Afghan Refugees Removed From Iran and Pakistan

 

Afghan refugees are being removed from both Iran and Pakistan. The recent wave of refugees was the result of the Taliban's return to power. The US-Afghan War destabilized the country. Iran and the Taliban regime do not have positive diplomatic relations. While both are theocratic governments, the two nations follow different sects of Islam. When it comes to governance, the Taliban is more authoritarian in practice. The Taliban of the 2020s, differs from the Taliban of the 1990s to 2000s. Fears of a US-Israel Iran war also complicate matters. The decline of Iranian and Pakistani relations was evident with the clashes in 2024. Iran was targeting armed groups that were suspected of attempts of sabotage against the country. Seeing as some missile fire was exchanged, this proves the region is not safe. Afghan refugees have little protection in a region with tensions and military operations. The Taliban might attempt to attack to stop emergent armed resistance groups outside of its borders. The Taliban was able to get the recognition of the Russian Federation, which could strain relations with Iran.  Afghan refugees are running out of options for safety. Alternatives are being limited. Afghans could either seek asylum in other Central Asian states . Getting access to the European Union countries would be difficult. The growing anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment is being exploited by the political establishment in the EU and North America. Millions of Afghan refugees are being repatriated. Using repatriated is a euphemistic term for deportation. The press also tries to obfuscate the situation by calling it expulsion.  Iran and Pakistan are doing mass deportations of Afghan refugees. Deadlines are set and both countries want to meet the target of how many should be deported. Those returning to Afghanistan cannot be guaranteed safety or that the Taliban regime will not retaliate.  

Israel Attacks Iran

 

Israel has attacked major Iranian cities. Tehran was hit with airstrikes. Israel's aggression has escalated to the extent of regional war. Iran now is a target of  expansionist regional designs. Israel wants to fight Iran to eliminate competitors in West Asia. The argument was that Israel was attempting to stop Iran's nuclear program. Israel has nuclear weapons, which is more precarious. Israel did an unilateral strike and it further isolates the country. Iran responded with attacks on Tel Aviv. During Israel's attacks government officials were assassinated from the operation. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed that more retaliation would follow. Israel does not have the capability to fight Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and Iran all at once. Israel is active in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and the occupied territories. The Trump administration favors Israel and has an anti-Iranian position. A regional war between Israel and Iran could expand beyond its borders. Nuclear sites were not only attacked, but ballistic missile factories. If the United States continues its support of Israel, military bases will be attacked. Israel is now under a state of emergency. War with Iran has been Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's goal for decades. The Likud Party's belligerent actions could result in mass global conflict. A regional war maintains the possibility of Israel suffering a major defeat. Unless the US and EU countries come to its assistance. Oil production from the Middle East could be disrupted. A Israel-Iran War might result in an energy crisis.   

Kurds and Alawites Are Victims of Violence In Syria

 

After the fall of the Baathist government, Alawites have been subject to violence. Kurds throughout the Syrian civil war faced attacks. The removal of Bashar al-Assad did not create an improved condition for the war torn country. The Latakia massacre killed an estimated 1,300 people. The new regime of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham claimed that they were only fighting loyalist to the Baathist government. HTS is using terrorism and violence to impose its will upon a population that rejects it. HTS views Alawites as collaborators of the Assad government. Turkish involvement is going to grow. The excuse for occupation of Syrian territory is to prevent more refugee traffic. Syrians and Kurds have been fleeing to Turkey since the civil war broke out in 2011. Alawites are now seeking safety in Lebanon. The condition of Syria can only be described as ethnic cleansing. The sanctions imposed during this civil war undermined Syria's standard of living. The Alawites are facing a similar condition to Sunnis in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Death squads emerged inflicting violence based on ethnicity and religion. The difference with Syria was that terrorist organizations and armed groups were funded by the West and Gulf monarchies. Iraq was invaded by the United States and terrorist organizations went their to fight . ISIS was a product of the Iraq War and the desire to depose Bashar al-Assad. When a country is destabilized racial and ethnic tensions are exploited. President Ahmed al-Sharaa is not seeking to share power or create a federal system. Certain ethnic groups are going to see more violence directed at them. The civil war never stopped, but went through an evolution. Yazidis and Syrian Turkmen might might no longer be welcomed in the HTS regime. Syria is going through ethnic conflict and balkanization. Alawites and Kurdish refugees are only going to increase in number.   

