Alex Langlois

Will Syria and Israel Normalize Relations? In the short term, normalization between Syria and Israel is not likely. But progress toward normalization is still possible.

With the Abraham Accords continuing to play a major role in US Middle East policy, where do #Israel and #Syria stand in terms of diplomatic normalization?

I dive into the subject after a historic Damascus announcement last week, via The National Interest.

nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

I'm *shocked* that she would say that amid the potential for a nicer prison or pardon. Totally can't believe it.

The Commandos Prepping Mexico Attacks Trump’s war on cartels is a godsend for a special ops command with an identity crisis

The US is already running covert operations out of its embassy in Mexico City, via its secret Special Operations Command Forward Mexico (SOCFWD) which coordinates with CIA and FBI reps in country.
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/the-comman...

Will Hezbollah Disarm? Disarming Hezbollah would be much easier if Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanese territory.

I shared some thoughts on the recent Lebanese government decision to disarm all armed groups, including Hezbollah, via The National Interest.

But what strategy will be implemented, and how can the worst-case outcome - more conflict - be averted?

More below!
nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

Will Hezbollah Disarm? Disarming Hezbollah would be much easier if Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanese territory.

I shared some thoughts on the recent Lebanese government decision to disarm all armed groups, including Hezbollah, via The National Interest.

But what strategy will be implemented, and how can the worst-case outcome - more conflict - be averted?

More below!
nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

Malnourished kids arrive daily at a Gaza hospital as Netanyahu denies hunger Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims there is no hunger in Gaza, but malnourished children are regularly arriving at Nasser Hospital.

Anyone who can read this article and look at these photos of starving children and think, "They're faking it. They're liars," is one sick, evil individual.

Don't look away. Educate yourself. Do something. Anything. apnews.com/article/pale...

How to Stabilize Syria’s Transition The interim government of Syria must grant more autonomy to minority groups if it wants to survive and succeed.

Events in #Syria's Suweida mark a key moment for the country's transition from its civil war. Can this government lead Syria to a new age, or will more of the same define the future?

See my thoughts on the state of Syria's transition via The National Interest:

nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

Sharaa Receives Final Report on Coastal Region Investigation - The Syrian Observer According to a statement from the Syrian presidency, the report was submitted in full by the independent committee tasked with uncovering and examining the incidents that occurred in early March in th...

All eyes will be on how al-Shara'a handles this report, given a similar process will be needed for the incidents in the south over the last week.

Hopefully, major lessons will be learned and implemented. Transitions are messy, but this cannot continue.
syrianobserver.com/syrian-actor...

What Comes Next in US-Iran Talks? Without a deal on its nuclear program with the United States, Iran is likely to rush toward weaponization.

Where are US-#Iran talks after the 12-Days War?

I shared some thoughts with The National Interest, arguing that a lot of uncertainty clouds the negotiations. A deal should still be a priority and can be reached, but expect both sides to harden their stances.

nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

I actually doubt the US would need to do so. Trump likely views Israel as his mad dog in the region. I think that dynamic could change is, for example, Iran either leaves the NPT or rushed for a bomb.

The latter is more likely. Trump is saying he doesn't need talks for a reason, though.

Worth recalling if for no other reason than the US might get drawn back in again to "mow the grass."

Mike Waltz pledges to make UN 'great again' at Senate confirmation hearing Mike Waltz says that as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations the U.S. is reviewing its support and opting to go “back to basics.”

Taking DOGE to the UN out of spite and anger that the rules apply equally to all sovereign states won't help the US advance real interests.

It will cause more problems around the globe that this admin says it doesn't want to fix anyway. Purely stupid.
apnews.com/article/walt...

Dreams Beneath the Rubble: A Student's Resistance in Gaza To be a student in Gaza is to study under siege, to dream beneath drones and to write amid ruins. The war has not only destroyed buildings and ended lives. It has struck at the intellectual lifeblood ...

Check out our latest @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social piece from Ghada al-Rozzi, who writes about her experience as a student in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

It's a brief but powerful piece that speaks to the injustices facing so many innocent people in the Strip.
dawnmena.org/dreams-benea...

Israeli strikes kill at least 32 in Gaza as Palestinian war deaths top 58,000 Health officials in Gaza say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 32 people, including six children at a water collection point.

"Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen told right-wing Channel 14 that his ministry will not help rebuild infrastructure in Gaza. 'Gaza should remain an island of ruins to the next decades,' he said."

That people still defend this government is insane. apnews.com/article/isra...

Video game performers approve contract to officially end nearly yearlong strike Unionized video game performers have overwhelmingly voted to approve a new contract with their employers.

Things you just LOVE to see! apnews.com/article/saga...

Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas Following the Israeli Cabinet’s resolutions and the constructive dialogue between the EU and Israel, significant steps have been agreed by Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Stri...

