| |  | | | Recent Developments Beyond Iran By Winfield Myers ● Mar 22, 2026 Smart Brevity® count: 7 mins...1891 words With the war in Iran dominating our coverage since February 28, this special issue of the MEF Dispatch is devoted to recent developments beyond the war. Authors featured include Dexter Van Zile, Potkin Azarmehr, Amine Ayoub, Giulio Meotti, Aaron J. Shuster, and Jose Lev Alvarez Gomez, among others. We will return to providing you with the latest analyses of the war in our next issue. | | Dearborn Leaders Share Responsibility for Attack on Nearby Synagogue By: Dexter Van Zile Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, is under fire as anti-Israel rhetoric linked to his leadership incites violence against Jews. Condemnation after synagogue attack: Following an attempted massacre at a Jewish kindergarten in West Bloomfield by Ayman Ghazali, a resident of Dearborn Heights, Hammoud condemned the violence. Yet, his past comments against Israel cast doubts on his sincerity. Local leaders fuel division: Leaders like Osama Siblani, publisher of the anti-Israel publication Arab American News, openly support Hezbollah, perpetuating narratives that vilify Israel and defend extremist actions. Community's persistent tension: Dearborn's environment, with events like ArabCon and leaders refusing to condemn terrorism, fosters an unsafe climate for Jews. To read the full article, click here. | | Islamists in U.K. Mourn Death of Iranian Supreme Leader By: Potkin Azarmehr and Dexter Van Zile Following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Shi'a institutions across the U.K. held mourning ceremonies, which caught the attention of the U.K. Charity Commission. Islamic Center of England's involvement: Despite downplaying their role, the Islamic Center in Maida Vale is under investigation for unauthorized gatherings linked to Khamenei's death. Manchester Islamic Institute's stance: The Manchester Islamic Institute distanced itself from political matters, asserting no formal organization of the Khamenei vigil, yet maintained communication with law enforcement. To read the full article, click here. | | Barcelona City Council Backs Strict Ramadan Ban on Music, Dance in Schools By: Jules Gomes The Barcelona City Council's directive to suspend music and dance for Muslim students during Ramadan has ignited criticism for endorsing an extremist interpretation of Islamic texts. Empowering extremism: The council's recommendations mimic Taliban-like values, according to critics, who argue that such moves reinforce extremist ideologies within European society. Islamist influence on administration: Catalonia, a Salafi stronghold, faces scrutiny as ties between local Islamic institutions and extremist ideologies become apparent. To read the full article, click here. | | Why Europeans Dread Standing Up to the Mullahs By: Giulio Meotti Senator Lindsey Graham criticized Western Europe's lack of resolve in confronting threats, highlighting their passive stance even when danger looms large. Apathy over action: Despite escalating tensions, European leaders like Spanish PM Sánchez reject U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, siding cautiously with Iran. Internal fears over external threats: European reluctance to engage militarily stems from fears of domestic terrorism, with historical attacks by Iranian agents still casting long shadows. To read the full article, click here. | | The Primary Cause of the West's Crisis Is Demography By: Giulio Meotti Recent church fires in the U.K. and Germany raise questions about the frequency and nature of attacks on Christian religious sites. Pattern of attacks: With over 3,200 criminal attacks on U.K. churches between 2022 and 2024, a disturbing trend emerges, echoing broader societal tensions. European geopolitical fears: Amidst global conflicts, European leaders like PM Starmer face internal pressures, fearing domestic unrest tied to international actions. To read the full article, click here. | | Israel's Offshore Gas and the New Maritime Security Frontier By: Umud Shokri Israel's offshore gas platforms, key to its energy security, are now high-risk targets amid rising tensions with Iran. Strategic importance of Tamar and Leviathan: These fields, crucial for domestic use and exports, are protected by Israel's advanced naval defenses, yet remain vulnerable to regional threats. Maritime security challenges: Protecting these platforms demands enhanced naval defenses and stronger regional partnerships, particularly as geopolitical tensions escalate. To read the full article, click here. | | Israel's Land Registry Drive in the West Bank Prevents a Security Vacuum By: Aaron J. Shuster For the first time since 1967, Israel moves to begin systematic land registration in Area C of the West Bank, sparking controversy. Legal framework vs. annexation fears: Supporters see this as an overdue administrative reform, while critics argue it quietly annexes territory, altering the negotiation landscape. Shift in Israeli policy post-Gaza: Following the October 2023 attacks, Israel prioritizes security control over territorial concessions, using land registration to consolidate governance. To read the full article, click here. | | The Isaac Accords Herald Argentina's Strategic Realignment Toward Israel By: Jose Lev Alvarez Gomez In a strategic shift, Argentina under President Javier Milei aligns with Israel, marking a departure from neutrality to counter Iranian influence in Latin