Hezbollah is an Iranian Strategic Tool

Hezbollah and its leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, do not have the authority to independently unleash their vast rocket/missile arsenal against Israel. That is because this arsenal is an integral part of the Iranian-Israeli balance of power, and is designed first and foremost to deter Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Russia, China, and the Prospect of US Military Bases in Central Asia

Following the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan, Washington is allegedly trying to reestablish a military presence in Central Asia, similar to what it did in the early 2000s. Though some level of cooperation is possible with Russia within the framework of great power relations (and much still depends on Moscow’s goodwill), China opposes any American military or security expansion near its restive Xinjiang province.

Jordan’s “Incitement Force” on the Temple Mount

Dr. Edy Cohen
August 6, 2021
Paper No. 2115

The Jordanian Minister of Religions recently revealed that 850 Jordanians are working at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on behalf of Jordan’s Ministry of Religion. Does Israel know the identities of these workers, and how many of them are involved in incitement and terrorism?

Israel’s Approach to Iran: The Netanyahu Revolution

By directly speaking to the people of Iran, former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dispelled the “Israelphobia” the Islamic Republic had instilled in Iranian society. In the process, he undermined the regime’s most essential ideological instrument to maintain its hold over the nation.

Dismantle Iran Now

In Iran, more and more non-Persian minorities— who make up about half the country’s population—are demanding independence, suggesting that Iran could disintegrate into ethnic/national states. This outcome, and the accompanying collapse of the rule of the ayatollahs, would open a new and better page in human history.

Too Many Coincidences: The Likelihood That a Lab Leak in Wuhan Led to the COVID-19 Outbreak

More than a year and a half after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the way in which its causative virus first emanated remains unclear. While new viruses appearing within humans usually derive from animal viruses, a series of exceptional coincidences in Wuhan, China prior to and during the onset of the pandemic strongly support the laboratory leak theory.

Rocket Fire from Lebanon and Its Implications

The recent rocket fire from Lebanon into Israeli territory connects with Hamas’s overall strategy of expanding the scope of the confrontation between itself and Israel that sharpened during the war in Gaza in May of this year. It is by no means clear that Israel is equipped to prevent this from becoming a regular event.

Turkey’s New Moves in the Eastern Mediterranean

In July 2021, Israel expressed full support to the Republic of Cyprus in the wake of the unilateral reopening of the Varosha coastline by Turkey. Last year, it also showed solidarity with Athens during Greek-Turkish tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. While the tripartite partnership is progressing, Ankara is seeking to expand its footprint in the region and is pursuing a two-state solution in Cyprus. It is also applying a new foreign policy methodology to Greece while remaining adamant in its demands.

Give War a Chance: Turkish Leader Finesses Political Defeat

Burak Bekdil
July 30, 2021
Paper No. 2109

Turks are hungry for fairy tales. Any feel-good news propaganda—including Erdoğan’s “The West, including the Germans, are jealous of us!” tirade—finds millions of receptive listeners in Turkey’s postmodern marketplace of absurdity.

The Ultra-Conservative Leanings of Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan Raise Eyebrows

Widely seen as a populist with ultra-conservative inklings, Pakistani PM Imran Khan increasingly appears to reinforce widespread traditionalist attitudes that reject religious tolerance as well as the rights of women and minorities.

Perspectives Papers