My piece with @joosthiltermann.bsky.social in @foreignaffairs.com
“If the U.S.-led world order is a geopolitical game of Jenga, it could well be Israel that ends up pulling the final piece….Trump has made the first step in reversing course on this trend” www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/gaza-...
Read @joosthiltermann.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social on how Israel has continually upended the Trump administration’s policies—and how the new cease-fire deal could “turn into yet another failed U.S.-led peace initiative.”
Spoke w/ @bloomberg.com this afternoon on Vance's visit to Israel, MBS' upcoming visit to DC, and what's left of the ceasefire. In short, the US will need to stay deeply involved to keep the ceasefire in Gaza intact and to move both sides to the next phase. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbX...
I wrote about the reasons for the durability of authoritarianism in the Middle East with @joosthiltermann.bsky.social. Spoiler alert: we don't think it's Islam or "culture."
cihrs-rowaq.org/views-the-we...
“To appease his right flank and ensure his own political survival, Netanyahu might be tempted to resume the war on Hamas once the hostages are freed and obstruct meaningful humanitarian aid once again,” write @joosthiltermann.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social.
“if we can’t even get a deal on humanitarian aid flowing unimpeded back into Gaza, I’m pretty pessimistic” Chatting w/ @kaileyleinz & @JMathieuReports @BloombergTV about Gaza, Iran, Israel and ceasefire talks m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICj4...
"President Trump’s recent announcement to lift sanctions on Syria is an important first step, but it’s not enough," write @natashahall.bsky.social and Ninar Fawal.
Read more in @foreignaffairs.com on Syria's recovery:
My latest with colleague Ninar Fawal on the next steps for Syria in @foreignaffairs.com
In short, clear the path of spoilers to allow Syria to recover. The announcement of sanctions relief is an incredible first step but it isn't the only one.
www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/can-sy...
After a dry winter, Syria adds a severe water crisis in the capital to its many troubles, report @apnews.com’s Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith al-Sayed.
apnews.com/article/syri...
“This is the historic statement and peace offering that we’ve been waiting for to meet the historic moment of the end of the house of Assad”
My thoughts w/ @dwnews on #Syria #SaudiArabia and @realDonaldTrump announcement on sanctions m.youtube.com/watch?v=qAVa...
“How much influence do you think the US president has over Netanyahu?”
….my thoughts on Gaza, Israel, and expectations for Trump’s Gulf trip youtu.be/zEasfTLc63k?...
"The trends are clear: By 2050, every single country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will live under extremely high water stress," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social
Learn more:
#Yarmouk was destroyed & stripped to the ground. What’s striking is the lack of anything other than cement. Not a piece of furniture, not a tile. It’s the kind of destruction you undertake when you want to ensure people can’t return. #Syria
“There is so much assistance that is desperately needed to accomplish any of these things [that the White House is demanding] and to secure the country, let alone begin any kind of development...Time is running out.” #Syria
spoke to @jmalsin.bsky.social @wsj.com www.wsj.com/world/middle...
My latest in the @nytimes.com on Syria. Don’t let a once in a lifetime opportunity for US foreign policy slip away
"There is no way this government survives" without sanctions relief, argues @natashahall.bsky.social to Arab News about the challenges facing #Syria's new government.
Read her recent comments below 👇
"Every country in the Middle East and North Africa will experience extreme water stress by 2050, meaning that all will be using at least 80% of their available water supplies," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social
More on the politics of water insecurity:
"The Middle East is no stranger to water scarcity and violence, but the region is now at a tipping point," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social
Learn more about the politics of water insecurity in the Middle East:
The Israelis just hit the building next to my aunt’s house in Syria. 6 people died. She’s in shock. This has to stop. news.sky.com/video/syrias...
"Qatar is set to supply Syria with gas via Jordan to improve the nation's meager power supply, three people familiar with the matter said, in a move that a U.S. official said had Washington's approval."
Timour Azhari & Andrew Mills, @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
On the SDF-govt deal “Sharaa is reeling from the weekend’s violence…He is looking for wins w/ the intl community, knowing that Kurds have good relations w/ the US & even perhaps Israel. He’s playing a strategic game by signing the agreement.” www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/m...
While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. @natashahall.bsky.social stresses urgency in addressing the politics of water insecurity.
More from @mideast.csis.org ⤵️
Happening Tomorrow | @natashahall.bsky.social hosts a panel of experts to discuss a new CSIS report on the politics of water scarcity in the Middle East.
🕔 10:00 - 11:00AM ET
📆 March 11, 2025
📍 Online
Register here:
NEW report: The Thirst for Power: Overcoming the Politics of Water in the Middle East
“water can no longer be put on hold in the region. The choice is stark. Either change course or face far greater challenges in the future.” #Iraq #Syria #Yemen #Jordan #Gaza #WestBank
www.csis.org/analysis/tip...
Spoke to @MarcoWerman @TheWorld about the reemerging relationship b/w Syria's new govt and Russia.
Astounding that Syrians would have to reach out to Moscow again and that the US is missing a historic strategic opportunity. theworld.org/segments/202...
Spoke to @brhodes on the geopolitical challenges Syria faces. If I sound exasperated, I am. Never has the right thing & the strategic thing to do been so closely aligned. To see that opportunity thrown away is heartbreaking. #Turkey #Israel #Russia #PKK
open.spotify.com/episode/5CRi...
I’ll be on C-SPAN today at 8:45am to talk all things #Gaza, #Syria, and a bit of US foreign #aid. The three complicated topics that I’ve devoted about 15 years of my life to. Looking forward to your questions. www.c-span.org/event/washin...
“Trump’s rhetoric alone about Gaza is an existential threat to Jordan’s stability,” says @natashahall.bsky.social to the Washington Examiner about President Trump's call to relocate Gazans to #Jordan.
Read her recent comments here:
Netherlands confirms that there are "significant" stockpiles of undeclared CW and production facilities in Syria.
h/t @vreij.bsky.social
open.overheid.nl/documenten/8...
