The Real Context News Podcast #12: Rula Jebreal—Palestinian Journalist, Analyst, & Author—on Palestine and Israel

By Brian E. Frydenborg (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter @bfry1981, YouTube)  January 6, 2024 (recorded December 29, 2023 intro/conclusion recorded January 5, 2024); see Brian’s other coverage the…

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The Real Context News Podcast #10: Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky on Israel’s 2 Wars: One vs. Hamas & One vs. Netanyahu

By Brian E. Frydenborg (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter @bfry1981, YouTube)  December 26, 2023 (recorded December 17, intro/conclusion recorded December 25); see Brian’s other coverage the…

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The Lord of the Rings, Israel, and Palestine: Reflections of the Gaza-Hamas War in Tolkien

From Jenin to Jerusalem, from Kibbutz Be’eri to Al-Shifa Hospital, how Tolkien’s tale evokes the horrors of war but also…

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Facts, Context Don’t Care About Your Narrative: Gaza Hospital Edition

I believed one thing at first. As more information came in, I let the facts and context guide me and…

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6 Steps for Israel to Take to Still Win, but with Far Better Outcomes for Itself and Gaza

A catastrophe at a hospital, regardless of its cause, highlights the need for careful, not rash action, on the part…

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The 9/11 and 10/7 Analogy for the Israel-Hamas War: Why It Both Does and Does Not Fit

An imperfect comparison is still an instructive one By Brian E. Frydenborg (Twitter @bfry1981, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack with exclusive informal content, my Linktree…

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If You Want to Support Israel, Call Out Its Apartheid in the West Bank

Siding with Israel when it is clearly wrong does not make you a friend, it makes you an enabler, and…

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The West’s Humanitarian Response to Ukraine Should Inspire Repetition, Not Envy

What a brief comparison between today’s aid work in Ukraine and efforts during Iraq’s Battle of Mosul against ISIS can…

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Wading into Israel and Palestine Quicksand, Biden Offers a Diplomacy 101 Class for All

Biden pretty much nailed it with his efforts to achieve a cease-fire, but his critics miss the big picture and…

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Death, Stupidity; Rinse, Repeat: What Is New, What Is Old in Latest Israeli-Palestinian Tragedy

A sick twist in the current cycle of violence stems from the natural outcomes of the repeated past cycles of…

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The Iran Natanz Attack Sorta Happened in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (and in a way instructive for us all!)

Two Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes with surprising resonance for the Middle East and the conflict involving Iran, Israel,…

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Iran, America, Poor Leadership, and the Thucydides Trap

Rather than fear, terrible decisions made in arrogance and without reflection may have made war inevitable By Brian E. Frydenborg…

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Bibi’s Trump Show: How Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Wins by Imitating the Donald

As Israel votes today, it’s time to pause and ponder just how bad a sign Netanyahu’s aping of Trump is…

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Much Ado About Omar: What Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s Fiercest Critics and Most Ardent Defenders Miss & How to Overcome the Toxic Discourse Surrounding Her

After the freshman representative’s controversial remarks and the ensuing firestorm over Israel, anti-Semitism, and other forms of bigotry, there is…

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