The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer

  Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vs Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Credit: OpIndia By James M. Dorsey   A earlier version of this story appeared on Channel News Asia . If you value independent, fact-based analysis, please consider subscribing to my column and podcast. Paid subscribers help ensure the survival of The Turbulent World’s unvarnished journalism that lets the chips fall where they fall. You can contribute by clicking on the subscription button and choosing one of the subscription options.  To watch a video version of this story   or  listen to a n audio podcast click  here .  Thank you for your support and loyalty.  This weekend’s carefully calibrated Israeli retaliatory strike s at Iranian military targets could lower the risk of an all-out Middle East war, particularly if Iran decides not to respond. The Iranian military said as much by suggesting in a statement that Iran reserved the right to defend itself but may not respond to the attack if Israel ag

  Credit: The Atlantic By James M. Dorsey If you value independent, fact-based analysis, please consider subscribing to my column and podcast. Paid subscribers help ensure the survival of The Turbulent World’s unvarnished journalism that lets the chips fall where they fall. You can contribute by clicking on the subscription button at https://jamesmdorsey.substack,com and choosing one of the subscription options.    To watch a video version of this story   or  listen to a n audio podcast click  here .  Thank you for your support and loyalty.  US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is jumping through hoops on his 11 th Middle East tour in the past year. As he attempts to revive the stalled Gaza ceasefire talks and secure agreement on post-war arrangements in the Strip, Mr. Blinken is discovering that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may not be the only party pooper. So is Mahmoud Abbas, the internationally recognised, West Bank-based Palestinian president. Mr. Blinken is touti

  Credit: Jerusalem Post By James M. Dorsey If you value independent, fact-based analysis, please consider subscribing to my column and podcast. Paid subscribers help ensure the survival of The Turbulent World’s unvarnished journalism that lets the chips fall where they fall. You can contribute by clicking on the subscription button at https://jamesmdorsey.substack,com and choosing one of the subscription options.    To watch a video version of this story   or  listen to a n audio podcast click   here .    Thank you for your support and loyalty.    In some respects, Israel and Iran have traded places when it comes to Lebanon.   Iran sees a ceasefire as a way to shield Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim militia, against US and Israeli efforts to degrade the group not only militarily but also politically and secure continued Iranian support for the militia.. That is what Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu believes he can prevent by continuing to wage war. To justify his assertion, Mr. N

  Yahya Sinwar’s last moments: Source: Israel Defense Forces By James M. Dorsey   If you value independent, fact-based analysis, please consider subscribing to my column and podcast. Paid subscribers help ensure the survival of The Turbulent World’s unvarnished journalism that lets the chips fall where they fall. You can contribute by clicking on the subscription button at https://jamesmdorsey.substack,com and choosing one of the subscription options.    To watch a video version of this story   or  listen to a n audio podcast click  here .    Thank you for your support and loyalty.    For the past year, Israel depicted Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a coward hiding in Gaza’s fortified underground tunnels shielded by 22 handcuffed Israeli hostages. Drone footage of the Hamas leader’s last minutes released by the Israeli military showed a different Mr. Sinwar. Dressed in military fatigues, badly wounded, and covered in dust in a ruined above-ground apartment after an exchange of fire with

  Source: Reddit By James M. Dorsey Hi, if you value independent, fact-based analysis, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers help ensure the survival of The Turbulent World’s unvarnished journalism. You can contribute by clicking on Substack on the subscription button at  http://jamesmdorsey.substack.com and choosing one of  the subscription options.  To watch a video version of this story   or  listen to a n audio podcast click  here .    Thank you for your support and loyalty.    Israel ignores at its peril the increasingly bold writing on the wall. The writing suggests Israel’s US and European diplomatic and military defense shield, a fixture of Israeli defense and foreign policy, and the Jewish state’s existing and potential regional partnerships are fracturing and, in some cases, possibly crumbling. Israel devastates Gazza Driving the rupture is Israel’s war conduct, including its disproportionate bombings of Gaza and Lebanon; its weapo