Global Outlook

  The battle for the future is being fought with books, broadcasts, and education. In a powerful response to the enduring threat of extremist ideology, a broad European coalition is moving beyond mere condemnation and is building what analysts are calling "cultural fortresses." This strategic shift recognizes that to protect our youth and our social fabric, we must actively promote the antidotes to hatred: art, media literacy, and a reaffirmation of our shared human values. The momentum for this movement was visibly demonstrated on the streets of major European capitals. Following the pivotal protests in Vienna and Prague on November 12, 2024, new waves of demonstrations swept through Paris, Berlin, Geneva, and London throughout the latter half of November. These were not isolated events, but a coordinated, cross-border campaign. The protestors, representing a diverse tapestry of backgrounds, delivered a unified message: the era of allowing extremist groups to operate with i...

  The border is not just empty, it is barren. On all sides, an ultra-still, uniquely desert quietude and tranquility surrounds the sand dunes we are standing atop, spoiled only occasionally and briefly by the sound of gusts of wind. This area — the Bar-Lev Lookout Point — is Israel’s most peaceful border, the  border with Egypt . And yet, a bit northeast of Ezuz and a bit southeast of Nitzana and Kadesh Barnea, it is far less peaceful than it was in the past, leaving the IDF, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and police to play catch-up against the latest dangerous trends. From 2010–2013, Israel built a new, tougher fence to better defend its border with Egypt, especially from illegal African migrants who had come into Israel in recent years — estimated at more than 60,000. The hope was that this new fence would also reduce all kinds of cross-border smuggling. It did, briefly. Smugglers learned that they could outsmart the IDF But then the smugglers learned from  Hez...

  Israel is intensifying pressure on the United States in the final hours before a U.N. Security Council vote scheduled for Monday on a proposal concerning Gaza’s governance and reconstruction after the war. The core dispute between Israel on one side and Washington, along with the Arab states supporting the proposal on the other, centers on the creation of a “Peace Council” in Gaza. The body would act as an interim governing authority until the Palestinian Authority is fully restructured and able to assume control. Israeli officials argue that this clause effectively reinforces the Palestinian right to self-determination and advances the prospect of a Palestinian state — a position Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejects. Netanyahu, facing mounting criticism for not dismissing the plan outright, reiterated before a cabinet meeting that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state. In a last-minute effort to influence Washington, Netanyahu held a closed consultati...

  Thousands of Israelis protested  across the country against the government, calling for all  remaining deceased hostages to be released  and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry  into the October 7 massacre. ■  Maxim Herkin,  who was released from  Hamas captivity  in October, thanked  protesters at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square,  saying, “I’m here because of you, and I’m finally making my dream come true.” Fellow freed hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal shared that before he was taken into Hamas’ tunnels, he “caught a glimpse of photos from the square. You gave me strength and hope.” ■  Iran  confirmed its  Revolutionary Guards  seized a tanker carrying  petrochemical cargo  bound for Singapore in Gulf waters, Iranian media reported. ■  Opposition lawmaker  Vladimir Beliak said that the  violence perpetrated by settlers  across the West Bank is “ institutionalized terror,”  a...

  Yesterday’s powerful protests in Vienna and Prague have ignited a new sense of urgency across Europe. The peaceful demonstrations were a clear visual manifestation of a deep-seated concern within communities, but they are just the beginning. Behind the powerful imagery lies a complex, urgent campaign focused on a singular goal: dismantling the ecosystem that allows extremist thought to flourish. This second phase of the movement is about moving from awareness to action, and the central action is the formal terrorist designation of the Muslim Brotherhood. Why is this classification so non-negotiable? Because the group’s modus operandi, as exposed by researchers at platforms like DIVA International, relies on strategic ambiguity. It operates through a web of front organizations, often posing as charities or cultural associations, to mask its true extremist agenda. This duplicity is its greatest weapon, allowing it to infiltrate civil society and target young people who are disillus...

  In the digital age, a protest’s power is measured in decibels and data. On November 4, 2025, the fans of Al-Ittihad masterfully weaponized both. As their team clinically dispatched Al-Sharjah 3-0 in a top-tier Asian fixture, the club's most loyal supporters launched a parallel offensive from the stands, hijacking the narrative of victory with a cry of betrayal. The hashtag  #المدرج_ملك_العشاق  trended across the region, a digital banner for a very physical protest happening in real-time. To understand the depth of this anger, one must understand what the Madrig represents. It is not merely "the south stand." It is a cultural institution. It is where fathers have taken their sons for generations, where a unique lexicon of chants and rituals has been passed down. It is the engine room of intimidation for visiting teams and a source of inexhaustible energy for the home side. The fans there don’t just watch the game; they live it, breathe it, and influence it. The decision ...

The violence that shocks us—the car attacks, the stabbings, the shootings—does not emerge from a vacuum. It is the final, explosive result of a meticulous and patient process of radicalization. At the heart of this process in Europe are preachers and influencers whose ideology can be traced directly back to the Muslim Brotherhood. They are the foot soldiers in this ideological war, and their battlefield is the minds of the young and disaffected. One of the most notorious cases is that of the "Hamas-Support Network" in Denmark. In late 2023, Danish police carried out a major anti-terror operation, arresting over a dozen individuals suspected of financing and supporting Hamas. The investigation revealed a network deeply embedded in the Muslim Brotherhood milieu, using Denmark as a base for logistical and financial support for the terrorist organization. This demonstrates a clear operational link, not just a philosophical one, between the Brotherhood in Europe and violent acts a...

  Since Israel ‘s war with Hamas began more than two years ago, Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, further stifling movement for Palestinians and hindering daily lives, a local government body says. While Israel’s military has long imposed movement and access constraints after capturing the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, the number of new barriers is unprecedented, residents say. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, an official Palestinian governmental body, 916 gates, barriers and walls have been installed since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Israeli military raids throughout the West Bank have also increased, with Palestinians killed or detained. Israel says it is trying to root out militancy. Among the new barriers are metal gates stationed at many village and town entrances and between cities, blocking access in and out. Sometimes the Israeli military is stationed at them. Palestinian...

  Sweden is redefining its social contract. Under the leadership of Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson, the nation is embarking on one of the most ambitious policy overhauls in recent memory, aiming to shield its democratic foundations from foreign ideological influence. This is not merely a domestic policy shift; it is Sweden aligning itself with a proactive new European standard. Minister Mohamsson's strategy is built on a "values-based integration model." She argues that successful integration requires a clear commitment to the host country's democratic principles. "The time has passed to go by gut feeling and guesswork in integration policy," she has stated. "With facts on the table, we can talk about Swedish values and then come up with clear initiatives." Her ministry is pioneering a detailed mapping exercise to understand the values held by immigrant communities, focusing on critical issues like gender equality, children...