The "Middle East and Terrorism" Blog was created in order to supply information about the implication of Arab countries and Iran in terrorism all over the world. Most of the articles in the blog are the result of objective scientific research or articles written by senior journalists.
From the Ethics of the Fathers: "He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it."
Despite historical realities, Palestinians, with the support of Arab states, have succeeded in promoting the narrative that Arabs have always lived in the land, thus delegitimizing the Jewish state.
PALESTINIAN PERMANENT observer to the UN Riyad Mansour
addresses the Security Council last month. The Palestinian demand for
the ‘historic state of Palestine’ lacks any historical justification, as
there has never been a Palestinian people, the writer asserts. (photo credit: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)
Is it ignorance, amateurism, or an intentional attempt to rewrite history to legitimize the Palestinian claim to the land?
At the British Museum in London,
archaeological and historical collections from the region referred to
as “Palestine” are on display, spanning various periods from antiquity
to the Islamic era. These exhibits include findings from the First and
Second Temple periods, as well as ancient inscriptions, coins, and
artifacts representing the diverse cultures that lived in the area
throughout history.
Among
these exhibits is a new display on the Phoenicians, who lived in the
region during the early first millennium BCE. The exhibit’s description
claims that while the Israelite tribes conquered much of “Palestine,”
the coastal plains remained under Philistine control, equating it with
modern Palestinian territory.
Misleading claim
This claim is inaccurate and misleading. Even if displayed for a hundred years in the British Museum,
it cannot change historical facts: today’s Palestinians have no
connection to the ancient Philistines. Consequently, there is no
historical justification for the demand to establish a “historic
Palestinian state.” There was never a Palestinian people and modern
Palestinians are not descendants of the Philistines.
When
a lie is repeated often enough, it becomes ingrained in collective
memory and perceived as “truth.” This article will be respectfully sent
to the British Museum to encourage adherence to historical accuracy
rather than rewriting history.
East Pediment, Elgin Marbles, British Museum. (credit: Loz Flowers is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Flickr)
The
name “Palestine” originates from the term “Philistia,” referring to the
Philistines’ settlement area in southern Israel, and is unrelated to
any national identity. The Greeks and Romans later used the term to
describe the region, particularly after the Roman Empire suppressed the
Bar Kochba revolt in 135 CE, erasing Jewish ties to the land. The name
Aelia Capitolina was given to Jerusalem, and Jews were banned from the
city, except on the anniversary of its destruction.
During
the British Mandate (1917–1948), “Palestine” referred to the entire
region, and all residents – Jews, Christians, and Muslims – were
officially called “Palestinians.” After Israel’s establishment in 1948,
many Arab residents began identifying as part of a distinct Palestinian
community, but this identity was historically and politically
constructed.
Figures
such as Haj Amin al-Husseini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem from 1921,
furthered this narrative. Husseini, a prominent leader of the
Palestinian nationalist movement, aligned with Nazi ideology during
World War II. His collaboration with Adolf Hitler included advocating
for the extermination of Jews and seeking German support to establish a
“State of Palestine” in exchange for Arab cooperation.
Al-Husseini
played a significant role in anti-Jewish incitement and Nazi
propaganda. He broadcast anti-British and pro-Nazi rhetoric in Arabic,
coordinated espionage activities, and influenced the Arab nationalist
movement through his alliance with fascism.
In
1977, Zuhair Mohsen, a leader of the Palestinian military faction
Al-Saiqa, openly admitted in an interview with the Dutch newspaper
Trouw: “The Palestinian people do not exist. The creation of a
Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against
Israel for Arab unity.”
Promoting false narratives
Despite these
historical realities, Palestinians, with the support of Arab states,
have succeeded in promoting the narrative that Arabs have always lived
in the land, thus delegitimizing the Jewish state. This ideology fuels
groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed organizations
that call for Israel’s destruction.
This
is not a territorial conflict but a religious war, and until the world –
and even parts of Israel – recognize that Israel is fighting for its
very existence, this struggle will continue.
David ben Basat is the CEO of Radios 100FM, honorary consul general of Nauru,
vice dean of the Consular Diplomatic Corps, president of the Israeli
Radio Association, and vice president of the Ambassadors Club.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Israel, confronted with the bitter consequences of October 7, has chosen to act decisively rather than passively hope for the best – as it did with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah.
ISRAEL’S ATTACK on Syrian military bases was a
preemptive move to prevent assets falling into Syrian rebel hands. Here,
the remains of Syrian naval ships after destruction following an
overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on Tuesday. (photo credit: AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)
Israel destroyed the Syrian military within 48 hours this week in a
stunning operation echoing Operation Focus, which effectively
neutralized the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian air forces on the first
day of the 1967 Six Day War.
While
the similarities are apparent – in both cases, Israel took out a
significant military threat – the circumstances leading up to the action
are dramatically different.
In 1967, the IAF
acted preemptively against the Egyptian Air Force, followed by the
Syrian, Jordanian, and even Iraqi air forces, to thwart their planned
attack.
This week, Israel targeted assets belonging to the Syrian Armed Forces
– planes, helicopters, ships, submarines, missiles, chemical weapons
depots, air force bases, and ports – not because Syria was poised to
attack, but to prevent that weaponry from falling into the hands of
extremist Islamist forces who may attack in the future.In this sense,
what Israel did this week is closer to what the British did to the
French Navy 84 years ago at Mers-el-Kébir in what was then French
Algeria.
On
July 3, 1940, just two weeks after the French surrendered to the Nazis
and the Vichy regime took over, the British faced a dire dilemma. They
feared that the powerful French Navy would be seized and turned into a
formidable asset for the Nazis.
IDF soldiers operate on Mount Hermon, on the border between Israel and
Syria, December 12, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
To
prevent this, Winston Churchill ordered the sinking of the main French
naval squadron in the Mediterranean. This decisive action, followed by a
smaller attack days later at the French naval base in Dakar and the
disarming of a French maritime squadron in Alexandria, effectively
eliminated the French Navy as a strategic factor in World War II.With
these moves, the British – who at the time seemed on the brink of defeat
at the hands of the Nazis – sent a clear signal to the world and to the
Americans of their resolve.
Lessons learned from October 7
ISRAEL
SENT a similar signal this week to the world and the Jewish state’s
many enemies. It has learned one of the key lessons of October 7 and
will not sit back and allow an enemy bent on destroying it to build up
immediately on its border with the capacity to do so.
It
allowed this to happen in Gaza and Lebanon, with catastrophic results.