Israel Intends Complete Conquest of the Gaza Strip

 

The Gaza-Israel War continues unrestricted. Israel asserts that the military objective was to rescue the hostages. Instead, the attack is more of a war of aggression seeking regime change. After several attempts at a ceasefire the Likud Party reveals its true intentions. Territorial expansion and annexing certain areas are the main objectives. Israel is trying to stop the creation of a Palestinian state. Simultaneously the Zionist state wants to keep Syria and Lebanon in a weakened conditions. Israel is forming what is known as security zones. These areas have a huge IDF occupation, but do not allow Palestinians to remain. Arabs residing in Israel are under a threat. Those refugees seeking to escape are at risk. The bombing of refugee camps has occurred. Rafah is a pathway to Egypt. Palestinians are going to have to find safety in neighboring Arab states. If the atrocities continue to escalate Jordan and Egypt are going to be forced to respond. The treaties that have been signed with Israel might not remain in place. Israel is absorbing mostly southern Gaza. The buffer zones being formed are nothing more than territories that will be added to the Zionist state. Palestinians have few options for self-defense and resistance. Hamas is not an effective fighting force. The PFLP and PLO are not as equipped compared to the Israeli military. The only country that has the potential to stop Israel is Iran. The complication is that Arab states are suspicious of the Islamic Republic. The Gulf monarchies are western aligned and see Iran as a security risk. Hamas has released hostages, but 24 are thought to be imprisoned in Gaza. A deal was proposed that these hostages would be released if Israel ends the war. The offer was refused. The blowback could be immense. Citizens from other Arab states could come to the Gaza Strip to participate in armed resistance. If Arab leaders look pusillanimous in the face of Israeli aggression, anti-government protests could breakout. Palestine is fighting now to resist the last major outpost of settler colonialism. The war crimes in the Gaza Strip prove Israel never wanted peace, only conquest.      

A New Phase In The Yemen War

 

The Houthi rebels are now fighting a new phase of the Yemen War. Israel's attacks on Gaza inflamed the rebellion and  escalated the civil war in Yemen. The response was to stop ships in the Red Sea. The invasion of Lebanon and attacks on Hezbollah  was significant to Houthi rebels. Seeing as both get some degree of support from Iran, the Red Sea response was the next choice. Yemen is nowing facing bombings from Israel's European and American allies. The objective is to ensure that Israel remains an outpost for US and European countries. Yemen could act as a launching area for a war on Iran. Saudi Arabia is a factor in the destabilization of Yemen. The desire to insert a president there loyal to their interest remains a priority. President Rashad al-Alimi made the accusation that al-Qaida was collaborating with Iran. This allegation has no basis, due to the fact a Sunni Muslim terrorist organization would not align with a Shia Muslim theocracy. Al-Qaida in the Arabian peninsula was formed indigenously. The other terrorist organizations were being aided by the West in Syria. The government of Yemen no longer controls the capital of Saana. Aden is now a de-facto capital for the al-Alimi administration. The Presidential Leadership Council has failed to govern Yemen. At one time,  President Rashad al-Alimi took refuge in Saudi Arabia. Like most presidents after the fall Abdullah Ali Salih, they are reliant of Saudi Arabia to enforce their leadership of Yemen. A decade has passed with no end in sight. The new phase of the Yemen War is that other conflicts are going to fuse with it.  

