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.

Hizballah’s Push for Power

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian- 16/11/2006 Earlier this month, Hizballah General-Secretary Hassan Nasrallah issued an ultimatum to the Lebanese government of Fuad Siniora. Either, Nasrallah declared, his movement and its allies are granted a one-third blocking veto in the Lebanese Cabinet, or Hizballah … Continue reading →

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Old-Think Rides Again

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-27/11/2006 The curtain is now descending on United States and allied hopes that a democratic, stable Iraq might yet emerge from the 2003 invasion of that country. As the endgame is played out, one may glimpse the contours of the … Continue reading →

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Don’t Expect Peace Soon

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian- 08/12/2006 Don’t expect peace soon: Hostile forces have to be defeated before any meaningful Middle East talks can take place. Internal politics and wider regional strategy largely explain the sudden re-emergence of talk about conflict resolution between Israelis … Continue reading →

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The Anti-Israel Lobby

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-07/02/2007 This week saw the launching of the Independent Jewish Voices initiative by a group of prominent left-of-center Jews in the U.K. The initiative intends, according to its founding statement, to “promote the expression of alternative Jewish voices.” Its sponsors … Continue reading →

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Hamas and the Rebirth of Illusion

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-27/05/2005 A process of rethinking is currently taking place in British and American foreign policy establishments regarding Hamas. The movement’s ability to command high levels of popular support is giving credence to formerly fringe opinions that have long advocated rapprochement … Continue reading →

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The Long War Strategy

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian-11/06/2007 The decision by the University and College Union (UCU) to consider a boycott of Israel is the latest manifestation of a broader process which has been steadily gathering speed in the last half-decade: the converging of opinion on … Continue reading →

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Gaza – Year Zero

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian-22/06/2007 The Hamas coup that took place in Gaza last week is an event of historic importance. For the first time in the region, Islamist fighters took on the internationally recognized forces of a western-subsidized Arab nationalist client – … Continue reading →

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Reinforcing Failure

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian-29/06/2007 Israeli responses to the news that Tony Blair has accepted the post of Quartet Middle East Envoy have ranged from the warmly supportive, via the mildly bemused, to the downright opposed. The former British prime minister is generally … Continue reading →

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Appearance is Everything

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian- 08/08/2007 US Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice has now completed her four day trip to the Middle East. Dr. Rice was evidently well-pleased at what she found, describing herself as “impressed by the seriousness of (Olmert and Abbas) … Continue reading →

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Coalition agreement not Withstanding, Hizbullah will continue to hold Sway in Lebanon

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post- 13/11/2009 Following statements from both government and opposition sides in Lebanon over the weekend, it now looks likely that Prime Minister-elect Saad Hariri will announce the formation of a new governing coalition in the next few days. The … Continue reading →

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