מזרחן, פרשן ומומחה בסוריה, עיראק, קבוצות אסלאמיות רדיקליות וכורדיסטן
ד"ר ג'ונתן ספייר הוא אחד המומחים המערביים\הישראליים המעטים אשר סיירו בצורה מקיפה בסוריה, עיראק וכורדיסטן תוך כדי הקונפליקטים בשנים האחרונות במדינות אלה. מחברם של הספרים Days of the Fall: A Reporter’s Journey in the Syria and Iraq Wars (Routledge, 2017) ו-The Transforming Fire: the Rise of the Israel-Islamist Conflict (Continuum, 2010). הוא ספייר כותב באופן קבוע בכתב העת היוקרתי Jane's Intelligence Review וכן מפרסם מאמרים בכתבי עת הכוללים את Middle East Quarterly, Foreign Policy וכן פרשנויות בעיתונים Times (הלונדוני)Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Haaretz, Atlantic, Australian, National Post, Globe and Mail, Jerusalem Report, Jerusalem Post. כמו כן הוא מופיע כמומחה לענייני המזה"ת בערוצי טלוויזיה שונים כגון CNN, al-Jazeera, Fox, BBC, Sky ואחרים. בעל תואר דוקטור ביחסים בינלאומיים מ-London School of Economics ותואר שני במזרחנות מ-School of Oriental and African Studies בלונדון. משמש גם כעמית מחקר ב-Middle East Forum בארה"ב.
A moribund terrorist group, the PFLP, is experiencing a revival and launching terror attacks, with help from Iran.
There is a discrepancy between the stated goal – the expulsion of Iran from Syria – and the means being employed by Israel to achieve it.
The virus has no political preferences, and its generalized assault has led to cooperation in some arenas between bitter rivals.
The ‘ghost caliphate’ – Sunni Arab insurgency – is likely to persist in the remote, poor and sparsely governed areas of Syria and Iraq.
Only an integrated political, military and economic strategy targeting the Iranian system in all its aspects, with a long-term commitment to local allies and the mission, can succeed.
A key aspect of the ongoing political crisis in Iraq is the anger directed at foreign meddling, and specifically, at the role played by Iran and its proxies. The IRGC Qods Force has penetrated deep into Iraqi power structures over the last 15 years. Weakening and possibly reducing this Iranian grip, through an appeal to Iraqi nationalism, will not solve Iraq's profound problems. Among other challenges, the Islamic State still has influence in some Sunni areas. Nevertheless, countering Iran's power is still an achievable goal, worth pursuing.
The Iranian regime’s response to the coronavirus crisis has been erratic and flailing.
Russia’s desire to woo Turkey from the West likely to prevent all-out war.
Trump’s peace plan calls attention to the fact that the Arab bloc that championed the Palestinian cause has collapsed.
New joint ventures hint at ‘burgeoning relationship’ between Israel and India.
Dr. Jonathan Spyer: No other burgeoning relationship, whether Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore or Japan, has the dimensions, depth and shared interests as India does for Israel.
Behind Enemy Lines: Iran, Hezbollah and ongoing, armed resistance to Syria’s regime merge to create constant chaos.
Despite Syrian-Turkish clashes this week, Moscow is set to remain the key arbiter in Syria.