The Kurdistan Worker's Party Might Seek A Peace Agreement

 

The Kurdistan Worker's Party announced a ceasefire. The PKK for a number of years has been fighting Turkey for the cause of Kurdish national self-determination. Indications hint to the PKK seeking a peace agreement. Abdullah Ocalan leader of the PKK has called for the armed struggle to end. The circumstances are a direct result of the fall of the Assad presidency in Syria. Turkey made itself an enemy of Syria and the fight with the PKK was putting pressure on the government. The void left by the removal of the Baathist government puts the Kurds in a precarious situation. Israeli expansion and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's control of Syria means Kurds face two enemies. Ocalan's sudden shift away from armed resistance is more about a battlefield reality. Under such conditions a Kurdish state cannot be created. The PKK has been fighting since 1984 and has changed its policies regarding the question of independence. The shift in Turkey has been about more autonomy. Kurds in Syria, Iraq, and Iran do not all share this position. An estimated 40,000 people have died from the conflict with the PKK. As long as Abdullah Ocalan remains in prison peace agreements  or a sustainable ceasefire will not last. Calls for a peaceful resolution might not be possible. The desire to see a Kurdistan emerge are growing. What complicates regional matters is the Democratic Forces of Syria. The Kurdish led group has fought both the Bashar  al-Assad presidency in Syria and the Recep Erdogan government. Even if the PKK were to make peace or dissolve, this would not end regional challenges. Neo- Otomanism is partitioning parts of West Asia. Kurds and Arabs are seen as obstacles to the new Turkish neo-colonial policy. Members of the PKK understand this agenda. Abdullah Ocalan's calls for a peace settlement could be rejected by a large portion of  the PKK.  

President James Carter Praises Shah Mohammad Pahlavi (1978)

 

President James Carter wanted to make human rights a priority in his administration. This was more of a sentiment, rather than actual policy. The US supported Shah Mohammad Pahlavi. Iran was engaging in oppression of its own citizens. The CIA helped train Savak. This was a secret police force that was designed to crush dissent and gather intelligence. President Carter during his administration praised the Shah as being a stabilizing force. There was a growing political opposition to the monarchy in Iran. The Iranian Revolution would occur in 1979 and the Iranian hostage crisis became a major concern. US support for Iran was part of a Cold War strategy directed at the Soviet Union. Russia having access to Iranian oil was not acceptable to Washington. President Carter stated that Iran was " an island  of stability in one of the more  troubled areas of the world." Protests were beginning in 1978. The difference was that the US did not expect the Shah to be deposed. He was placed back in power in 1953 by both the UK and the US. The Carter administration could not resolve the hostage crisis and the take over of the US embassy. The hostages did get their freedom, but the poor management of the crisis cost President Carter the presidency. 

The End of The Bashar al-Assad Presidency

 

Syria's government has been deposed by a combination of terrorist organizations, domestic armed groups, and foreign powers. When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham entered Damascus, President Assad was nowhere to be found. Assad and his family prior to the rebel invasion fled to the Russian Federation. So far, there has not been an announcement from Bashar al-Assad about the situation. A possible bloodless coup occurred, which forced him into a type of self imposed exile. Russia did not come to his aid like in 2015. Iran's current military skirmishes with Israel is the focus of their energies. Israel with President Assad removed launched an invasion into Syrian territory. Syria is not going to become a liberal democracy. The Baath Party was just replaced with HTS. Now it appears that Abu Mohammad al-Jolani will have control of Syria. This depends on how HTS will fight its competitors. Assad's exile to Russia is puzzling. Iran and Oman are likely places in which the Assad family would flee to. Turkey remains in the north of Syria and Iraq will be effected by the change of the Syrian government. Syria now has tranfomed into what Lebanon was during the 1975 to 1990 civil war. The United States now is conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. A fear is that when the Russo-Ukraine War is over, there will be attempt reinstall Bashar al-Assad. Russia has two bases in Syria, which could launch an operation. Although unlikely it might explain why Assad chose to get asylum in Russia. There could be discussions about a military operation to clear terrorist organizations and armed groups from Syria. As long as Bashar al-Assad is alive and politically active this could happen. Considering the amount of political instability, the Assad era is over. Ethnic and religious hatreds are growing with escalating violence. The loyalists to President Bashar al-Assad will never accept a new government.  

