Socialism: Here, There, and Everywhere
It is hard not to notice the word “socialism” appearing steadily more often in steadily more places. Some appearances of the word aim to register dismissal or hate. But many appearances aim to register elevation and desire. Socialism in polls. Socialism as epithet. Socialism in Gracie Mansion. Socialism buried. Socialism resurrected. Socialism past. Socialism future.
Why Turkey and Qatar Should Be Kept Away From Gaza
One of the keynote speakers at the conference [hosted by Turkey] was Khaled Mashaal, a senior Hamas leader based in Qatar.
Mashaal declared that the time has come for the Muslim nation to “commit to the liberation of Jerusalem.” He defined this act as the symbol and strategic key to “liberating all of Palestine” — meaning the destruction of Israel and replacing it with an Islamist state.
One year ago, Syria toppled Assad. Securing the country’s future could be the harder part
One year on from Assad’s fall, Syria is still grappling with the ruins of dictatorship, sectarian violence, and a fragile economic future, writes Shady Hamadi.
Homs: A stability test that Syria’s new authorities are failing
Violence in Homs raises questions over whether Syria’s new authorities can enforce the rule of law, or if the country risks reproducing patterns of warlordism
In late November and early December, the Syrian central city of Homs descended into a cycle of revenge killings and sectarian-coded attacks that exposed deep fractures in Syria’s nascent post-Bashar Al-Assad governance.
Bashar al-Assad appears to mock Putin’s ‘plastic surgery’ in latest scandalous video
A leak of videos featuring Bashar Al-Assad has sparked outrage in Syria and beyond, with the latest revelation involving his Russian ally, Vladimir Putin.
Bashar Al-Assad mocked his Russian ally, President Vladimir Putin, according to a series of leaked videos where the former dictator shows his callous disregard for Syrians’ suffering.
Syrian army chants for Gaza at military parade amid Israeli attacks
Syrian soldiers chanted slogans in support of Gaza at a military parade on Monday in Damascus, as the country marked the first anniversary of fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Footage of the parade has been shared widely on social media in recent days, raising concerns within Israel – which has occupied more Syrian territory and regularly bombed areas of the country since December 2024.
Toward a New Compromise in Iraq?
Recent election results have placed Nouri al-Maliki in a strong position to name the next prime minister.
The Iraqi Construction and Development Coalition, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, emerged as the leading bloc in Iraq’s parliamentary elections on November 11, winning a plurality of 46 out of 329 seats. However, diplomatic sources say it is unlikely that Sudani will become the next prime minister, given that, among other factors, Iraq’s political system favors compromise candidates. Sudani has become too powerful to still be viewed as such.
The return of Israel’s most debilitating weakness: Hubris
Our enemies are down but not out; potential regional allies are moving away; global and notably US public and political mindsets are changing for the worse; and we are again riven inside. This is not a time for complacency
Perhaps the best single-word summation of the reasons for Israel’s catastrophic failure to recognize that Hamas was about to invade 26 months ago, and thus to prevent the ensuing massacre, is hubris.
Hamas source to ToI: We’ll hold talks on disarming, but we can’t be forced to give up guns
In rare engagement with Israeli media, source in terror group argues weapons are used to ‘liberate’ Palestinians from Israeli rule, and therefore can’t be ceded until statehood secured
DOHA, Qatar — A Hamas source told The Times of Israel on Sunday that the group will only agree to give up its weapons through negotiations that result in the establishment of a Palestinian state.