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j-d-parker.bsky.social
Academic. Syrian history and ME conflicts. Liberal. Lived almost half my life in Tel Aviv. Also US, France, and Scotland. Audiophile, and hobby guitarist. Dem for now. Anti-racist and pro-Palestinians. Jewish.
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Help me out BlueSky folks. Is is okay to justify the killing of journalists (and their families as collateral damage)? This weekend at least three journalists were killed along with their spouses and children. Avi knows this. I brought it to his attention. Yet he doubles down on this line:

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

It's worth re-reading the April 25 article on Khalil al-Hayya, one of the last few senior Hamas political figures who still has an impact on the situation. He implied that Hamas could disarm and be part of a Palestinian state (w/right of return of Palestinian refugees). www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Hamas has a range of opinions from hardline to pragmatic, with hardline refusing to end the fighting just like the far-right in Israel. It's possible that the "endless war" groups on both sides will simply exhaust themselves eventually and pragmatic actors can then start dealing with the situation.

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

If you need to explain Gaza to a 5 year old:

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

Norway's labor union pushed the national SWF to divest from Israeli companies. A hotel owner claimed that this includes a full boycott of Israeli tourists from any service! I'd be shocked if Norway's laws allow individual discrimination by nationality, but maybe: www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/12/n...

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Top Israeli reporter Barak Ravid based in DC writes, "The US claims they didn't have direct talks with Hamas to release Edan Alexander." Top Ha'aretz reporter responds: "Yeah, that's like saying I went to a whore but put on two condoms."

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

This article in Turkescope by Gülistan Gürbey based in Berlin, provides important context to the situation. She notes that the Turkish government will need to release Ocalan soon so he can formally manage the dissolution of the organization. dayan.org/content/ocal...

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Israelis are waking up to this reality.

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Bombing Yemen's airport isn't going to stop Yemen's rockets or reassure international airlines. In fact, the one thing that is certain is that Israel is going to overreact to any attacks, especially when Israel makes a defensive mistake, like failing to shoot down a ballistic missile.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

I don't have as many tools to troll over here. But just so you know, this is the quality of content you're missing.

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

Breaking: Pope Francis has passed away according to the Vatican. He will likely be remembered as one of the greatest in modern times, and indeed, oversaw a global congregation of many millions. He drew on the light of the Global South and for that I felt his presence was a welcome break.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

Enjoying beer and a hot dog with my homemade Aiolli sauce using my new pestle and mortar.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

‘They were chanting as they killed people in their homes’: survivors describe attack on Sudan’s Zamzam camp

submitted 49 days ago • 1 comment

Whenever we have a few days off my sons are punching the left and my wife and daughter are hitting the right.

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

A piece I wrote just came out in Ha'aretz. In theory, there are ways Israel could help Syria's electricity problem in the near future, and there are even better ways Israel could help Syria go towards green tech. Cooperation is the future. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...

submitted 63 days ago • 0 comments

Beautiful. Eid Mubarak. It shows that if you keep your faith, and keep your dignity, you will win in the end. While I believe there were serious crimes committed on Oct. 7, and 100% oppose kidnapping civilians, I believe the people of Gaza deserve to live free in health and safety. Let's hope.

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

SANA is reporting that two oil tankers have arrived at the Baniyas port to deliver oil to Syria. It seems that they have Russian-originated oil, but that isn't mentioned. A red ship has the Turkish shipping company Palmali on its side. That suggests a Black Sea shipment. sana.sy?p=2201718

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

The Internal Security Directorate seized weapons and ammunition hidden inside a well in the town of Al-Madabaa in the eastern #Homs countryside.

submitted 74 days ago • 0 comments

But, I don't want a humanoid robot. Not now, and not in 5 years. www.reuters.com/technology/n...

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

Chris Cornell was the best male singer of the grunge genre. But Soundgarden probably wasn't even in the top 10 of the best rock bands of the 90s.

submitted 79 days ago • 1 comment

I go to sleep at night and get up in the morning is with the assumption that *if* Israel is killing kids, it usually has a serious justification. Like self-defense. Today, we are killing kids because Netanyahu wants to pass a fucking budget. He needs Ben Gvir and Smotrich. They need a new war.

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Had fun in Ramat Aviv yesterday. Winter pond. It's cool to have a bit of nature right on the edge of town.

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

@renanetjes.bsky.social Is quoted here with important insights about the direction of Syria's government and the challenges it faces. Most of the challenges come from within, but international sanctions are slowing down an economic comeback: www.newarab.com/analysis/syr...

submitted 81 days ago • 1 comment

The claim that some kind of ties with the Sammidoun group, apparently linked to the PLFP, makes you guilty is very dangerous. They do good work documenting and advocating for Palestinians who are arrested without charges. Trump is leading his own witch hunt at universities.

submitted 84 days ago • 1 comment