Israel Invades Lebanon

 

Israel continues to disturb the peace in West Asia. The invasion of Lebanon has opened another front in the Israel-Gaza War. The invasion has nothing to do with fighting Hamas. Hezbollah does show solidarity with Palestinian resistance. This is not designed to undermine the fight against occupation. Israel is seeking to expand its borders. The consequences of fighting both Hamas and Hezbollah gets Israel closer to a full scale confrontation with Iran. The motivation is to become the most dominant power in the Middle East region and clear space for Israeli settlement. Other Arab states should be concerned about growing Israeli aggression. Jordan, Iraq, and Syria are at risk. Saudi Arabia could one day face violence from Israel. Yemen continues to resist with Houthi fighters. The expansion of the war has created a dire humanitarian crisis. Ethnic cleansing and genocide are occurring in both the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank. The violence is part of the Greater Israel project. Although the Movement for Greater Israel ended in the 1970s, the ideas remain. The desire to conquer and replace Arabs with European Ashkenazim Jewish populations. If the war keeps going it may force Arab states to intervene. The citizens of those populations are expressing much anger about the deaths caused by the IDF. Beirut has sustained bombings from Israel. The invasion of Lebanon has only isolated Israel diplomatically. These acts of  military aggression are the start of  a Zionist empire. Lebanon now has to fight to for its sovereignty against an invading nation.      

Israel Expands War Against Hezbollah

 

Israel continues to expand the conflict in the Middle East. Hezbollah when Gaza was attacked aided the resistance by firing rockets into Israel. What Israel did was respond with an act of terrorism. Across Lebanon pagers exploded. This was not designed to harm the leadership, but also attack the Lebanese population. The West Bank is also being absorbed into the Israeli state. What Israel claimed was an operation to free hostages and do a punitive operation against Hamas is really annexation. The long term goal is to destroy armed resistance to colonization efforts. The discussion of a two state solution or the creation of one is not possible under these conditions. The Knesset voted against a two state solution. The conflict with Lebanon has much to do with occupation. Lebanon was under Israeli occupation from 1985 to 2000. Although Israel withdrew they maintain the Shebaa Farms. The argument is that it was not part of the Golan Heights. Disputes over borders remain and this also involves complaints by Syria. Israeli may be seeking to add Ghajar to its domains. Hezbollah objects to this change in borders. Kfar Chouba is also remains a disputed area. When Israel engaged in a war with Hezbollah in 2006, they lost. Another outcome like that could be possible. What is precarious is Israel's move to regional war. Syria could get involved as well as Iran. Jordan and Egypt might be pressured by their citizens to abandon treaties made with Israel. Turkish public opinion tends to favor the Palestinian cause. The push for the creation of Greater Israel makes the region more unstable. West Asia is getting closer to a massive conflict similar to the Six Day War  in 1967.   

Israel's Targeted Assassinations Harm Ceasefire Efforts

 

Global protests and internal dissent has not stopped Israel's war on Gaza. Complicating the situation is the policy of targeted assassination. The murder of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran only complicated matters. Khaled Mashal succeeded him after the assassination. The revelation that hostages in Gaza were killed caused protests in Israel. The protests are not for peace or anti-war causes. Rather it is about removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . If Israel continues to assassinate the Hamas leadership having negotiations will be impossible. Six hostages were killed. The accusation is that Hamas did the murders, but considering the bombings of the Gaza Strip Israel may actually kill the remaining hostages. The claim was that the war was to save hostages. Then the real objective was exposed. Regime change was decided upon in the Gaza Strip with annexation ending the process. Simultaneously, there is more violence in the West Bank. Hamas does not have control in that area, but it is being subject to military operations. Hamas is being used for the justification of expanding Israel's borders. Khaled Mashal could also fall victim to assassination. Hamas has not made an attempt to attack Israeli leaders. As causalities mount and territory gets absorbed this is not a war fought for defense. A campaign is underway to create Greater Israel. Hamas is surviving with the help of Hezbollah and by relation Iran. Targeted assassinations escalate conflict in a volatile region.      