It will not allow that to happen in Syria. So, as in 1967, Israel
preempted this week – though this time not against an immediate threat
but a potential one on the horizon.
Yet
what is emerging in Syria is not just a theoretical threat. The
“rebels” who have taken over the country are not all cut from the same
cloth. Though some among those who make up the Syrian “rebels” – the
Druze and the Kurds – may be positively predisposed toward Israel, the
main faction – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – was not too long ago
affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Even
some of the “more moderate” factions in the rebel camp are Islamists of
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ilk. From an Israeli
perspective, MiG fighters and SA-5 and S-300 missiles falling into the
hands of any of these rebels present – with October 7 fresh in the
national consciousness – a clear and present danger.
As a result, like the British in 1940, Israel took action to prevent
strategic weapons from falling into enemy hands. In the British attack,
more than 1,200 French sailors were killed. There have been no reports
of casualties from Israel’s strikes.
Which, of course, hasn’t prevented the condemnations.
The
UN’S Special Envoy for Syria, Norway’s Geir Pedersen, said that
Israel’s bombings in Syria, as well as troop movements in the buffer
zone along the Golan border and its takeover of the Syrian side of Mount
Hermon, “needs to stop.
Along
with destroying Assad’s army – officials estimate that 80% of its
strategic capacities have been destroyed – Israel wasted no time after
Damascus fell on Sunday to move into the 235-square-kilometer buffer
zone established by the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and
Syria that followed the Yom Kippur War.
According
to the agreement, the zone would be patrolled by UN forces and remain
free of both Israeli and Syrian troops. On Sunday, within hours of the
fall of Damascus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the border
and said that with the abandonment of Syrian forces on the Syrian side
of the border, the agreement had collapsed.
Israel
moved troops into the area, as well as onto the Syrian side of Mount
Hermon, in what Israeli officials described as temporary measures to
prevent hostile forces from taking over these strategic
positions.Pedersen charged that Israel was in violation of the
disengagement agreement.
Does
Pedersen really expect that, with the Syrian government’s collapse,
Israel would leave the demilitarized zone empty, trusting the rebels –
whoever they might be – to honor a UN disengagement agreement signed
with Israel in 1974?
Really?
To
those – specifically in France and Germany – equally appalled like
Pedersen that Israel entered the demilitarized zone and who seem to
trust that the rebels would not pose an immediate threat to Israeli
communities in the Golan, it is worth recalling Churchill’s words
explaining his move against the French fleet in 1940, even though Hitler
had “solemnly declared” he would not use the French vessels.
“Who
in his senses would trust the word of Hitler after his shameful record
and the facts of the hour?” Churchill asked. “At all costs, at all
risks, in one way or another, we must make sure that the navy of France
did not fall into the wrong hands, and then perhaps bring us and others
to ruin.”
Likewise,
were the massive quantity of sophisticated arms in Syria to fall into
the wrong hands, Israel would not be the only country in the region to
suffer.
Just
look at what happened after the fall of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi
in 2011. Libya’s massive weapons stockpile has fueled extremism,
insurgency, and crime in neighboring countries ever since.
In
neighboring Mali, for instance, these weapons enabled jihadist groups
to topple the democratically elected government, leading to a French
military intervention in 2013 that ultimately failed to stabilize the
situation – yes, the same France now condemning Israel’s actions in
Syria.
It
wasn’t only in Mali. Arms looted from Gaddafi’s warehouses fell into the
hands of terrorists in Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Sinai, Gaza, and
Syria. Reports indicate more than one million tons of Gaddafi’s weapons –
including shoulder-launched missiles – were looted from arms depots,
with British intelligence chiefs being quoted calling Libya the
“supermarket of the world’s illicit arms trade.”
Terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, acquired these weapons.
In
a 2017 edition of the national and international security affairs
journal PRISM, Mokhtar Belmokhtar of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb was quoted
as telling a Mauritanian news agency: “We have been one of the main
beneficiaries of the revolutions in the Arab world.... As for our
acquisition of Libyan armaments, that is an absolutely natural thing.”It
is to prevent such a scenario from repeating itself in Syria that
Israel took swift action to destroy the military capabilities built up
under Assad.
THE
ARAB world, which suffered from Libya’s arms spillover, should have
supported Israel’s actions in Syria. Instead, they condemned them,
largely – but not solely – focusing on Israel’s movement into the buffer
zone.
Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt issued statements slamming Israel’s actions,
claiming violations of international law.Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry
issued a statement saying, “The assaults carried out by the Israeli
occupation government, including the seizure of the buffer zone in the
Golan Heights and the targeting of Syrian territories by Israeli
occupation forces, affirm Israel’s continued violation of international
law and its determination to undermine opportunities for Syria to
restore its security, stability, and territorial integrity.”
Qatar and Egypt followed suit with similar condemnations.
The
most audacious condemnation came from Turkey, which called on Israel to
respect Syria’s territorial integrity – a statement dripping with
hypocrisy, given Turkey’s occupation of some 9,000 square kilometers of
northern Syria since 2016.
The
Arab states, quick to denounce Israel this week, remained noticeably
silent about Turkey’s actions. While some Arab states see Turkey’s
influence in Syria and support for groups like HTS as potential threats,
there hasn’t been the same unified outcry against Ankara as there has
been against Israel.
This
irony is glaring. Turkish-backed Sunni extremist groups pose a far
greater threat to moderate Sunni regimes than Israel ever could. These
countries – and the international community at large – should be
thanking Israel for its decisive actions in Syria, not vilifying it.
Israel
is not dismantling Syria’s military to assert dominance or pursue
conquest. It is doing what the region’s powers failed to do after
Libya’s collapse: preventing a flood of dangerous weapons into the hands
of extremists who would, in addition to threatening Israel, destabilize
the region.
The
lesson is clear: Israel, confronted with the bitter consequences of
October 7, has chosen to act decisively rather than passively hope for
the best – as it did with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Those
condemning Israel for its steps in Syria would do well to ask
themselves whether they would dare place their trust in the good
intentions of jihadist factions menacingly parked directly on their
doorstep.
The IAF intercepted the rockets as they were en-route to the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.
After Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists fired two rockets from central Gaza
on Friday evening, the Israel Air Force struck terrorists, as well as
several facilities in the Strip, that were used to store weapons, the
IDF reported on Saturday afternoon.
The IAF intercepted the rockets as they were en-route to the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. According to the IDF, they were launched less than 200 feet away from an international aid warehouse.
