Syria
AIPAC and the Secret Worlds of PeoplehoodTuesday, March 12, 2013 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
No cause, force or organization, brings Americans, primarily Jews but also Christians, together like the cause of Israel as managed by AIPAC.
Chemical Warfare in the Middle East: A Brief HistoryThursday, December 13, 2012 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
At this time of Hanukkah’s memories of Syrian tyrants past, the Syrian tyrant present, Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly assembled chemical weapons for use against the rebellion.
Editors' Picks
Bordering on Collapse Dore Gold, Israel Hayom. As a result of the Syrian civil war, Middle East borders that have lasted since the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 are on the verge of erasure—and the vultures are already circling.
Hizballah Reeling? Phillip Smyth, Foreign Policy. Based on casualty reports from its own media, Hizballah is losing both young fighters and seasoned commanders in the Syrian civil war.
Israel's Interests in Syria Efraim Inbar, Begin-Sadat Center. "Israel would be better served by having a failed state next door than by having a strong, Iranian-backed entity there."
Hanging in the Balance Lee Smith, Weekly Standard. Facing hostile actors on nearly every border, Israel aims to preserve the regional balance of power—a task made all the more delicate by American indifference.
Next Year in Brooklyn Adam Blitz, Aeon. "Should Damascus fall, as many of us believe it will, there remains the very real possibility that there will soon be no trace of a Jewish past in Syria at all."
Israel's New Rules Eyal Zisser, Israel Hayom. For 20 years, Israel has avoided attacking Hizballah's Syrian supply line for fear of retaliation from Damascus. Last weekend's strikes show that the rules of the game have changed.
Israel on Syria Ehud Eilam, National Interest. If Assad falls, the risk of a high-intensity war between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights will recede—but the likelihood of low-intensity conflict will increase.
Rebels without a Cause Michael J. Totten, World Affairs Journal. Since Israeli forces left southern Lebanon in 2000, Hizballah has lost its raison d'être and its Lebanese support base. Can it survive if Assad falls?
Historic Damascus Synagogue Looted and Destroyed Yoel Goldman, Times of Israel. It is an unsurprising tragedy: The Jobar Synagogue, 2,000 years old, has been burned to the ground. The rebels blame the government. The government blames rebels and Zionist agents.
Losing Washington's Attention George Friedman, Stratfor Global Intelligence. Focused on the domestic economy, the United States has lost interest in the Middle East. And, facing external threats beyond its control, Israel has followed suit.