Senator Joseph Biden Explains The Motivation For Support of Israel (1986)

 

As the Israel-Hamas War continues many Americans are becoming frustrated with President Biden's approach to the conflict. It becomes more evident that his administration cares little about the deaths in Gaza. Those in his cabinet refuse to even call it ethnic cleansing. Biden at the time a senator in 1986 explained why the US supports Israel no matter what crimes it commits. Israel only exists  to serve US interests in the Middle East. The myth of a moral obligation related to the Holocaust was promoted to the public. Israel was used to halt pan-Arab nationalist movements, Islamism, and anti-colonial politics. What President Biden stated was that if Israel did not exist, the US would have to create some type of puppet state. US interests in West Asia relate to control of oil and a concern about energy. Based on Biden's comments in the Senate in 1986, it explains the support now. Despite attacking hospitals and refugee camps the Biden administration continues to send aid and weapons. The Biden administration is showing anti-Arab racism and it is alienating numerous voters. President Joseph Biden's support for Israel shows a long pattern in his political career. He is willing to support Israel, even if it could cost him the 2024 election. Billions are contributed for the Zionist project. These funds would best be used repairing infrastructure or for public schools. Instead funds are used to contribute to the  Israeli war machine. President Biden claimed it was a wise investment. Decades later, the alliance is more of a liability. More Arab states are getting vexed at Israel's human rights abuse. President Biden ignores all objections to his foreign policy.  

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi Dies In Helicopter Crash

 

The IRNA news agency reported that President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. The others identified in the accident also included foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. There is no indication this was an assassination plot. The investigation so far believed that the signal system to the helicopter was turned off. Some have speculated that the helicopter they were in did not have one. The perplexing element of this incident is why a plane was not used. Iran currently is mourning the loss of government officials. The president of Iran is head of government. The Supreme Leader is the head of state. This means foreign policy and domestic affairs will not be changing. Ebrahim Raisi was thought to be a potential successor Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei is now 85 years old and one of the longest ruling heads of state in the region. At some point his rule will come to an end. An interim president is now in place. The government of Iran has an aging leadership. Most in foreign affairs or the Supreme Leader role are age 60 and over. Before his death President Ebrahim Raisi was visiting the Iran-Azerbaijan border. Meeting with President Ilham Aliyev it was for the celebration of a finished dam on the Aras River. The inauguration ceremony was designed to show appreciation for stronger diplomatic relations between the two countries. International pressures brought a theocratic government in alliance with a secular authoritarian regime. Iran's relationship with Azerbaijan is similar to the partnership with Syria. After a long search authorities were able to uncover the crash site. Elections for a new head of government is getting under way. An election of a new president is set to happen in 50 days.    

Iran Strikes Israel

 

When Israel attacked the Iranian embassy in Syria, this induced a military strike. Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel. The fear is that a wider regional war will take place. Israel's war on Gaza has generated much anger in the Middle East. To a degree Israel was in a state of war with Iran since the early 2000s. Israel has assassinated a number of Iranians. The targets tend to be scientists and generals. The most recent assassination was of General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. A possible Israel-Iran War would certainly draw in major world powers. If left unchecked the US-EU bloc would come to Israel's aid to oppose Iran. That would trigger a response from Russia and China. The trepidation present in foreign policy circles is a third World War. Conditions at the moment are not so dire that mass global conflict could occur. If support for Israel's expansion continues it will make a global war possible. The strike by Iran did not devastate Israel. What it did was to show that Israel is not invincible. Israel is at war with Syria, Hezbollah, Houthi rebels, Hamas, and Iran. Israel's disregard for civilian life can no longer be hidden. The attack of the Iranian consulate in Damascus left 13 people dead. Iran's military strike was designed to be an act of retaliation. Israel has been doing drone strikes and raid on Iran since 2018. Iran has not attacked Israel on its own soil. Asymmetric warfare through Lebanon and Syria was a method of fight a powerful IDF.As long as the conflict continues in Gaza, Israel will be come isolated. Zionism and Islamism are dividing West Asia. Both Iran and Israel are theocratic states. Israel just has the structures of liberal democracy, but in practice has morphed into an ethnostate. Israel wants to eliminate Iran to remove a regional competitor. This explains why Israel does not want to see Iran with nuclear weapons. Israel would not enjoy being the most powerful country in West Asia. Overtime, Iran will do more strikes in response to Israeli aggression.     

The War On The Houthi Rebels

 

The Houthi movement has been active in Yemen since the 1990s. Only when the Arab Spring occurred in 2011 did they get more international exposure. Saudi Arabia waged war against the movement and its fighters. As the years past, the US began to condemn the military actions that it supported. The reason for the support of Saudi Arabia was to counter Iran's influence in Yemen. The reversal of US policy demonstrates the contradictory nature of foreign affairs. The Houthi rebels in response to Israel's actions in Gaza began targeting ships in the Red Sea. This forces Israel and its European allies to take more expensive shipping routes. The Israel-Gaza War is causing other insurgencies, armed movements, and terrorist organizations to merge into a larger conflict. The UK and the United Arab Emirates have also played a role in creating violence in Yemen. West Asia could be getting closer to a larger regional war, similar to the Six Day War in 1967. Much of the frustration stems from US military presence in the Middle East and being ally of Israel. Some observers see a new formation of groups in response to attempts at nation building and occupation. The axis of resistance includes a coalition of countries and armed groups. Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthi movement, and Hamas are fighting a against European influence, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies. If shipping continues to be disrupted, the West will respond with more military strikes. The civil war in Yemen has now become a war against the Houthi rebels.  

Norman Finkelstein Debates Wolf Blitzer At The University of Pennsylvania (1989)

Wolf Blitzer a longtime journalist made the argument for Zionism and Israel. Blitzer asserts that Zionism is a national liberation movement. Jews did face persecution in Europe, but Zionism was not about getting equal rights for Jews. It was about an ideology of settler colonialism. If the argument is made that Jews need a homeland due to historical suffering, why are other groups ignored ? The Kurds and the Roma do not have a state and the United Nations did nothing for them. Norman Finkelstein counters Blitzer's claims. The political scientist and activist exposes the myth that Israel was fighting for its national security. The country occupied land from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. Israel was focused on expansion and hostility directed at its Arab neighbors. This is why a free  Palestinian state will not exist . Israel does not recognize Gaza or West Bank as an Arab state. As Dr. Finkelstein explains the occupation has nothing to do with security. The objective is about an imperial project which involves forced removal of the Arab population and the restriction of their rights.   

Syria's Growing Diplomatic Relations With China

 

Syria and China are expanding their diplomatic relations. The motivation for Syria is to circumvent France, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US, and Qatar. These countries were aiding terrorist organizations and armed groups during the civil war. Seeking a stronger alliance is a means of deterring a possible NATO intervention. Syria is now back in the Arab League. This demonstrates that Syria was able to avoid being isolated in the West Asian region. Syria has not been isolated in the Global South. It will no longer have positive relations with the West considering the sanctions and attempts to overthrow the government. China could be a useful investor in a country that requires reconstruction. Bombings from Israel and the civil war has damaged infrastructure. China wants to have more extensive diplomatic relations with the Arab world. Then there is the concern about China's access to oil. Chinese firms could return to Syria, but the US occupation of certain areas and terrorist organizations are security concerns.  The Chinese energy firms Sinopec Corp, Sinochem, and CNPC were forced to leave. The civil war made it impossible to operate. The firms invested $3 billion in Syria between 2008 and 2009. President Xi Jingping appears to want to reverse a decade long absence of investment in Syria. President Assad was able to survive with Russian military assistance. Now Syria is getting economic aid. Now that Syria is a member of the Belt and Road Initiative  it could get greater access to the East Asian economy. 