Prior
to the air force’s strikes on the weapons storage sites, the IDF
engaged in numerous measures, including the issuing of evacuation orders
and the use of precise munitions, to mitigate risk to civilians and the
aid warehouse, the military added.
Just after 11:00 p.m. on Friday, IDF Arabic spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee, posted the evacuation notice on X/Twitter.
The
spokesperson shared a map of the Gaza Strip, with the evacuation area
in question, located southeast of Jabalya, highlighted in red.
IDF infographic showing the rocket launcher located next to an international aid warehouse. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
#عاجل ‼️ الى كل سكان قطاع غزة المتواجدين في منطقة D5, C2 المحددة (منطقة جنوب شرق جباليا)
🔴هذا تحذير مسبق قبل الهجوم!
⭕️تطلق المنظمات الإرهابية القذائف الصاروخية مرة اخرى من هذه المنطقة والتي تم تحذيرها عدة مرات في الماضي.
“This is a warning before the attack!” Adraee wrote. “Terrorist
organizations are once again firing rockets from this area, which has
been warned several times in the past.”
“For your safety, move immediately to the shelters in the center of Gaza City,” Adraee added.
The
Saturday IDF statement condemned the rocket attack, calling it “a
further example of the Hamas terrorist organization’s systematic abuse
of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law.”
According to The Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv
University-affiliated independent think tank, over 13,300 rockets have
been fired from Gaza throughout the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.
The
military added that it, via the Coordinator of Government Activities in
the Territories (COGAT), the Defense Ministry unit that oversees the
implementation of the government’s civilian policies in the West Bank
and Gaza, would continue to “enable and facilitate the transfer of
humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip,” according to
international law.
Later
on Saturday, Reuters cited Gaza City's civil emergency service as
reporting that an Israeli strike on a Gazan school sheltering displaced
people killed seven and wounded 12 others. Among those reportedly killed
were a woman and her baby.
Gaza's civil services, as with the Strip's health ministry, are operated by Hamas.
The main group in Ankara's cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which was formed in 2015 with US backing.
Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attend a
joint military exercise with forces of the US in the countryside of the
town of al-Malikiya (Derik in Kurdish) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah
province on September 7, 2022.(photo credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Turkey is seeking to rapidly take advantage of the fall of the Assad
regime to try to settle several scores in Syria and then assume a place
of power in Damascus. Turkey has already played a major role in the
Syrian civil war, invading various parts of northern Syria and using
former Syrian rebel groups as proxies as part of what is called the Syrian National Army.
When
the Idlib-based Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began its offensive against the
Syrian regime in late November, Turkey chose to try to take advantage of
the chaos. As HTS took cities from the collapsing Assad regime,
Ankara unleashed the SNA to attack Kurdish groups. Ankara’s main goal
over the last eight years in Syria has been to fight against what it
claims are “terrorist” groups in Syria. These are not terrorist groups
such as ISIS or al-Qaeda, but instead, what Ankara means is using proxy
forces to target Kurdish areas of Syria.
The
main group in Ankara’s cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces or
SDF. The SDF was formed in 2015 with US backing. They include a group
called the YPG, which is a Kurdish group
that has been fighting ISIS. Turkey views the YPG as the Syrian branch
of the PKK. What matters here is that you have Turkey, a member of NATO,
attacking the SDF, which is backed by the US, which is also a NATO
member. However, the US has not been able to get Ankara to stop its
attacks, instead the SDF ends up fighting the Turkish-backed SNA. While
the SDF was formed to help defeat ISIS, now the SDF and SNA fight each
other, and ISIS isn’t even part of the story.
For
Ankara, this is a win. Ankara can get the SNA to fight the SDF, but
that distracts from other Ankara goals in Syria. It also keeps the SDF
isolated. Turkey has engaged in rapid diplomacy to shore up its role in
Syria as the Assad regime collapsed. It wants to fill the vacuum
basically in Syria left by Iran and Russia. Turkey and Qatar are angling
to fill the vacuum and open diplomatic posts in Damascus. Turkey has
met with the head of NATO and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
During the meeting with Blinken, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said that Turkey “would take preventive measures to safeguard its
national security against all terrorist organizations operating in
Syria, including PKK/PYD/YPG and Daesh/ISIS.”
The
US State Department has generally frowned upon the SDF, viewing it as a
group that was created in partnership with the Pentagon. This has led
to a Janus-faced US policy in Syria where US Central Command backs the
SDF, but the Secretary of State often meets with Turkey and doesn’t push
back forcefully on Ankara’s threats against US partner forces. The SDF
then paid the price for US inaction, being attacked by Turkish drones
and the SNA.
Syrian Kurds stand next to the destroyed statue of Basel al-Assad, the
late elder brother of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as they
celebrate the fall of capital Damascus to anti-government fighters, in
the city of Qamishli on December 8, 2024. (credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP
via Getty Images)
In the last two weeks, tens of
thousands of Kurds have been displaced by SNA attacks. These include
Kurds in Tal Rifaat who were already displaced by the 2018 Turkish
attack on Afrin. Around 150,000 Kurds had to flee Afrin in 2018. Now, it
appears some 200,000 may have fled SNA attacks. The SNA also took over
Manbij, a city the SDF fought ISIS to control in 2015 and 2016. This
city was a tough fight for the SDF, and it fell within a few days of SNA
attacks, basically throwing away years of SDF work there. This puts the
SDF in a precarious position.
In
another area, the SNA attacked a dam that the SDF was running on the
Euphrates. Rudaw media in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, noted
that “the manager of a Euphrates River dam that has come under days of
attacks in northern Syria has warned that millions of people will be
impacted should the structure fail.” The manager said “there was a
blackout at Tishreen Dam. The dam is out of service now. Cables fell,
and the gates were closed, leading to the closure of the dam. The staff
tried to use the generators, but they soon ran out of diesel. Water is
flowing into the dam now,” Ali Demir told Rudaw English on Thursday.
“Tishreen Dam sits on the Euphrates River in northern Syria, upstream
from scores of towns and villages as well as urban centers like Raqqa.
It provides electricity to much of northeast Syria (Rojava).”
Meanwhile,
Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the SDF, discussed reports of clashes in
Raqqa on Friday. “The people of Raqqa deserve a dignified and secure
life, and we will spare no effort to achieve this goal. We promise to
take transparent and practical steps to address the current situation,
ensuring that your voices are heard and considered in every decision
made,” the SDF head said, Rudaw reported.
