“The State Department worries that designating the Muslim Brotherhood in its entirety would force subsequent action against both allies, perhaps even forcing the designation of Qatar and Turkey as state sponsors of terrorism. Many universities and think tanks oppose such a broad Muslim Brotherhood designation because they fear the end of the cash they receive.” — Michael Rubin
SHABBAT READING:
Zelophehad’s Daughters Challenge the Law and Moses is Speechless: Prof. Nehama Aschkenasy, The Torah.com, July 31, 2024 — Biblical narrative is male intoned; written by men, it addresses the community through its males and chronicles mostly male speech. It is assumed that women are represented by male discourse, but the female universe is mostly mute. If women were discouraged from expressing themselves, or if their voice was muffled, then by necessity their language skills would not develop as well as men’s did. And yet it appears that verbal dexterity and linguistic creativity characterize many female protagonists in the Bible when they take center stage.
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Why Are the Houthis Stepping Up Attacks on Israeli-Linked Ships Now?: Alestikal.net, July 23, 2025
How to Bring Peace to Yemen? Start by Blacklisting the Islah Party: Michael Rubin, National Security Journal, July 8, 2025
A Pact Between Al-Shabab and the Houthis Threatens Red Sea Shipping: Sammar Khader, New Lines Magazine, July 1, 2025
How Bangladeshi Workers are Powering Global Jihad: Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, Gatestone, July 25, 2025
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FOR FURTHER REFERENCE:
Forecasting the Fifth Wave: Emerging Terrorist Threats in a Changing World: Mahmut Cengiz, Small War Journal, July 25, 2025 — The international defense community consistently struggles to predict the changing landscape of global terrorism. Counterterrorism practitioners have frequently been reactive rather than proactive, while the academic community has faced challenges in developing models that reflect terrorism’s complex and dynamic nature.
As Israel Strikes Yemen, Investigation Reveals UN Funding Houthis’ Massive Russian Oil Tanker: Oded Yaron, Haaretz, July 9, 2025 — Amid the ongoing exchange of fire between Israel and the Houthis – marked by ballistic missiles from Yemen and Israeli airstrikes on Red Sea ports – a surprising detail has come to light: the Houthis are operating a massive oil tanker that was purchased and is maintained with funding from the United Nations.
Saudi Ambivalence to Houthis Encourages Terrorism: Michael Rubin, Restoring America, July 25, 2025 — When the war on the Houthis erupted, Saudi Arabia was its front line. The United States saw Saudi Arabia as its ally. Even President Barack Obama supported Saudi efforts, providing U.S. intelligence and aerial refueling to support Saudi Arabia’s bombing campaign.
To Fight the Houthis, Work with the South Yemen and Somaliland Coast Guards: Michael Rubin, Middle East Forum, July 13, 2025 — Ask any diplomat and he or she will tell you that the purpose of diplomacy is to save lives. In Yemen and Somalia, though, the State Department’s policies are getting hundreds of people killed just so U.S. diplomats can promote the niceties that the two countries are unified and should remain so.
Israel ‘Giving Weapons to ISIS-Linked Clans’ to Fight Hamas in Gaza: Jacob Jaffa, The Jewish Chronicle, June 5, 2025 — Israel is reportedly transferring weapons to “ISIS-linked” militia clans in Gaza to assist in the fight against Hamas.