America. Isaac Accords framework: This move reflects a containment strategy against Iran's expanding networks, leveraging Israel's advanced security technologies. Regional implications: Argentina's alignment with Israel signals a proactive stance, reshaping regional dynamics and countering entrenched Iranian and Chinese influences. To read the full article, click here. | | Leverage Morocco as Spain Drift Makes Madrid an Unreliable Partner By: Jose Lev Alvarez Gomez Spain's foreign policy shift towards Chinese procurement and away from Western defense systems creates a strategic paradox ripe for U.S. exploitation. Morocco's strategic leverage: While Spain embargoes Israeli systems, Morocco strengthens its military with the very technologies Spain rejected, enhancing capabilities along Spain's southern flank. Geopolitical implications: Washington can exploit this shift by supporting Morocco's defense growth, indirectly pressuring Spain to recalibrate its strategic stance. To read the full article, click here. | | Polisario's Last Gasp: Algeria's Iranian Ally Is Gone By: Amine Ayoub The collapse of Iran's influence is accelerating the decline of the Polisario Front, a proxy militia destabilizing North Africa. Strategic pivot post-Iran: With Iran's regime weakened, the supply chain supporting proxy conflicts like the Polisario is disrupted, leaving the group isolated. Morocco's ascent and U.S. strategy: Morocco's alignment with the Abraham Accords and U.S. recognition bolsters its position, while the Polisario's designation as a terrorist group gains momentum. To read the full article, click here. | | Algeria's 'Guillotine of Citizenship': The Anatomy of a Paranoid Regime By: Amine Ayoub Algeria has enacted amendments to its Nationality Law, using citizenship as a tool to silence dissent and extend authoritarian control. Weaponizing citizenship: The new law allows the state to strip citizenship based on broad definitions, targeting dissidents and the diaspora. Political suppression tactics: Parallel moves in parliament aim to suffocate political life, imposing restrictions on party funding and activities. To read the full article, click here. | | Addis Ababa at the Center of a Red Sea Power Shift By: Siyan Madey Addis Ababa emerges as a strategic focal point in the Red Sea security contest, driven by geopolitical recalibrations involving major regional powers. Evolving alliances: Ethiopia's centrality is shaped by its geographic and demographic significance, drawing attention from Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Implications for regional order: The contest between pro-Somaliland recognition and territorial integrity advocates highlights Ethiopia's swing state potential. To read the full article, click here. | | What Do U.S. Sanctions on the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood Mean? By: Fernando Carvajal The Trump administration has designated Sudan's Muslim Brotherhood as a global terrorist organization, linking it to Iranian networks amid escalating regional tensions. Strategic implications for Sudan: Sanctions aim to pressure Sudan's leadership to accept peace efforts, while highlighting their ties to extremist factions. Regional dynamics and U.S. strategy: The designation underscores the U.S. commitment to countering the Muslim Brotherhood's influence across the Middle East and North Africa. To read the full article, click here. | | Turkey Admits Military Support of Syria's New Islamist Rulers While Refusing to Pull Troops From Iraq, Syria By: Abdullah Bozkurt Turkey has formally acknowledged military support for Syria's new Islamist rulers while maintaining its entrenched military presence in northern Iraq and Syria. Military entrenchment: Defense Minister Yaşar Güler confirms Turkey's indefinite military footprint under the guise of counterterrorism, with no plans for withdrawal. Support for Syrian Islamist administration: Turkey openly backs Damascus's military campaign against the SDF, aligning with Syria's new rulers and complicating regional dynamics. To read the full article, click here. | | Is Pakistan Facing a Proxy Crisis in Afghanistan? By: Mohammad Taha Ali Pakistan's decades-long patron-proxy model with the Taliban faces a legitimacy crisis as the Taliban asserts sovereignty over Afghanistan. Shift in power dynamics: The Taliban's control over Afghanistan challenges Pakistan's previous influence, leading to direct confrontations and a reevaluation of strategic depth. Competing Islamic narratives: Both sides struggle with Islamic governance legitimacy, with Pakistan's military actions risking its religious credibility while bolstering Taliban's resistance narrative. To read the full article, click here. | | We hope you enjoyed this coverage of issues beyond Iran enlightening. If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend. We invite you to use the comments feature to let us know your thoughts on the Dispatch and the issues we cover. Sincerely, Winfield Myers Managing Editor, Middle East Forum Director, Campus Watch | | | | Was this edition useful?    Your email will be recorded and shared with the sender |       MEF, an activist think tank, deals with the Middle East, Islamism, U.S. foreign policy, and related topics, urging bold measures to protect Americans and their allies. Pursuing its goals via intellectual and operational means, the Forum recurrently has policy ideas adopted by the U.S. government.
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