The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer

 By James M. Dorsey Out in August! Egyptian general-turned-president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, much like his predecessors, would like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be a lightning rod that distracts from mounting frustration and anger at his regime. To be sure, Mr. Al-Sisi has to tread carefully. To read further, please click on  https://jamesmdorsey.substack.com/p/palestine-is-a-double-edged-sword  It’s with a heavy heart that I am introducing a paywall, something I have resisted for the past 14 years when I first launched the column. You will have noticed The Turbulent World has no sponsors and no advertisers. This guarantees the column and podcast’s independence. Instead, The Turbulent World depends on the support of its readers and listeners to cover the cost of producing the column and podcast. The paywall helps me achieve that. Paid subscribers have access to the full column as well as the video and audio podcasts. They also have access to the archive, my latest e-book, The

 By James M. Dorsey Out in August? Thank you for joining me today. It’s with a heavy heart that I am introducing a paywall, something I have resisted for the past 14 years when I first launched the column. You will have noticed The Turbulent World has no sponsors and no advertisers. This guarantees the column and podcast’s independence. Instead, The Turbulent World depends on the support of its readers and listeners to cover the cost of producing the column and podcast. The paywall helps me achieve that. Paid subscribers have access to the full column as well as the video and audio podcasts. They also have access to the archive, my latest e-book, The Turbulent World, and will receive an electronic copy of my forthcoming book. The Battle for the Soul of Islam, which is scheduled for publication in July.  To watch a video version of this story or listen to an audio podcast click here . Thank you for your support and loyalty. In a recent sermon, ultra-conservative Egyptian religio