An isolated SDF faces challenges
The
SDF is isolated. It has faced this challenge before. Back in 2018 and
2019, the former Trump administration sought to withdraw US forces from
Syria. This led to Ankara invading an area called Serekaniya. Ankara
also threatened Kobani, a city that had helped defeat ISIS in 2015 by
resisting the ISIS advance. Kurds played a key role in holding Kobani.
In 2019, the Turkish advance stopped in part due to the Russian
intervention and Syrian regime forces deploying to border areas with
Syria. This created a kind of buffer zone between Turkey and the SDF.
Ankara was working with Russia and didn’t see a reason to bomb Russian
forces or the Syrian regime. Now, the Syrian regime is gone, and so are
the Russians. The way is open for Ankara to complete the goal that it
wants, which is to push Kurds away from the border. Most Kurdish towns
in Syria are on the border with Turkey. Turkey already forced Kurds out
of Afrin and areas near Aleppo as well as Serekaniye. If the US and
others don’t protect the SDF, it's possible a new disaster could unfold
in Syria. Most Syrians want peace, but Ankara wants to continue its
attacks. Blinken’s visit to Turkey did not push back on Ankara’s
threats.
US
Central Command head Michael Kurilla visited Syria after the Assad
regime collapsed. “US Central Command commander General Michael Eric
Kurilla visited Syria and Iraq to assess ongoing operations against
Islamic State, the first visit of a senior US military official since
the fall of the Assad regime,” VOA News said on December 11. Kurilla has
a lot of weight on his shoulders if the SDF is going to be preserved.
Kurilla was in Israel this weekend, holding more discussions about Syria
in the wake of the IDF eliminating what remains of the Syrian regime’s
former military assets.
The spectacular collapse of the Assad regime has introduced both uncertainty and opportunity.
PEOPLE CELEBRATE the ouster of President Bashar
al-Assad, in Sednaya, Syria, this week. The spectacular collapse of the
Assad regime has introduced both uncertainty and opportunity, the writer
notes.(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)
The 1998 film Sliding Doors, directed by Peter Howitt and starring
Gwyneth Paltrow, explores a compelling premise: how small decisions and
seemingly trivial moments can drastically alter the course of a person’s
life.
The
movie begins with the protagonist, Helen, rushing to catch a train. In
one timeline, she makes it onto the train, while in the other, she
misses it. This split sets off two parallel narratives, each shaped by
the divergent paths of that single moment. The film poignantly
demonstrates how minor events can cascade into significant consequences,
changing relationships, careers, and personal identity.
This
concept of “sliding doors” moments resonates far beyond the realm of
fiction. These pivotal junctures occur in personal lives and on the
global stage, shaping the trajectory of individuals and nations alike.
Today, as the foul and wicked Assad regime in Syria comes to its deserved ignominious end,
the world finds itself at a profound sliding doors moment. This is
particularly true for Israel, a nation constantly facing existential
questions about its security, strategy, and future.
The
spectacular collapse of the Assad regime has introduced both
uncertainty and opportunity. For Israel, the northern border—long,
tense, and heavily monitored—is at the heart of this sliding door
moment. The horrifying events of October 7,
when Hamas launched a surprise massacre from Gaza, brought to the fore
the catastrophic consequences of underestimating threats to national
security.
IDF soldiers overlook the Golan Heights, along the border between
Israel and Syria, December 11, 2024 (credit: YONAH JEREMY BOB)
Decisive
action has already involved preemptive measures to fortify defenses and
establish deterrence, ensuring that the vacuum left by Assad’s downfall
does not become a breeding ground for hostile forces. However, such
actions carry risks, including the potential for escalation and
international criticism.
Conversely,
a more passive approach might avoid immediate conflict but leave Israel
vulnerable to future threats, especially if Syrian rebels or other
groups seize power and weapons and turn their focus toward Israel.
These
are not just strategic decisions but existential ones. How Israel
navigates this moment will have profound implications for its security,
its people, and its place in a volatile region. Yet, as a
non-politician, these weighty decisions are not for me to make. Instead,
they invite reflection on the nature of sliding doors moments in our
own lives—moments that, while smaller in scale, are no less
transformative.
Critical junctures
JUST
AS nations face critical junctures, so do individuals. These moments
can range from monumental decisions to seemingly trivial ones. Shall we
take that job offer in a new city? Shall we muster the courage to ask
someone on a date? Shall we move to a different community or enroll in a
course that might broaden our horizons? Even simpler choices—like
whether to strike up a conversation with a stranger or volunteer for a
cause—can set off chains of events that shape who we are and who we
become.
Consider the example of attending an inspirational TED Talk or a
lesson on Jewish history. A single talk might introduce a new idea or
perspective that changes the trajectory of your career or personal life.
Or think about deciding whether to speak to a sad-looking person you
encounter in your daily routine. That small act of kindness could
brighten their day, inspire them to make a positive change, or even
create a lasting bond. These moments may seem inconsequential in
isolation, but over time, they add up to define our paths and
identities.
'Sliding doors moments'
The
sliding doors moments in our lives often present us with a choice: to
act or not to act. Action requires courage, foresight, and a willingness
to embrace uncertainty. Inaction, while sometimes the safer choice, can
mean lost opportunities and lingering regret. Yet, even in hindsight,
it is often impossible to know what the “right” decision was. This
uncertainty is part of what makes these moments so profound—and so
human. Rabbi David Hartmann once wrote, “There is no progress without
risk.”
For
leaders making decisions on the global stage, the stakes of sliding
doors moments are immense. Their choices can affect millions of lives,
alter the course of history, and redefine the future of nations. In
these moments, we pray that God guides them toward wisdom, justice, and
peace.
But
we, too, face our own moments of decision, and they deserve no less
prayerful consideration. While our choices may not make headlines, they
shape the world in quieter yet equally meaningful ways. A single act of
kindness, a bold career move, or a decision to volunteer can ripple
outward, affecting not just our lives but the lives of those around us.
FAITH
CAN be a source of strength and clarity in these moments. Turning to
prayer, meditation, or reflection can help us discern the path that
aligns with our values and purpose. Seeking counsel from trusted
mentors, friends, or family members can also provide valuable
perspectives, helping us navigate the uncertainties of pivotal
decisions.
The
nature of sliding doors moments is that they often arrive unannounced.
We rarely recognize their significance until much later, when we look
back and see how one choice led to another, and then another, creating a
narrative we could not have predicted. This unpredictability can be
daunting, but it is also what makes life rich and full of possibility.
In
the face of uncertainty, the best we can do is approach these moments
with intention and integrity. Whether the stakes are personal or
national, the decisions we make reflect who we are and what we value.
For Israel, the current sliding doors moment will require leadership,
vision, and resolve. For each of us, our own moments of choice call for
courage, empathy, and faith.
The
concept of sliding doors reminds us that life is a series of
interconnected moments, each offering a choice that can shape the
future. For Israel, standing at the crossroads of history, the decisions
made today will echo for generations. For individuals, the choices we
make—big and small—define the stories of our lives.
As
we navigate these moments, let us pray for wisdom and guidance, not
only for world leaders but also for ourselves. In doing so, we can
embrace the possibilities of each sliding doors moment, trusting that
our choices, made with care and conviction, will lead us to where we are
meant to be.
Jonathan Lieberman is a rabbi and physician who lives in Ramat Poleg, Netanya. He is a co-founder of Techelet-Inspiring Judaism.
A convention of dignitaries from the Druze village of Hader in the Syrian Golan called to join the Israeli Golan.
Screen grab of Syrian Druze discussing a call to be annexed to Israel.(photo credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
“What’s our fate, our brothers?”
-“Israel!”
Viral
videos circulating on social media depicted a gathering of dignitaries
from the village of Hader, on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, speaking in favor of joining Israel.
In
the videos, a dignitary who spoke in front of a crowd of dozens, said:
“In the name of the all the people of Hader, and if anyone objects,
please say… if we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil – to be
annexed to the (Israeli) Golan!”
The
speaker argued that Israel for them is ‘the lesser evil,’ warning that
‘the other evil coming our way,’ meaning the Islamist militias, would
“take our wives, our daughters, our homes.”
— مركز دراسات الازمات nidal hamade (@nidalhamade2) December 13, 2024
The speaker continued, arguing he speaks on behalf of several
villages in the region: “We are with those who preserve our dignity… I
don’t mind if anyone is taking pictures or recording – we ask to be
annexed to the Golan… The fate of Hader is the fate of the surrounding
villages, we want to ask to join our kin in the Golan, to be free from
injustice and oppression,” to which those present at the convention
replied shouting: “We agree, we agree!”
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today
received Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze
community in the State of Israel. (credit: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan)
‘Fear of retaliation’
A source from Syria explained to the Jerusalem Post
that, as opposed to the major Druze population concentrations in the
Suwayda area, who have protested against the Assad regime for over a
decade, these villages in the Syrian Golan
area have remained largely loyal to the now overthrown regime. The
source explained that they now fear violent acts of retaliation from
other Syrians who were opposed to the Assad regime. They also called on
Israel to trust their good intentions, despite their former alignment
with Assad.
“These
villages were in fact an enclave surrounded by rebel groups, most of
them Sunni Islamists,” added Dr. Yusri Khaizran, senior lecturer in the
Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Shalem College and a
research fellow at the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of
Peace at the Hebrew University.
“For
years Israel faced a conflict: on the one hand, it sought to create a
certain mechanism of understandings with rebel organizations in the
Golan Heights; while on the other hand, Israel’s commitment to the Druze
community in Israel prompted it to create a balancing equation,
signaling to the Islamists that they will not be allowed to invade the
Hader enclave and carry out violent mass massacres against the Druze.”
Khaizran holds that the convention in Hader, in which the Druze
dignitaries called to be annexed to Israel, stems from what he deemed
the ‘falling apart of Syria.’ Even if it remains a state framework,
Syria will de facto be subject to the control of militias, and I assume
this comes in this context,” he explained, adding that Israel’s expanded
military presence in the area and some family relations between the
Druze on both sides of the Golan Heights may have also worked as a
catalysator for this meeting.
“The
Druze were never an anti-Israeli actor. In Hader they know very well
that the one who prevented rebels from entering their towns and
‘settling the score’ was Israel, and that this was made out of Israel's
commitment to the Druze community here,” he stressed.
Khaizran
continued: “Strikingly, the Druze community in Israel is the smallest
of the Druze communities in the Middle East, yet it has essentially
become the shield of the Druze, a center of gravity that can provide
assistance to the Druze in Syria.”
“The Israeli Druze community
has contributed much to the resilience of the Druze community in Syria,
through their special status in Israel,” Khaizran highlighted. “We are
constantly seeing the spiritual leadership of the Druze community in
Israel, led by Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif, making efforts to defend and
support their kin through various channels,” he added, referring to
meetings Tarif has held in the past weeks with Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu, and even the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh
Mohamed Bin Zayed.
Regarding
the question of what political framework the Druze in Syria are
aspiring for, Khaizran commented: “Some in Israel have envisioned a
Druze state, but I believe that their aspirations are more toward a
pattern of complete autonomy, as was the case until 1954. What’s more
important for them is to deny the Islamist forces from entering their
areas.”
Khaizran
concluded: “Recent developments, from the fall of the Assad regime to
the decimation of Hezbollah, are certainly in Israel’s favor. The only
Israeli concern should be of Turkish hegemony in Syria, but in terms of
the ripple effects of these events, it is all the more empowering for
Israel.”
"You know what this regime is truly terrified of? It's terrified of you, the people of Iran," said the Israeli premier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a
press conference on the situation on various warfronts, Dec. 9, 2024.
Photo by Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
on Thursday night extended an olive branch and delivered a message of
hope to the Iranian people.
Below is the transcript of the video message:
A video address to the Iranian people was given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 12, 2024. Credit: GPO.
“People of Iran:
As we see history unfold before our very eyes, I can only imagine what you’re feeling right now.
Your oppressors spent over $30 billion supporting Assad in Syria.
Today, after only 11 days of fighting, his regime collapsed into dust.
Your oppressors spent billions supporting Hamas in Gaza.
Today their regime lies in ruins.
Your oppressors spent over $20 billion supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In a matter of weeks, most of Hezbollah’s leaders, its rockets and thousands of its terrorists went up in smoke.
The money your oppressors stole from you literally went up in smoke.
You must be furious imagining the new
roads, schools, hospitals that could have been built with the tens of
billions of dollars your dictators wasted backing terrorists who lose
over and over and over again.
Do you know why Iran’s oppressors keep losing?
It’s not only because they are incompetent and cruel. They are.
It’s because they seek to conquer other nations, to impose fundamentalist tyranny on the Middle East—on the entire world.
The only thing Israel seeks is to defend our state. But in so doing, we’re defending civilization against barbarism.
