The challenge of AI. Here is link to video allegedly “recording” “statement” in Hebrew by Israeli chief-of staff (COF). The Arabic script “translation” of the alleged “statement” is that the COF said Israel intend to eliminate Turkish presence in Syria etc. This is a fake generated by AI.* I was sable to identify it is a fake because of three reasons: First, it is very unlikely that an Israeli military person will make such a dramatic statement. Second, the lips movement and the voice are not synchronized. Third, the accent of the speaker talking in Hebrew, clearly indicate the anonymous speaker mother’s tongue is not Hebrew.

Good morning. A major explosion at the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas happened today. The explosion reportedly took place at a depot of chemical materials in a compound of the IRGC. Contradicting reports about the number of casualties. Some mentioned ‘hundreds of people killed’. Iranian agencies report 4 people killed. In Arab social media there already those who compare that incident to the major blast that took place in Beirut’s port in August 2020. Not surprisingly, there are those who associate Israel with the explosion. Israel denies any connection. It will be interesting to see if the incident will fuel public unrest within Iran

An article by Former Palestinian minister Nabil Amru (member of Fatha movement) analyzing the dead-end both Israel and Hamas are locked in. I think his reading of the situation is quite accurate.

https://elaph.com/Web/NewsPapers/2025/04/1566220.html

Dear ITME Fellows. Here is an interesting article by Iranian commentator regarding the USA – Iran talks.

https://elaph.com/Web/ElaphWriter/2025/04/1566187.html

Dear ITME fellows the issue of Palestinian activist Mohsen al Mahdawi facing a deportation, evokes interesting discussion in Arab public opinion. Here is an interesting perspective by Emirati commentator @drsalemalketbi

https://elaph.com/Web/ElaphWriter/2025/04/1566028.html

Good morning ITME fellows. Her is an article by Lebanese commentator discussing the issue of Hezbollah’s independent military power and the sovereignty of Lebanon.

https://elaph.com/Web/NewsPapers/2025/04/1566024.html

An article by a Saudi commentator @MAlthaydy presents a sympathetic approach to the sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump on Harvard University. The article argues that the liberal left has taken over the public discourse and is imposing an intellectual dictatorship, and that the reaction against it is a natural and legitimate reaction against the leftist dictatorship.
The commentator criticizes Western universities for hosting Arab activists not because of their intellectual achievements, but because they are vocal.
The article reflects a long Saudi displeasure with the discourse among Western intellectual circles, which defined Saudi Arabia as an oppressive state that tramples on human rights, while these circles completely ignore the mullahs’ regime in Iran, which also regularly tramples on human rights.

Dear ITME Fellows. Jordan has intercepted a significant terror plot within its territory. Some of the suspects arrested are members with The Muslim Brotherhood movement, classified by Jordanian court as illegal in Jordan. Information evaluated as reliable suggest that the terror plot has been under Jordanian security services surveillance since 2021. For context you’re welcome to read an article I published in July 2024 regarding the attempts of Iran and Hamas to establish a terror-base in Jordan.

https://tinyurl.com/4x9eszr3

The issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament – good article in English by A Lebanese commentator.

https://www.newarab.com/analysis/lebanons-tightrope-walk-future-hezbollahs-weapons

Hi ITME fellows. Here is an article by senior Saudi columnist
@tariqalhomayed writing: ‘Despite the disaster it has inflicted upon Gaza, Hamas markets victory. Given that mindset, why will any one invest in rehabilitating Gaza knowing next war is a matter of time?”.
This observation actually reflects Saudi position. The message that needs to be inserted into western discussion is that Gazans- who badly need their Arab brothers support – are denied of that help because of their leadership – i.e. Hamas.

Dear ITME fellows. One of today’s headline is the interview Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk gave to The New York Times. In the interview he said that he would not have supported the October 7 attack if he had known of the havoc it would wreak on #Gaza”. Hamas’ spokesperson rushed to say that Abu Marzouk’s statement does not represent Hamas line. Referring to Abu Marzouk’s statement, in this article titled “Abu Marzouk’s statement: Does Hamas remorse October 7 attack?” ( link below* ) Arab commentator writes: “Abu Marzouk’s remorse will not bring back the dead and will not rehabilitate Gaza”. Please think of ways to bring that story to the discussion in your circles. The key point discussion should be around he issue of Hamas’s governmental accountability

An interesting article by Kamel Salman about the regenerating Turkish – Iran power struggle following the downfall of Assad rule. Reading between the lines you can also detect a criticism on the Arab world for the fact it is easily manipulated by Iran and Turkey.

Senior Saudi columnist @aalrashed writes “It’s either deportation of #Hamas or relocation of Gazans. Hamas has yet another chance to take responsibility for the catastrophe it has inflicted upon #Gaza. The Gazans do not buy Hamas’s victory propaganda”

Good morning ITM Fellows. In the center of news about the Middle East is president Trump initiative regarding Gaza that sends huge aftershock waves across the region. I want to share with you an article written by a Palestinian supporting Trump’s idea. The reason I’m sharing that article with you is because it reflects genuine sentiment many Palestinians share and it also display accurately the fees Palestinian pay for the cynical Arab leadership and politics. the perspectives in the article are absent from Western discussion

Hi all: in context of our two sessions thus far I have come across this interesting article in Arabic by a Yemenite writer asking ‘is it possible to separate Islam from Arab culture?’ (right click to translate it to English)