Author Archives: jonathanspyer

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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.

A Tale of Two Palestinian Authorities

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center- 24/04/2010 Four years after the Hamas victory in elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, and three years since the movement’s successful coup in Gaza, the split in the Palestinian national movement has an increasing look of permanence about … Continue reading →

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An Increasing Possibility

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center-09/11/2009 The possible emergence of a nuclear-armed, Islamist Iran committed to the destruction of the Jewish state is the key security issue currently occupying the attention of Israel’s political and security elite. It is one of the few issues … Continue reading →

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Arab Summit, Iranian Agenda

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center- 05/04/2009 The issues that dominated the 21st Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar, this week testified to the weakness and disunity of the Arab states. Sunni Arabs are the majority population group in the Middle East. Yet the … Continue reading →

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Analysis: A Bus Blows up in Damascus – Exploding Tire or Terror Strike?

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center- 07/12/2009 The Syrian authorities are currently trying to attribute the blast Thursday on a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims near the Saida Zeinab mosque in Damascus to an exploding tire. However, eyewitnesses earlier reported a bomb explosion on the … Continue reading →

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Iran Hasn’t Won the Cold War Yet

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center- 07/01/2010 The salient strategic fact in the Middle East today is the Iranian drive for regional hegemony. This Iranian objective is being promoted by a rising hardline conservative elite within the Iranian regime, centred on a number of … Continue reading →

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EU and Teheran: A Collision in Slow Motion

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center – 01/08/2010 This week, the European Union approved sanctions of unprecedented severity against Iran, because of its refusal to desist from enriching uranium. The EU decision follows the recent fourth UN Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran, and … Continue reading →

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Fight or Flight?

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center -11/12/2010 The revelation that the Saudis sought to create a military option for anti-Iranian forces in Lebanon is the latest item to fall into the category of “non-surprising surprises” revealed by the WikiLeaks cables. This is not intended … Continue reading →

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Notes From an Undeclared Cold War

Posted on April 4, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Gloria Center- 11/12/2010 The diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks earlier this week confirm that the key strategic process taking place in the Middle East is the push for regional dominance by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The documents show that … Continue reading →

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The West Should Use Resolution 1701 to Roll Back Hizbullah’s Effective Take-over of the Lebanese Government

Posted on March 31, 2011 by jonathanspyer

22/04/2010 The summoning by the United States of Syrian Deputy Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour for a review of Syrian arms transfers to Hizbullah is the latest evidence of the serious basis to the recent tensions in the north. Syria … Continue reading →

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Arab Order and flying Shoes

Posted on March 31, 2011 by jonathanspyer

21/12/2008 US President George W. Bush’s visit to Iraq this week reflected the mixed legacy of his presidency. The Iraq invasion is likely to be remembered as the defining issue of the Bush era and recent events show real progress … Continue reading →

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