Issandr Amrani
@arabist.net
130 followers 220 following 13 posts
Recovering journalist and old MENA hand trying to think more globally. OG blogger at arabist.net; currently Managing Director @open-society.bsky.social, formerly MENA director there; previously North Africa at @crisisgroup.org. Usual caveats apply.
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Reposted by Issandr Amrani
katsikajules.bsky.social
Photo journalist Shade Abu Sido was kidnapped on March 18 2024 during the Israeli occupation's raid on Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

“I entered Gaza and found it like a scene from Judgment Day. This is not Gaza. Where is the world?”
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
adamjschwarz.bsky.social
A mass walkout of the UN General Assembly as Netanyahu prepares to speak.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
mbazzi.bsky.social
“The actual state of Palestine” — brilliant front page from UK Observer
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
peterbeinart.bsky.social
Of course Mamdani has visited Jewish communities. What angers Greenblatt is that Mamdani isn't courting HIM. By winning the young Jewish vote while condemning Israel, Mamdani is exposing how out of touch Greenblatt is with many of those he claims to represent. That's what makes Mamdani a threat.
arabist.net
Not surprising, they were also supportive of what Israel war crimes in Gaza, they like Biden are reprehensible and deeply immoral people.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
mtsw.bsky.social
brad lander primary chuck schumer
arabist.net
Hmmm turns out the same Democratic Party elite and the oligarchs that back them who backed Joe Biden even as they knew of his mental deficit was wrong about Cuomo. Go figure.
arabist.net
Also the defense systems did not work impeccably and the Israeli war effort is extremely expensive and probably not sustainable in a war of attrition against an opponent that may simply be able to endure more pain for longer.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
ghoshworld.bsky.social
Every US base in the Middle East will have planned for this moment, and will be on high alert. But every American civilian in the region is now potentially in harm’s way. I wonder if Trump will explain what he’s doing to safeguard them.
Not holding my breath, though.
arabist.net
Would have been more useful last week.
gregsargent.bsky.social
Good to see: Chuck Schumer just called for a vote on requiring Trump to seek congressional authorization for war w/Iran.

Reupping this Q: We've seen a left-right coalition demand this in the past. Why not now? Where are "anti-interventionist" MAGA Rs this time?

newrepublic.com/article/1969...
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
rhodesben.bsky.social
If your take is "I oppose Trump's fascism but support him lawlessly bombing this other country" maybe pause and give that a think.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
stelhami.bsky.social
Exclusive: Syrian leadership approved return of dead spy Eli Cohen archive to Israel, sources say. Israel had earlier reported retrieval of archive to have taken place "in a complex covert operation by the Mossad, in cooperation with a strategic partner"
www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Exclusive: Syrian leadership approved return of dead spy archive to Israel, sources say
Syria's leadership approved the handover of the belongings of long-dead spy Eli Cohen to Israel in a bid to ease Israeli hostility and show goodwill to U.S. President Donald Trump, three sources told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
arabist.net
CIA to name veteran Middle East case officer as head of covert operations - FT

"CIA director John Ratcliffe has chosen an intelligence operative who heads a critical station in a Middle East country to be deputy director for operations, according to several people familiar with the decision."
CIA to name veteran Middle East case officer as head of covert operations
Deputy director of operations to become more powerful as agency increases focus on espionage
www.ft.com
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
aronlund.bsky.social
This is how I’ll do Middle East analysis from now on, and I’m hoping it will improve the accuracy of my predictions considerably
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
jfallows.bsky.social
I think they also did this for JFK and Jackie in Paris in 1961.

Oh, sorry, I forgot: They had dinner in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
___

(Snapshots of US imagery on the world stage, two different eras. )
onestpress.onestnetwork.com
As part of the red-carpet treatment, Saudi officials arranged for a fully operational mobile McDonald’s unit to accompany President Trump during his stay.

According to local reports, the unit was set up near the Saudi Royal Court.
arabist.net
Trump dropping sanctions a worth more than any aid package to the country. It gives it a chance to rebuild itself.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
mwhanna.crisisgroup.org
Astonishing news on Trump’s lifting of Syria sanctions. Much still depends on follow through and implementation and there is a Congressional piece as well, but I would never have predicted this; I’m sure some members of his administration feel the same.
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
shashj.bsky.social
Doug Feith's Office of Special Plans, but stupider. "The classified message asked agencies, whose tools include surveillance satellites...intercepts and spies...to identify people in Greenland and Denmark who support U.S. objectives for the island." www.wsj.com/world/greenl...
Exclusive | U.S. Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland
The push underscores the seriousness of President Trump’s intent to acquire the island from Denmark.
www.wsj.com
Reposted by Issandr Amrani
qusaynoor.net
President of the #Syrian #Arab Republic, Mr. Ahmad Al-Shara, arrived at #Charles de Gaulle Airport in #Paris, marking his first official visit to #Europe.