….
The historic events we witness today are a
chain reaction—a chain reaction to the pounding of Hamas, the
decimation of Hezbollah, the targeting of Nasrallah, the blows we
delivered to the Iran regime’s axis of terror. And all this came as
President Trump pointed out this week, ‘because of Israel and its
fighting success.’
I want to make clear: Israel wants peace. We want peace with all those who truly want peace with us.
And I have no doubt that you, the people of Iran, know this.
I know that just as we want peace with you, you want peace with us.
But you suffer under the rule of a regime that subjugates you and threatens us.
You know what this regime is truly terrified of?
It’s terrified of you, the people of Iran.
And one day, I know that. One day this will change. One day Iran will be free.
Women, Life, Freedom
Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.
That is the future of Iran.
That is the future of peace.
And I have no doubt that we will realize that future together—a lot sooner than people think.
I know and I believe we will transform the Middle East into a beacon of prosperity, progress and peace.”
Remnants of Syria’s governance left by the old regime are welcoming new leaders.
Syrian Kurds flash the V for victory sign as they
celebrate the fall of capital Damascus to anti-government fighters, in
the city of Qamishli on December 8, 2024.(photo credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Less than two weeks after the Syrian National Army (SNA) began its latest offensive against then-President Bashar al-Assad,
the rebel forces now find themselves as Syria’s new leaders. Led by the
former Harakat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) member Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the
rebels’ efforts are currently focused on transitioning into the
provisional Syrian Salvation Government (SSG). Following the collapse of
Assad's regime, Syria has embarked on a political transformation,
signaling an opportunity to rebuild the nation after over a decade of
civil war.
As
the fighting forces transition to establish a new government for Syria,
global leaders have expressed measured optimism while underscoring the
challenges ahead. Echoing similar sentiments, governments from the US,
France, the UK, Germany, and even Saudi Arabia welcomed the fall of
Assad’s regime as a pivotal moment for Syria but also warned of the
risks of such a transition, especially since Julani’s HTS is an offshoot
of al-Qaeda. Even Turkey has stayed away from normalizing relationships
with the SSG, even if, behind the scenes, the NATO member has helped
the SNA in multiple ways.
The
international community understands the delicate balance required to
navigate this historic turning point and the need for stability,
political solutions, and protection of civilians and minorities. As
Syrians are finding themselves in an internal debate regarding their
future, foreign leaders were therefore cautious not to cross certain
lines until they understand if the SSG will restore order, peace, and
freedom while also cooperating internationally.
Itay
Goitman, a Middle Eastern affairs researcher specializing in
Syria-related subjects, offered a pragmatic view of HTS. “The SSG
functions as a sort of political wing for HTS, but in reality, it
operates more as a puppet. Both entities are controlled by the same
leadership and do not act independently from the militant side of the
organization,” he told The Media Line.
“As
for basic government infrastructure and the provision of daily
services, those are likely to remain relatively unchanged from the
previous regime. However, what will be critical to watch in the coming
weeks is the relationship between the Kurds and HTS. The developments
during this period could provide significant insights into how the
situation may evolve,” Goitman added.
An armed woman flashes the V for victory sign as Syrian Kurds celebrate
the fall of capital Damascus to anti-government fighters, in the city
of Qamishli on December 8, 2024. (credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty
Images)
Similarly, Dr. Mohammad Salami, an
associate research fellow at the International Institute for Global
Strategic Analysis, explained to The Media Line the risks involved in
expecting HTS to abandon its radical beliefs in the new Syria. “This
group was once a branch of al-Qaeda, and after splitting off, it changed
its name to Harakat Tahrir al-Sham. The strategies and goals of a group can easily change, but beliefs rarely do.”
Continued
Salami: “The group is made up of Islamist members who have participated
in this war with high moral goals and a strong belief in jihad. The
pursuit of secularism and action against Sharia disappoints them. On the
other hand, this group is not homogeneous, and as the group leader,
al-Julani cannot make decisions independently without considering the
opinions of others,” he said.
For
now, even the UN Security Council seemed to agree on Syria. Diplomats
from the US and Russia reported a unified stance on key issues, such as
preserving Syria's territorial integrity, protecting civilians, and
facilitating humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict.
Meanwhile, Syria's UN Ambassador, Koussay Aldahhak, assured that Syrian
missions and embassies would continue operations throughout the
transition despite the rebel victory by HTS, a group currently under UN
sanctions. At this point, discussions in the Security Council regarding
the potential lifting of sanctions on HTS have not yet commenced.
Dr.
Steven Terner, the manager of Terner Consulting, a New York-based
geopolitical and business consultancy, explained to The Media Line that
the fall of the Assad regime, “while certainly conducted by Syrian
citizens, on behalf of Syrian citizens, satisfies the interests of
regional and global actors that oppose both the Iranian regime and the
Russian regime, namely Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, the EU,
the US. In this case, the interests of Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the
UAE, Europe, and the United States are aligned, and there is a feeling
of immediacy to act due to the upcoming change in the geopolitical
position of the US with Trump’s imminent presidency.”
Meanwhile,
in Syria, the world is watching attentively as the transition takes
place. On Syrian social media news channels, public service
announcements have provided much-needed updates to Syrians amid this
fragmented landscape of their country.
The coastal area of Latakia, known for its allegiance to former
President Assad, is reportedly in direct communication with the SSG’s
Transitional Council in Damascus. The Latakia Council of Elders
representing the Alawite community, Assad’s ethnic group, has issued an
announcement supporting the SSG.
According
to the declaration, the community’s Alawite Council wrote that they
supported the new vision for a national Syria and publicly called for
“doctors, engineers, and intellectuals, to return to our country so that
we can contribute together to building a modern Syria based on harmony
and love. Let us and the people in our regions not carry weapons and get
involved in shedding Syrian blood. We confirm the unity of the
territories of the Syrian Arab Republic and its sovereignty belonging to
the motherland Syria.”
Having
established a provisional general command for Syria, the SSG announced
on social media that “it is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's
dress or impose any request regarding their dress or appearance,
including requests for modesty. We affirm that personal freedom is
guaranteed to all and that respect for the rights of individuals is the
basis for building a civilized nation.”
Women’s rights among first targets of Islamists
Considering
that women’s rights are one of the first targets of Islamists, Dr.
