Author Archives: jonathanspyer

Unknown's avatar

About jonathanspyer

Jonathan Spyer is a Middle East analyst, author and journalist specializing in the areas of Israel, Syria and broader issues of regional strategy. He is the director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and analysis (MECRA), a research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for strategy and Security (JISS) and a Fellow at the Middle East Forum.

Israel and Saudi Arabia – alliance of interests

Posted on October 25, 2013 by jonathanspyer

PJMedia, 24/10 Recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have fuelled renewed speculation of behind the scenes links between Israel and the Gulf monarchies. Netanyahu, speaking at the UN, said that “The dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Chemical Weapons Mission in Syria Unlikely to Succeed

Posted on October 16, 2013 by jonathanspyer

PJmedia, 16/10 The first reports emerging from the effort to relieve the Assad regime of its chemical weapons capacity suggest that the regime is cooperating with the inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The latter … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Brotherhood in retreat

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 11/10 Reports surfaced this week suggesting that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal is seeking to relocate from his current base in the Qatari capital of Doha. Hamas has indignantly rejected these claims. This shouldn’t be taken as authoritative – … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Bloomberg interview on prospects for Iran negotiations

Posted on October 1, 2013 by jonathanspyer

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/gauging-global-concerns-over-a-nuclear-iran-6KU9l4HPTOy_OoWwxcwBxg.html

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

With Morsi gone, Hamas turns back to Iran

Posted on September 29, 2013 by jonathanspyer

A number of recent reports have noted the revival of Iranian financial backing for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which rules the Gaza Strip. The Iranian decision appears to follow a series of meetings between officials of the Islamic Republic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Kurdish Independence Now

Posted on September 29, 2013 by jonathanspyer

The civil war in Syria and the increasing fragility of Iraq have thrown the long-term future of these states into question. For years, they were ruled by brutal regimes that held power in the name of Arab nationalism; as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The Fragmented Forces Behind Assad

Posted on September 27, 2013 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 27/9 The conflict in Syria tends to be seen as one between a disparate, fragmented rebellion and a centralized dictatorial regime. That characterization of the rebellion is correct. The view of the Assad regime as a centralized, monolithic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Interview on areas of Control in Syria

Posted on September 10, 2013 by jonathanspyer

http://www.cbn.com/tv/2654013716001

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Are non Al Qaeda Syrian Rebels ‘Moderate’?

Posted on September 6, 2013 by jonathanspyer

For elected representatives and the public to have the necessary discussion regarding action in Syria, it is crucial that a clear picture of the realities on the ground in Syria be presented. Regarding the Assad regime and its apologists, nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Chemical Assad

Posted on August 30, 2013 by jonathanspyer

The place of WMD in the dictator’s war strategy, Jerusalem Post, 30/8. As US and western forces prepare for what looks like imminent action in Syria, the debate over the chemical strike in Damascus continues. Why, opponents of intervention argue, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments