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This Week in the Middle East


This Week in the Middle East- Newsletter by Dr. Yaron Friedman, from the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa, brings you everything you need to know – with sharp insights, critical perspective, and thought-provoking analysis.
Our institute is proud to support this initiative and to share with you the bigger picture – and what’s happening behind the scenes.

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Threat to the Druze in Syria, criticism of Saudi Arabia in Egypt, and protests in Istanbul

Is the negotiation a waste of time? The Iranians hint that even after an agreement, they will continue enriching uranium; anger in Egypt over the Saudi move; after the massacre of Druze in Syria: the Druze leader in Lebanon believes in dialogue, other Druze in Syria and Israel seek a military solution; another pro-Iranian Palestinian leader arrested in Damascus; mass protests against Erdoğan continue in Turkey, along with violent repression.

2.5.25

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The Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed in Jordan and is making threats, Al-Shara is signaling to Israel, and Abu Mazen is cursing Hamas

The Muslim Brotherhood Takes Off the Gloves: A call to fight Arab regimes; criticism over Morocco hosting Hamas officials.
Not What You Thought: Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon reprimanded for remarks on Hezbollah’s weapons.
The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend? Reports grow of Syrian President’s willingness for ties with Israel.

25.4.25

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Hamas's refusal, anticipated failure of negotiations with Iran, and a terror cell in Jordan

Hamas rejects the proposed deal; Arab media express pessimism over U.S.-Iran negotiations; Turkey and Syria are set to sign 12 economic agreements; Halabja has been declared a new governorate in Iraq, with its first female governor appointed; the UAE bet on the wrong horse in Sudan; Egypt's former Grand Mufti voiced support for the October 7 attack.

18.4.25

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A fatwa for jihad from Qatar; coordination with Turkey

Update from Gaza: 65% of the territory has been evacuated of its residents; the Lebanese president is negotiating over Hezbollah’s weapons; a call for jihad against Israel from the Qatari emirate and a surprising condemnation from Egypt; Turkey announces security coordination with Israel in Syria; IDF operations continue in the West Bank, this time in Tulkarem; Algeria stands against the (Moroccan) occupation; criticism arises over the Indonesian president’s proposal to take in Gazans.

11.4.25

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Airstrikes reported in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza; Egypt strengthens its regional posture

Syria to Israel: Stop the attacks and return to the 1974 borders; Hezbollah once again in the crosshairs; Egypt’s top Sunni religious authority: Prayer for Gaza and the defeat of “Zionist terror”; Gaza Strip being split and bombed as protests continue; Economic breathing room for Morocco; Egyptian army rearming, reason unclear; First Syrian government after the Assad era.

4.4.25

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Protests in Gaza, repression in Algeria, Palestinian poll, and Khartoum captured

Escalating war in Gaza; protests against Hamas – Al Jazeera stays silent; arrest of a writer exposes dictatorship and silencing in Algeria; the war in Gaza and the West Bank in numbers; Assad's mufti arrested in Syria; Sudanese army captures the capital; Saudis profit year-round, not just during the holiday; the series Muawiya sparks controversy over the Damascus Caliphate.

28.3.25

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A threat to democracy (in Turkey), a reprieve for Iran, and the status of women in Kuwait

The war in Gaza reignites, moving toward the creation of a security zone; a new offensive in two months?; the Turkish dictatorship; the new “protector of minorities” in Damascus; renewed fighting in Gaza stirs unrest in Jordan; the Houthis fire and Egypt is harmed; improvement in the status of women in Kuwait; calls in the Arab world to boycott Snow White.

21.3.25

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Massacre of Alawites and an agreement with the Kurds in Syria; the Houthis return

The massacre of Alawites in Syria continues; agreement to integrate the Kurds into the new Syria; fighting during a ceasefire in the Palestinian territories; the UAE to mediate between the U.S. and Iran; the offensive that recalls the Balochistan problem; the Houthis are preparing a comeback; Lebanon: border agreement, not normalization; Ramadan series about ISIS sparks uproar in Iraq.

14.3.25

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