Salami highlighted the importance of this announcement. Despite general
skepticism towards the newly formed SSG, he said that “the initiation of
a government on women's clothing at least shows their intelligence in
how much they want to be recognized internationally. The emergence of
the Taliban in Afghanistan is a bad experience for the HTS. The
Taliban’s crackdown on women’s rights and their inability to contain
ISIS-K have led world powers to view all Islamist groups with
suspicion.”
Another
statement by the SSG’s general command also declared that “it is
strictly forbidden to attack media personnel working in the Syrian TV,
Syrian Radio, and social media pages. It is forbidden to make any
threats to them under any circumstances.” For those failing to comply,
the violators will be imprisoned for a year, according to the SSG.
Similarly,
the new provisional Ministry of Information “called on everyone to join
their work during the next two days so that the various media outlets
can resume broadcasting and issuing documentation of a fateful stage in
the history of Syria.” The country’s provisional Ministry of
Communications also stated on social media that “the Internet is working
normally and an agreement has been reached with HTS to continue
communications, and we will return to our work sites within two days.”
Universities
are also providing a sense of normalcy amid the fast changes. Tishreen
University announced that it had resumed its administrative and academic
work with the return of its administrative and academic staff working
as usual, with the dates of practical examinations to be determined
later.
Syrian Kurds burn a flag as they celebrate the fall of capital Damascus
to anti-government fighters, in the city of Qamishli on December 8,
2024. (credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
According
to a public statement by the Tishreen University Administration: “The
university administration asks all deans, professors, employees, and
students to attend the university headquarters tomorrow at ten in the
morning for those who can as a volunteer work day to clean the
university and protect the gains of the sons of the homeland. We must
work as one team to build the homeland and preserve public property from
infrastructure, documents, and university certificates that belong to
all students. The Syrian people deserve a decent life and a better
future, and we ask God that the coming days will bring goodness to all.”
Damascus
University’s president issued a similar statement, assuring students
and their families that “the educational process will continue, and the
deans of the colleges and members of the teaching staff have been
directed to exercise their paternal and cognitive role during these
days. Damascus University continues to play its role in preserving the
gains and rights of our students. We hope everyone will preserve the
infrastructure and educational institutions because they belong to the
people of Syria.”
The
Syrian Central Bank informed on the same media channels that it’s
working and “will continue to follow up and supervise the work of
banking and non-banking financial institutions operating in accordance
with the applicable regulations. The bank demonstrates the continuation
of the work of these institutions by providing their services to
customers in an appropriate manner. We assure our fellow citizens
dealing with all operating banks that their deposits and funds placed
with these banks are safe and have not and will not be exposed to any
harm.”
While
the SSG is projecting a commitment to national unity, personal freedoms,
and institutional rule, experts are skeptical, especially regarding the
relationship with the Kurdish population in the autonomous regions in
northeastern Syria. Having borne the brunt of both ISIS's wrath and
Assad’s repression, the Kurds remain cautious about the SSG’s intentions
and its ability to safeguard minority rights.
Boaz
Shapira, a researcher at the Alma Research and Education Center,
explained to The Media Line the Assad family adopted a more secular
posture because they were Alawites. He argues that if the SSG were to
impose an Islamist way of life, “it would be hard for a lot of people.
The HTS and other factions want an Islamic regime and all that comes
with it. Some of them are practically the same as ISIS. Meanwhile, you
have people like the Kurds, the Assyrians, Sunni Arabs, which are also
much less religious.”
For
now, HTS and its Islamist allies are being more moderate and talking in
ways “that are palatable to Western leaders, like making sure the
minorities are protected and we respect everyone. Still, HTS has a
complicated history with many allegations of human rights violations.
So, the SSG must be tested on what he does, not what it says. This isn’t
just about the Alawites. The Kurds control about 30% of Syria, and they
want their own country,” Shapira highlighted.
Ehtesham
Shahid, an independent analyst based in Dubai, also explained that
“given the transformation HTS has brought about in its approach in
recent years, it looks like a possibility that HTS could become more
moderate. However, it will require an equal, if not more, wiser approach
from the other groups that are stakeholders in Syria. Kurds would look
at Turkey before formulating a response, while for Alawites, it would be
a matter of survival,” he argued.
According
to Shahid, HTS “understands that being moderate is their best foot
forward, at least for now. So, they would stick to this formula and test
the waters on what radical policies they can implement and which ones
might face resistance. It is not in their interest to become Syria’s
Taliban.”
Still,
Goitman also sees problems underway for Syria’s internal dynamics with
HTS and the Kurds. According to him, “With Turkish intervention and a
lack of Russian and Iranian support, the situation is very tense right.
HTS is not fond of the Kurdish idea of a Kurdish state, and the Kurds
are scared that HTS is going to continue fighting. During this past
week, HTS has been getting confrontational, especially up north, with
Kurdish forces. And I think that's something to look out for.”
Shir
Mor, a counterterrorism and Middle East researcher at the ITSS Verona,
told The Media Line that “the Kurdish community, which had long been
oppressed under Assad's rule, saw the regime's collapse as an
opportunity to pursue greater autonomy. However, their position remains
precarious, with ongoing attacks from hostile factions, such as the
recent assault on Kurdish forces in Manbij by rebel groups, heightening
their vulnerability. In response, the Kurds have sought international
alliances, including with Israel, to secure their communities and
stabilize the region.”
Receiving
Turkish support, the SNA has been accustomed to getting more support
the more anti-Kurd they are. “It's important to recognize that Turkey is
fueling an anti-Kurd sentiment in Syria. Turkey doesn't like the
Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), and they don't like Kurds in the northeast.
So, for HTS, if they want to stay on Turkey's good side, they need to
be more anti-Kurdish,” Goitman detailed, adding that the situation could
easily derail into violence.
For
Israel, the cause of the Kurdish State acts as a counterbalance to
Iranian ambitions in Syria and involves humanitarian aid and potential
strategic assistance, positioning Israel as a key player in facilitating
cooperation among Syria’s fragmented factions. “Through its diplomatic
leverage with Western powers, Israel can advocate for frameworks that
protect minority groups like the Kurds and promote decentralized
governance models that allow for regional autonomy and broader national
cohesion,” Mor concluded.
Regarding
Russia, after 10 years of war in Syria and involvement in quagmires in
Ukraine, the Central African Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso, Putin’s
forces are stretched thin. Dr. Terner explained that Russia’s interests
in the Caucasus and Central Asia “are under threat of coming undone due
to widespread resentment toward Russian economic and political
exploitation in those countries. European countries have been uniting
strategically and expanding NATO to counter the Russian threat on the
continent. Additionally, the US and EU are likely trying to squeeze
Russia on every front before the incoming US administration led by
Donald Trump abandons Europe to get closer to Russia,” he added.
