Iran’s Postmodern Jihad Against the Jews

The rise of Islamism as a postmodern ideology is inextricably tied to a congenital, and fundamentally antisemitic, negation of the Jewish State. Israel’s survival depends on the defeat of Islamism and the development of liberal democracy in the Middle East.

Freedom of Speech in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Edy Cohen
July 19, 2020
Paper No. 1650

Saudi journalist Abdul Hamid Ghabin has appeared multiple times in the international media, including the Israeli media, to express support for Israel. On live broadcasts from Riyadh, one of the most conservative states in the Persian Gulf and an absolute monarchy, Ghabin—who once opposed normalization with Israel—has criticized both the Palestinians and Iran and has spoken openly about his support for Israel’s proposed sovereignty plan for parts of the West Bank. He now languishes in prison on false allegations and faces a possible sentence of at least 10 years.

COVID-19 and the Anti-Racism Movement Are Challenging Liberal Democracy

The Western world is experiencing two major turning points at the same time. One is the COVID-19 pandemic and the other is the global mass movement against racism. The latter, an important and justifiable drive, should be differentiated from the Black Live Matters movement, which is revolutionary Marxist, extreme left, anti-white, anti-capitalist, antisemitic, and itself racist. These two unprecedented forces have their own trajectories, but together they are challenging liberal democracy.

Syria Is Tempting, But Will China Bite?

China looms large as a potentially key player alongside Russia and Iran in President Bashar Assad’s post-war Syria. With Russia and Iran lacking the financial muscle and the US and Europe refusing to engage with the Assad regime, China is, from Syria’s perspective, a shining knight on a white horse. Syria could become a key node in China’s infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy-driven Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—but it could also drag China closer to the Middle East’s multiple conflicts.

Five Reasons Why the West Will Lose Turkey

The Turkey we once knew no longer exists. Despite NATO objections and US warnings, Ankara acquired the advanced S-400 anti-aircraft system from Russia. In response, Washington canceled Turkish participation in the F-35 program. In the latest episode of this saga, a Turkish court sentenced a US Consulate employee to almost nine years in prison for aiding the Gülen movement. President Erdoğan has behaved like a bully toward the EU, weaponizing Muslim refugees and migrants. He has also issued direct threats to Greece and regularly antagonizes Israel.

Erdoğan’s “Holy Wisdom”—Why He Is Converting Hagia Sophia into a Mosque

On July 10, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that Istanbul’s famed Hagia Sophia, which was a Christian cathedral for centuries, then a mosque, and is now a museum, will be converted back into a mosque. This move was not motivated by religious fervor. It was a calculated political act that conforms to Erdoğan’s broader agenda.

UAE Targets Turkey and Qatar in the Mediterranean

Europe is being progressively sucked into the Middle East and North Africa’s myriad conflicts. As if wars on its doorstep in Libya and Syria were not enough, UAE support for an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline that could hurt Qatar economically—combined with Greek, Cypriot, and French opposition to Turkish moves—leaves Europe with few, if any, options but to get involved.

The Chinese Application of the Security Law in Hong Kong—Why Now?

In 1997, after 156 years of British rule, the United Kingdom transferred responsibility for the city-state of Hong Kong to China. Twenty-three years later, in 2020, China enacted a security law that extends its powers over Hong Kong in contravention of the terms of that transfer. In doing so, Beijing is signaling its determination to expand its area of control and influence even in the face of international criticism.

The Chinese Media’s Take on US Unrest

The state-controlled Chinese media enthusiastically covered the protests and rioting attending the George Floyd killing. It compared the American protests to the protests in Hong Kong and used the rioting and violence in the US as evidence that the democratic system is hypocritical and morally bankrupt.

Israeli Sovereignty and Its Unlikely Benefactors

Dr. Alex Joffe
July 13, 2020
Paper No. 1641

PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s enthusiasm for the idea of applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank can be explained by the desire to seize the historic opportunity created by President Trump’s uniquely favorable attitude to Israel. There is another element, however, that warrants close attention: Netanyahu’s reaction to the Obama administration’s relentless hostility.

Perspectives Papers