Looks like an attempt to avoid further association agreement issues between the EU and #Israel. Also, this could signal that a ceasefire is close, as the points raised in the statement have happened in prior ceasefires.

Still, good news, if acted upon.

www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/israelp...

Syria opens inquiry into missing children of political detainees Syrian authorities are trying to find the identity of 413 orphans whose parents were ’disappeared’ by the Assad regime, after two ex-ministers were arrested

This approach seems smart on the part of the new authorities in Damascus. Transitional justice in #Syria is crucial but politically fraught.

Going after relatively easy violators of human rights could help build up support for a broader initiative.
www.newarab.com/news/syria-o...

Israeli official: Netanyahu supports plan to concentrate Gazans into 'humanitarian city' ***

1. This is the General’s Plan #Israel denied was real repeatedly just months ago.

2. This is a concentration camp.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Sanctioning Iran’s “Shadow Banking” Network of Illicit Oil Traders - United States Department of State Today, the United States is sanctioning 22 entities with ties to a network spanning multiple jurisdictions involved in illicit oil trade on behalf of the Iranian regime. This network has used foreign ...

New sanctions on #Iran's oil export systems.

This tells me that rumors of an effort to develop understandings with both Tehran and Beijing via the oil file were a bit overblown. Maximum pressure continues as a method to force preferred Iranian decisions.
www.state.gov/releases/off...

Why the Israel-Iran Ceasefire Feels Like a Strategic Failure Israel’s and Iran’s short war ends in a ceasefire, but the strikes likely failed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, highlighting a reckless cycle of political theatrics and strategic futility.

What are the results of the #Israel-#Iran-US war?

I dive into just that in my latest for The National Interest, arguing that short-term, tactical interests - not strategic ones - drove the flawed decision to attack Iran.

The world is less safe as a result.
nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-...

How Trump’s Syria Policy Impacts Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel Trump’s Syria strategy aims to enable US military withdrawal while weakening Iran’s influence, pressuring Hezbollah, and balancing regional alliances, though internal contradictions and Israeli entang...

Wrote about #Syria, #Lebanon, and #Iran over the weekend for The National Interest, explaining how Trump may be driving much of his regional foreign policy through Damascus.

Normalization with Tel Aviv is the big question within this policy today. Have a look!
nationalinterest.org/feature/how-...

An Israeli strike kills 18 Palestinians in central Gaza as turmoil mounts over food distribution Palestinian hospital officials say an Israeli airstrike has hit a street in central Gaza, killing 18 people.

So, while we have next to no evidence of Hamas aid diversion, we do have evidence of #Israel bombing Hamas-affiliated security forces as they redistribute stolen aid to civilians.

Make it make sense.
apnews.com/article/isra...

Police free all settlers detained in Wednesday’s deadly rampage of Palestinian village * * *

For those new here: this is not the first (or the last) time this will happen.

This is apartheid in the open. It is a two-tiered justice system in which one ethnic group can murder, burn, and rampage against another ethnic group and face no repercussions.
www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

How anyone can see stuff like this and think "Ya, my party isn't a threat to the very foundations of democratic thought in this country" is beyond me.

It’s the only thing that matters if we ever see the other side of this. Otherwise it’s just going to happen again.

If you ever needed an example of how this month’s events still ultimately solve no problems in the Middle East.

I’m tired of brutal policies that bargain human lives. I’m tired of weaponized hate.

"Bove said he has 'no recollection of saying anything of that kind.'”

I might pose that he is, in fact, not saying he didn't say it here.

Trump judicial nominee Bove denies advising Justice Department lawyers to ignore court orders A Justice Department official nominated to become a federal appeals court judge says he never told department attorneys to ignore court orders, denying the account of a whistleblower who detailed a ca...

“'I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right,' Bove said."

I pose that what Bove believes is right is, in fact, not right.
apnews.com/article/bove...

Ceasefire committee to convene for first time since March 11 The five-party U.S.-led ceasefire committee will convene Wednesday in Ras al-Naqoura for the first time since the suspension of its meetings on March 11, al-Akhbar newspaper reported. It will be the ...

Potentially major deal here as the ceasefire committee in #Lebanon will meet for the first time since March 11.

Hopefully, the reporting is accurate in that the US position will be less biased toward #Israel. I have serious doubts.
naharnet.com/stories/en/3...

Report: US asks Lebanon to implement political-security roadmap within 5 months U.S. envoy Tom Barrack carried to Beirut a five-page political-security roadmap that Washington wants Lebanon to implement within five months, a media report said on Tuesday. “The first step would be...

Talk about a big deal. Washington is reportedly telling Beirut that it has 2 weeks to announce and get full cabinet approval of the monopolization of arms.

The Aoun/Salam government has treaded lightly so far to avoid a civil war, and for good reason. www.naharnet.com/stories/en/3...