For
now, the international community will not forget HTS’s less-than-ideal
past, including its close ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. However, “if
the HTS can recognize minority rights, avoid hostility towards the
US-backed Kurds, and establish an inclusive government, recognition is
possible. Still, adhering to these points with groups fighting across
Syria with conflicting goals and intentions is optimistic, at least in
the short term. However, it is not impossible,” Dr. Salami said.
Despite
all the challenges ahead, Shahid believes the world has already
recognized HTS. “For the international community, it is about accepting
the lesser evil. The unraveling of the Assad regime has also exposed its
brutality, and the new Syrian government would be seen as liberators
who ended this decades-old tyranny.”
IAF aircraft struck ready-to-use rocket launchers in southern Lebanon aimed at Israeli territory. 'The rocket launchers violate the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.'
The IAF struck a loaded and ready-to-use launcher aimed at Israel in
violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
"The IDF continues to act in accordance with the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF stressed.
"The
IDF remains deployed in southern Lebanon and will operate against any
threat posed to the State of Israel and its citizens."
On Friday, the IDF reported that soldiers from the 769th Brigade
discovered a large cache of weapons, including concealed Kornet missile
launchers, AK-47 rifles, magazines, other military equipment and
missiles hidden in dense, and mountainous terrain.
The troops also
located and confiscated an anti-tank missile launch site used by
Hezbollah to fire at communities in the Upper Galilee over the past
year.
In an additional operation, the troops located a weapons
cache containing RPG missiles and mortar shells. All the findings were
confiscated.
The Biden administration’s massive expansion of use of the status has drawn criticisms suggesting it has worsened the migrant crisis and granted illegal immigrants de facto amnesty. More than a million immigrants have been granted TPS, data shows.
The US Mexico border fence in Nogales, Arizona USA
Getty Images
The Biden administration’s liberal
use of a the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) led to 240% surge of
foreign nationals protected from deportation and granted interim legal
status in the United States, according to the most recent data from the
research arm of Congress.
The data, which showed consistent increases in immigrants granted
"TPS" status since President Joe Biden took office in early 2021, make
up just part of the largest illegal and legal immigration surge in
American history.
Critics say the Biden administration’s expansion of the number of
immigrants protected with the status has worsened the migrant crisis and
granted de facto amnesty to illegal immigrants. In raw
numbers, TPS recipients increased from 320,000 at the beginning of
Biden’s administration in April 2021 to 1,095,115 in the waning months
of Biden’s term in December 2024, according to the most recent data
gathered and published last week by the Congressional Research Service.
This is a 240% increase in TPS immigrants and occurred after the administration extended protections to several new countries.
You can read the most recent report from the CRS below:
After taking office, President Biden extended TPS protections to
people from more than 17 countries, including those in geopolitical
hotspots like Ukraine, Lebanon, and Syria along with others that suffer
poverty and instability. He also restored protections for immigrants
from many countries removed from the list by the Trump administration,
which previously deemed that conditions in those countries were not
sufficient to warrant inclusion in the program.
The 17 countries on the list are: Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El
Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia,
South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The more than 1 million immigrants from countries designated under TPS are protected from removal. The Biden administration and Democratic legislators
sought repeatedly throughout its term to extend a pathway for Legal
Permanent Residence (LPR) status, yet, Congress did not act on the
requests.
The administration’s use of TPS was seen as a way to act on
accomplishing progressive immigration priorities, especially after a
Democratic trifecta government failed to pass Biden’s proposed
immigration reforms in 2021.
A proxy for amnesty
After Republicans took the House in the 2022 elections, TPS
proponents saw it as an opportunity to expand help to immigrants without
the legislative branch. “It’s something that they can do without
congressional approval,” then-Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said of expanding TPS.
“They could reauthorize those categories and expand on it,” he said, according to Roll Call. “So that would be a way of administratively helping a large number of people.”
However, some critics say that Biden the expansive use of the program
has encouraged more illegal immigration by using it as a proxy for
amnesty, which the administration was unable to pass through Congress.
“While previous administrations have misused the TPS authority, the
Biden Administration appears to be deliberately using TPS to grant
amnesty by executive fiat to the millions of illegal aliens it has
allowed into American communities,” wrote Robert Law,
former policy advisor at the Homeland Security Department and Director
of the Center for Homeland Security and Immigration at the America First
Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think-tank.
The liberal use of TPS also allows the administration to provide a
quasi-amnesty to scores of illegal immigrants, exposing a flaw in the
program which is designed for temporary relief from disasters or wars in
an immigrant’s home country.
“TPS offers an alien a temporary immigration status. Because most, if
not all, of the beneficiaries are illegal aliens, a grant of TPS is
quite lucrative. In addition to generally having a reprieve from
deportation, aliens with TPS are also able to obtain EADs (work
permits), Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and the ability to
travel internationally and be allowed back into the United States,” Law
wrote.
Harkens back to 1850's Ellis Island
“The plethora of benefits available to an illegal alien with TPS
underscores the inherent flaw in the current application of this
statutory authority. Illegal aliens, whether they are EWI [entry without
inspection] or overstayed their visa, have no intention of returning to
their home countries,” he continued.
The considerable increase in immigrants protected by TPS comes during
what data shows is the largest immigration surge in American history.
From 2021 to 2023, annual net immigration averaged 2.4 million people,
both legal and illegal immigrants, according to many media reports and
Congressional Budget Office data. This was a faster pace of arrivals
than at any time during the United States’ nearly 250 year history, even
outstripping the rate of the peak years of Ellis Island traffic, The New York Times noted.
Taking into account the differences in population, the last time the
country experienced a similar level of immigration was 1850, when new
immigrants reached 0.6% of the country’s total population.
The current explosion of immigration has also resulted in a new high
for the percentage of the U.S. population that is foreign-born, now
15.2%. This is up from 13.6 percent in 2020. The previous record was
14.8% in 1890.
President-elect Trump is expected to reverse the Biden
administration’s immigration policies, by finishing his signature border
wall and mounting an effort to deport millions of illegal immigrants
that entered the country in the last four years.
He has also promised to target Biden’s TPS expansion,
which he criticized during the campaign. Trump tried to remove several
countries from the TPS list during his first term, but the move was
halted by a court challenge. When Biden was inaugurated, the federal
government abandoned the effort.
