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.

Tensions between FSA rebels, Kurdish Separatists in Syria

Posted on June 29, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 29/6. At a recent meeting in London, I asked a Syrian Kurd whose affiliations are close to the nationalist PKK why the Kurds of Syria remained on the sidelines in the uprising against Bashar Assad. The Kurds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Defections reflect doubts among Assad loyalists

Posted on June 26, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 26/06/2012 Analysis: Syrian rebels, having begun as an uprising against recognized authorities, are beginning to look more like a rival center of power in country. The defection this week of a Syrian general, five other officers and 33 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Syrian Rebels Gaining Ground

Posted on June 19, 2012 by jonathanspyer

As the UN Observer Mission in Syria ceases its activities, there are indications that the Syrian rebels are beginning to gain the upper hand against the Assad regime. The rebels have scored notable achievements against government forces in recent days. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A loon claims that I am an ‘adviser’ to the ‘Free Syrian Terrorist Army’

Posted on June 17, 2012 by jonathanspyer
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Interview on ABC News

Posted on June 1, 2012 by jonathanspyer

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-31/20120531-worldiv-raw/4045298

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Rise of Hamas-Gaza

Posted on May 16, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip, recently held internal elections. The polls were for the Gaza Political Bureau and Shura Council, often described as the movement’s parliament. Hamas holds its votes in secret, and tries to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Syrian Kurdish dissident: ‘Break Syria into Pieces’

Posted on May 16, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post 16/05/2012 Sherkoh Abbas, a veteran Syrian Kurdish dissident, called on Israel this week to support the break-up of Syria into a series of federal structures based on the country’s various ethnicities. Speaking from Washington, Abbas was also critical … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Transforming Fire: review by Joseph Morrison Skelly, 9/5

Posted on May 10, 2012 by jonathanspyer

The Transforming Fire: The Rise of the Israel–Islamist Conflict by Jonathan Spyer (New York: Continuum, 2010), 227 pages Reviewed by Joseph Morrison Skelly Treasurer, Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa / US Army Reserve “People walked … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

The Killing Grounds of Idlib

Posted on May 6, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 4/5. Human Rights Watch released this week a report that offers a devastating picture of the activities of the Syrian regime in suppressing the revolt underway against it. The report also stands as an indictment of the impotency … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Iran and Saudi Arabia duel over Bahrain

Posted on April 29, 2012 by jonathanspyer

The Saudi-sponsored newspaper Alsharq Alawsat this week reported a meeting in Qom between Iraqi Shi’ite Islamist leader Moqtada al-Sadr and leaders of the Bahraini opposition. Alsharq Alawsat, based in London, was keen to cast a spotlight on this meeting because … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment