Rena Netjes
@renanetjes.bsky.social
Arabist. Journalist. Entrepreneur.
With 17 field trips to Syria since 2019, I bring perspectives grounded in firsthand experience and authentic local engagement.
@RenaLingua.
[email protected]
With 17 field trips to Syria since 2019, I bring perspectives grounded in firsthand experience and authentic local engagement.
@RenaLingua.
[email protected]
Pinned
Religiöse Minderheiten - Drusen sind für das Schicksal Syriens entscheidend
Die Glaubensgemeinschaft der Drusen in Syrien ist politisch zerstritten. Das macht sie zum Spielball von Akteuren im Ausland und Islamisten im Inland.
www.deutschlandfunk.de
#Suwayda Our 20-minute report for @DLF from Suwayda, Jaramana, and Daraa is out. We spoke with (displaced) Muwahiddeen Druze, Bedouins, and Christians, a Muw. Druze Sheikh, intellectuals, and a security official.
With @_MarionSendker.
Auf Deutsch.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/religioese-m...
With @_MarionSendker.
Auf Deutsch.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/religioese-m...
Our latest for @zenith.me takes you inside the Druze areas of Suwayda governorate and Jaramana — revealing a community far more diverse than often portrayed.
With Marion Sendker.
With Marion Sendker.
November 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Our latest for @zenith.me takes you inside the Druze areas of Suwayda governorate and Jaramana — revealing a community far more diverse than often portrayed.
With Marion Sendker.
With Marion Sendker.
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Pope Leo XIV begins a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon on Thursday, his first foreign trip since his election and one on which he’s expected to emphasize key themes of his fledgling pontificate – among them dialogue and unity.
Pope Leo takes message of peace to Middle East on first foreign visit. Here’s what to know | CNN
Pope Leo XIV begins a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon on Thursday, his first foreign trip since his election and one on which he’s expected to emphasize key themes of his fledgling pontificate – a...
www.cnn.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Pope Leo XIV begins a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon on Thursday, his first foreign trip since his election and one on which he’s expected to emphasize key themes of his fledgling pontificate – among them dialogue and unity.
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Feeling stuck in your writing?
This week’s Respect in Marble post is about something deceptively simple: most writing problems are structure problems.
Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict, it’s a signal. It means you need a skeleton.
Link: open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
🧵
This week’s Respect in Marble post is about something deceptively simple: most writing problems are structure problems.
Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict, it’s a signal. It means you need a skeleton.
Link: open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
🧵
Feeling Stuck? Start With the Skeleton
Why the Hardest Part of Writing Happens Before the First Sentence
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Feeling stuck in your writing?
This week’s Respect in Marble post is about something deceptively simple: most writing problems are structure problems.
Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict, it’s a signal. It means you need a skeleton.
Link: open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
🧵
This week’s Respect in Marble post is about something deceptively simple: most writing problems are structure problems.
Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict, it’s a signal. It means you need a skeleton.
Link: open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
🧵
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Comey: "I'm grateful the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence & incompetence... I was inspired by the career people who refused to be part of this travesty. It cost some of them their jobs, but it preserved their integrity, which is beyond price"
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Comey: "I'm grateful the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence & incompetence... I was inspired by the career people who refused to be part of this travesty. It cost some of them their jobs, but it preserved their integrity, which is beyond price"
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Israel is set to destroy our guesthouse. But Masafer Yatta still welcomes all who resist
Mohammed Hureini’s family has hosted hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians in At-Tuwani. If this demolition proceeds, half of the village may be next.
www.972mag.com/at-tuwani-gu...
Mohammed Hureini’s family has hosted hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians in At-Tuwani. If this demolition proceeds, half of the village may be next.
www.972mag.com/at-tuwani-gu...
Israel is set to destroy our guesthouse. But we still welcome all who resist
My family has hosted hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians in At-Tuwani. If this demolition proceeds, half of our West Bank village may be next.
www.972mag.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Israel is set to destroy our guesthouse. But Masafer Yatta still welcomes all who resist
Mohammed Hureini’s family has hosted hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians in At-Tuwani. If this demolition proceeds, half of the village may be next.
www.972mag.com/at-tuwani-gu...
Mohammed Hureini’s family has hosted hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians in At-Tuwani. If this demolition proceeds, half of the village may be next.
www.972mag.com/at-tuwani-gu...
Saudi Al-Hadath.
Security Latakia: ISIS cell planning attacks on Syrian coast arrested
Security Latakia: ISIS cell planning attacks on Syrian coast arrested
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Saudi Al-Hadath.
Security Latakia: ISIS cell planning attacks on Syrian coast arrested
Security Latakia: ISIS cell planning attacks on Syrian coast arrested
Reposted by Rena Netjes
What is Christianity in my mind? Serving each other tea and cake, getting both earnest and embarrassed when talk turns to God, and being pretty good at dealing with death and funerals.
“Religion” here in the sense that Anders Breivik understood it…
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why Tommy Robinson supporters are turning to Christianity
The Church of England is grappling with what to do about followers of the far-right figure embracing faith.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
What is Christianity in my mind? Serving each other tea and cake, getting both earnest and embarrassed when talk turns to God, and being pretty good at dealing with death and funerals.
Syria is the land of warlords.
english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...
english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...
Abdi outlines SDF priorities in negotiations with Damascus - Enab Baladi
Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that the United States envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, told […]
english.enabbaladi.net
November 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Syria is the land of warlords.
english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...
english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...
Last December already, ISIS members were identified by activists in Afrin, but they later disappeared. ISIS is spreading and growing, hiding in various locations over the country. The big question for months has been: what are they planning?
#NWSyria Anti ISIS operation in east Afrin, Kafr Janna, just before Azaz:
November 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Last December already, ISIS members were identified by activists in Afrin, but they later disappeared. ISIS is spreading and growing, hiding in various locations over the country. The big question for months has been: what are they planning?
Last week, a Syrian was killed in southern Turkey, now another one Konya. Racism is rampant. Arab tourists are staying away. A Palestinian restaurant owner told us in June: Istanbul is over.
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Last week, a Syrian was killed in southern Turkey, now another one Konya. Racism is rampant. Arab tourists are staying away. A Palestinian restaurant owner told us in June: Istanbul is over.
Reposted by Rena Netjes
“America needs to secure his release NOW.”
Call your lawmakers, the State Department, and the US Embassy, and demand they act now to save the life of an American teenager.
linktr.ee/freeMohammed...
Call your lawmakers, the State Department, and the US Embassy, and demand they act now to save the life of an American teenager.
linktr.ee/freeMohammed...
November 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“America needs to secure his release NOW.”
Call your lawmakers, the State Department, and the US Embassy, and demand they act now to save the life of an American teenager.
linktr.ee/freeMohammed...
Call your lawmakers, the State Department, and the US Embassy, and demand they act now to save the life of an American teenager.
linktr.ee/freeMohammed...
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Dutch air force personnel have tried to down several drones that were spotted over Volkel air base in the south of the country last night. The ministry of Defence said unspecified weapons were used and the drones disappeared. Some 20 U.S. B61 nuclear free-fall bombs are stored at Volkel air base.
November 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Dutch air force personnel have tried to down several drones that were spotted over Volkel air base in the south of the country last night. The ministry of Defence said unspecified weapons were used and the drones disappeared. Some 20 U.S. B61 nuclear free-fall bombs are stored at Volkel air base.
I felt like I was in Damascus under Assad; only Iranian, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite, and Houthi TV channels were available, and the PYD/YPG/SDF channel was one of them.
When you're on the ground, information is everywhere. I especially love these completely unexpected gems of information!
When you're on the ground, information is everywhere. I especially love these completely unexpected gems of information!
In mid September, just back from a long and intense day in East Daraa and (destroyed) West Suwayda, we checked into a hotel in Damascus.
Then I asked the staff to turn on the TV for me and find (Saudi) Al Arabiya or another major Arabic channel.
The man kept scrolling....
Then I asked the staff to turn on the TV for me and find (Saudi) Al Arabiya or another major Arabic channel.
The man kept scrolling....
November 23, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I felt like I was in Damascus under Assad; only Iranian, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite, and Houthi TV channels were available, and the PYD/YPG/SDF channel was one of them.
When you're on the ground, information is everywhere. I especially love these completely unexpected gems of information!
When you're on the ground, information is everywhere. I especially love these completely unexpected gems of information!
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Interesting episode about Iranian loans to Syria. Iran wants the same treatment as Russia in that regard.
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
إرث الأسد الهارب.. إيران تريد أموالها وسوريا ترفض دفع الحساب! - في الواجهة
YouTube video by Al Mashhad المشهد
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Interesting episode about Iranian loans to Syria. Iran wants the same treatment as Russia in that regard.
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Russia is expanding again in Syria, back to Daraa and Quneitra. This must have happened in coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv, a commentator says.
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
تقارير: روسيا ستعزز وجودها في جنوب سوريا بموافقة إسرائيل
YouTube video by AlHadath الحدث
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Russia is expanding again in Syria, back to Daraa and Quneitra. This must have happened in coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv, a commentator says.
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
Reposted by Rena Netjes
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel | The Times of Israel share.google/C1Ufi5zLpWgc...
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel
Troops among several arrested in major arms smuggling bust linked to crime in northern Israel; prosecutors say gun-running took place during summer's Syrian Druze clashes
share.google
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel | The Times of Israel share.google/C1Ufi5zLpWgc...
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel | The Times of Israel share.google/C1Ufi5zLpWgc...
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel
Troops among several arrested in major arms smuggling bust linked to crime in northern Israel; prosecutors say gun-running took place during summer's Syrian Druze clashes
share.google
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Four IDF soldiers charged with trafficking weapons from Syria into Israel | The Times of Israel share.google/C1Ufi5zLpWgc...
Russia is expanding again in Syria, back to Daraa and Quneitra. This must have happened in coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv, a commentator says.
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
تقارير: روسيا ستعزز وجودها في جنوب سوريا بموافقة إسرائيل
YouTube video by AlHadath الحدث
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Russia is expanding again in Syria, back to Daraa and Quneitra. This must have happened in coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv, a commentator says.
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
youtu.be/PhqeQXJGGho?...
Reposted by Rena Netjes
NEWS: Lawmakers receive thousands of threats, including bomb threats, because of Trump's call for their execution, Greene set to resign and shrink the GOP majority, Veterans turn on Trump over threats to lawmakers.
A very serious update. Spread the word because people need to see this:
A very serious update. Spread the word because people need to see this:
NEWS: Lawmakers Receive Thousands of Death Threats and Bomb Threats After Trump Called for Their Execution
Lawmakers receive thousands of threats, including bomb threats, because of Trump's call for their execution, Greene set to resign and shrink the GOP majority, Veterans turn on Trump over threats
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
NEWS: Lawmakers receive thousands of threats, including bomb threats, because of Trump's call for their execution, Greene set to resign and shrink the GOP majority, Veterans turn on Trump over threats to lawmakers.
A very serious update. Spread the word because people need to see this:
A very serious update. Spread the word because people need to see this:
Interesting episode about Iranian loans to Syria. Iran wants the same treatment as Russia in that regard.
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
إرث الأسد الهارب.. إيران تريد أموالها وسوريا ترفض دفع الحساب! - في الواجهة
YouTube video by Al Mashhad المشهد
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Interesting episode about Iranian loans to Syria. Iran wants the same treatment as Russia in that regard.
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
The host claims that Russia had no militias on the ground. That's not true. Is this the UAE's Russia-friendly line coming through?
youtu.be/S4AsZuP7GJc?...
Reposted by Rena Netjes
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
November 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
Reposted by Rena Netjes
The Gazan doctors still languishing in Israeli prisons
While some were released in the ceasefire, Israel still holds 80 Palestinian medical workers without charge. Their families are demanding their freedom.
By Dr Michal Feldon
www.972mag.com/gazan-doctor...
While some were released in the ceasefire, Israel still holds 80 Palestinian medical workers without charge. Their families are demanding their freedom.
By Dr Michal Feldon
www.972mag.com/gazan-doctor...
The Gazan doctors still languishing in Israeli prisons
While some were released in the ceasefire, Israel still holds 80 Palestinian medical workers without charge. Their families are demanding their freedom.
www.972mag.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:57 AM
The Gazan doctors still languishing in Israeli prisons
While some were released in the ceasefire, Israel still holds 80 Palestinian medical workers without charge. Their families are demanding their freedom.
By Dr Michal Feldon
www.972mag.com/gazan-doctor...
While some were released in the ceasefire, Israel still holds 80 Palestinian medical workers without charge. Their families are demanding their freedom.
By Dr Michal Feldon
www.972mag.com/gazan-doctor...
About 7 weeks later, James was beheaded by ISIS.
#Syria An interesting video detailing the rescue operation for American journalist James Foley and several others in July 2014.
Very unfortunately it failed.
youtu.be/cIFQ-FHOmLE?...
Very unfortunately it failed.
youtu.be/cIFQ-FHOmLE?...
Delta Force, 75th Rangers & the Al-Akirshi Operation | July 2014
YouTube video by Liveth For Evermore
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
About 7 weeks later, James was beheaded by ISIS.