in which they now find themselves.
Eric Bordenkircher
· 10 min read
The Druse Connection
The ongoing Arab–Israeli war appears to be entering a new escalatory phase, in which the eye of the storm has shifted to Syria and Yemen, as well as back to Gaza.
Benny Morris
· 11 min read
The New Middle East
The Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 set a series of events in motion that have shifted the balance of power in the region in a way the terrorists themselves never intended.
Benny Morris
· 13 min read
Syria and the Changing Global Calculus
Iran and Russia have suffered serious setbacks over the past year, but grave dangers remain.
Joshua Muravchik
· 19 min read
After the Ceasefire
The new state of play in Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, following the US-brokered ceasefire with Lebanon, the weakening of Hezbollah, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Benny Morris
· 10 min read
From Terror Tunnels to Suicide Drones
Military innovations in the current Middle East conflict are changing the nature of warfare and are likely to be widely copied around the world in the future.
Benny Morris
· 12 min read
Useless UNIFIL
Were Hezbollah to disappear tomorrow, the world would be a safer place. Instead, thanks to UNIFIL’s failure to fulfil its mandate, the Middle East is on the precipice of a war of unprecedented destruction.
Josh Feldman
· 8 min read
Over-Learning the Lessons of Iraq
Russia, Iran, and the failure of US resolve.
Oscar Clarke
· 10 min read