Israel Declares War On The Gaza Strip

 

Israel has declared war on the Gaza Strip. This is in response to a surprise attack and the capture of hostages. The motivation for violence can be revealed in Likud Party policy. The desire to expand territory and settlements explains the Israeli aggression. Hamas attacked due to the fact most Palestinians live in a prison like atmosphere. The real fear is that another Intifada is on the horizon.   Subject to a blockade and occupation means there is no possible way to live as an equal. The Benjamin Netanyahu government makes it clear Arabs are not welcomed in the Zionist state. This is not a war against Hamas, rather against Palestinians. The current conflict could be a pathway to annexing both the Gaza Strip and West Bank. These will not be areas under occupation, but full absorbed into the Zionist framework. The recent aggression has caused reactions in the region. Saudi Arabia is reconsidering normalizing relations with Israel. Jordan was expressing its frustration with Israel prior to the conflict. There have been claims that Iran was the instigator in the recent Gaza war. No evidence has been provided for this assertion. If the conflict continues it could escalate into a regional war. Such a conflict could be on the scale of the Six Day War or Yom Kippur War. The policy  settler colonialism has created more conflict and instability in the Middle East. If the West Bank and Gaza Strip are to be fully absorbed, this means more refugees will come into Jordan. The Golan Heights might also face a similar threat of being merged into Israel. A possible intervention of Hezbollah could change the situation. Israel probably not be able to fight both Hamas and Hezbollah simultaneously for a long war. The war also has another consequence in Israel's internal politics. The Gaza war provides Prime Minister Netanyahu a convenient distraction for his criminal trials and the efforts related to judicial reform.  

Dianne Feinstein Claims Iraq A Threat To The US (2014)

 

Senator Dianne Feinstein (1933-2023) stated that Iraq was still a threat to the United States. She claimed that ISIS could attack the US, but did not provide evidence in a CNN interview. What was ignored is that she voted for the Iraq War and then later said she was lied to by President Bush. Her vote on October 11, 2002 contributed to the destabilization of Iraq. The removal of Saddam Hussein enabled terrorist organizations to enter the country. Then it has been revealed that some of these organizations were being aided by the US, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to depose Bashar Al-Assad. As long as the US was attacking Syria Senator Feinstein's suggestion of reproachment with Iran was an empty gesture. As Chair of  the Intelligence Committee she had knowledge of US operations in the Middle East. When this was aired in 2014, the Syrian Civil War was being exacerbated as a result of attempts at regime change. ISIS was fighting between the borders of both Iraq and Syria. There is no serious discussion of why people would want to go fight in these countries. US foreign policy has generated much anger among these populations making terrorist organizations appear to be an alternative to US influence in West Asia. Senator Dianne Feinstein claimed there will be plots to kill American citizens. ISIS had not made an attack on the US so far. Inducing fear in the public is another way to justify neo-colonial projects in other countries. The fact Senator Feinstein remained in power so long represents a problem with the American political system. Refusal to change policy or usher in new leadership means more foreign policy failures and internal concerns. 

Israel Attacks The West Bank

 

Israel has engaged in military operations in the West Bank. The violence has gotten so extreme that the IDF has attacked Jenin refugee camp. The raids the government asserts is designed to fight militants. What is ignored in this current conflict is that Jewish settlers are getting more aggressive in land seizures. The motivation is clear. The desire for more farmland and real estate are major factors. A Likud Party policy of settlement expansion has disturbed the peace. Combined with the abuses in the Gaza Strip another large Intifada could be on the way. The last one was in the year 2000 and ended in 2005. If such violence is directed at the Arab population, then they might have to fight for an independent state. Fighting a war of independence would be difficult to accomplish. The amount of causalities would be immense. According to reports the groups fighting in Janin include Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the armed wing of Fatah. The speculation is that most of them are now operating under an umbrella organization known as Janin Brigade. Overtime, the majority of the Palestinian population will revolt. The pervasive anti-Arab racism, discrimination, and murder continues to produce discord in the population. The more abusive the Israeli government becomes the more isolated it will be internationally. Within the region the Arab states and Iran might become closer. Jordan has expressed its frustration with the current status of the West Bank. King Abdullah II issued a warning regarding Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Another intifada would possibly involve Syria, Iran, and Jordan. Such an escalation could expand into a wider regional war . The Netanyahu government is causing more instability in the Middle East and increases the chances of more ethnic conflict. As long as he is power, a Palestinian state will never come into existence. The Arabs are faced with  Israeli aggression and a Palestinian Authority too weak to protect them.