Brian's unique explorations of the conflict and the historical context and events leading up to Hamas's October 7 terrorist pogrom, Israel's response in its Gaza campaign, and the wider regional situation and context
(Arabic الترجمة العربية / Hebrew תרגום לעברית) Brian's writing, academic studies, independent research, and journalism on the Israel-Hamas, Israeli-Palestinian, Israeli-Arab, and other Middle East conflicts span over two decades through his undergraduate and graduate degree programs (including a class abroad in Israel and Palestine), his decade of journalism, his work in the humanitarian aid and development sectors, his living and working ro4 over five years in the Middle East (mainly in Jordan but also Israel and Palestine) as well as his commentary as an expert for two Arabic language television stations. His relevant work and commentary has been featured in The Jerusalem Report, The Jerusalem Report, The Jordan Times, Venture, Small Wars Journal, Global Risk Insights, (Policy)Mic, The Washington and Lee Political Review, AlGhad TV, and Alaraby TV.
My Most in-depth article on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was my July 28, 2014 piece titled: The Israel-Hamas Gaza High-Stakes Poker Game of Death. You will get a an exploration of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict going back to the beginnings of Zionism in the late nineteenth century along with a detailed analysis of the 2014 Israel-Hamas violence, the most violent confrontation between Israeli and Hamas until the current 2023 crisis. Two much shorter excerpts from this article are particularly relevant: Who Really Controls Gaza? Israel’s Election, Netanyahu, and the struggle for Israel’s Soul and Counterinsurgency (COIN) & Civilians: Israeli vs. American Approaches. Also of particular relevance for those wanting to understand the history and roots of the conflict is my graduate school paper on the British Mandate era, which saw the First Arab-Israeli War and, the birth of Israel as a state, and the first mass displacement of Palestinians, and another graduate paper of mine on water rights in Palestinian territory. The rest of my work is highlighted below.
THE CURRENT WAR
The Real Context News Podcast #12: Rula Jebreal—Palestinian Journalist, Analyst, & Author—on Palestine and Israel
The Real Context News Podcast #10: Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky on Israel’s 2 Wars: One vs. Hamas & One vs. Netanyahu
The Lord of the Rings, Israel, and Palestine: Reflections of the Gaza-Hamas War in Tolkien
Facts, Context Don’t Care About Your Narrative: Gaza Hospital Edition
6 Steps for Israel to Take to Still Win, but with Far Better Outcomes for Itself and Gaza
The 9/11 and 10/7 Analogy for the Israel-Hamas War: Why It Both Does and Does Not Fit
BACKGROUND
The Real Context News Podcast #12: Rula Jebreal—Palestinian Journalist, Analyst, & Author—on Palestine and Israel
If You Want to Support Israel, Call Out Its Apartheid in the West Bank
Wading into Israel and Palestine Quicksand, Biden Offers a Diplomacy 101 Class for All
Death, Stupidity; Rinse, Repeat: What Is New, What Is Old in Latest Israeli-Palestinian Tragedy
The Iran Natanz Attack Sorta Happened in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (and in a way instructive for us all!)
Bibi’s Trump Show: How Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Wins by Imitating the Donald
On Bourdain Day, His Life a Reminder to All that Anyone Can Speak Up for the Marginalized, Bring People Together
9/11 and Global Tribalism
The Jerusalem Post
The war in Ukraine is embarrassing for Israelis and Palestinians- Nov 1, 2022
Starting a conversation- Oct 20, 2016
Encountering dehumanization- Jan 6, 2016
The Jerusalem Report
Americans and Israelis, living by division, need hope- Nov 15, 2020
The London School of Economics and Politics (LSE) Middle East Centre
Trump and Netanyahu: Tainted Love Furthers Self-Destructive Tribalism- February 22, 2019
Small Wars Journal
Trumpism and Tribalism Run Amok in the Middle East- 11/07/2018
On Arabs and Conspiracy Theories- 08/31/2018
Hidden Remote
Can Tel Aviv on Fire bring hope to Israeli-Palestinian conflict when all else has failed- Aug 1, 2019
Holy Air’s dark humor may be a beacon for understanding in Middle East- Jul 31, 2019
Al Bawaba
Bibi Isn’t Done Yet: Think a Third Israeli Election Won’t Be the Result of the Second? Think again!- Sept 26, 2019
An Israeli, a Syrian, and an American Walk into Hashem's in Downtown Amman- Jul 8, 2018 Al Bawaba
Dork Side of the Force
Mandalorians and cultural trauma in The Mandalorian- Dec 13, 2019
Global Risk Insights
GRI’s 2015 year in risk review- January 27, 2016
Top 5 political risks to watch for in 2016- January 26, 2016
(Policy)Mic
Breaking News Syria: Why Jordan, Israel, and Turkey Want the U.S. All In- Sept. 19, 2013 [Note: this headline, written by an editor, was very misleading]
Academic work
A Glass Half Empty: Selections of Israeli Water-Related Policy Affecting Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip - February 2011 PDF
The British in Mandate Palestine: Assessment of an Intervention - March 2010 PDF
Presented at the Arab-American University - Jenin's "Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding in Palestine: Reality and Challenges" Conference, May 2015
"Entering a conflict in between confrontation and intermittent violence between two parties that saw themselves with wholly incompatible interests, and failing to address that very issue, saw British policies push the parties to sustained violence and all-out civil and inter-state war; even in 2010, the Arabs and Jews in Palestine go back and forth between confrontation, intermittent violence, sustained violence, and war, with no end in sight; and this is a legacy of the British Mandate era for Palestine: the social constructs are still at the heart of this conflict, and that is why peace remains so elusive."
Behind the Human Bombs: Understanding Palestinian Suicide Terrorism - November 2009 PDF
Rome and the Barbarians, America and the Terrorists, Washington & Lee Political Review - Spring 2007 PDF
DONATE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
Palestine Red Crescent Society is basically the Red Cross in Gaza and the rest of Palestine.
IsraAID is Israel's largest humanitarian organization.
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a deeply experienced organization, has provided emergency medical services for people in Gaza for many years.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the UN agency specifically tasked with helping Palestinians. Several of its aid workers have already been killed in the current round of violence.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is one of the largest Jewish-focused philanthropic organizations in the world and is helping Israelis on the ground.
Save the Children is one of the premier international aid organizations and has long-operated in Gaza.