A New Moderate Era for Iran?

By Andrea

Iran has a new president: Masoud Pezeshkian, a willowed surgeon who promises to give the country a modern turn. He beat his hardline conservative opponent, Saeed Jalili, by securing 53,3% of the votes in the second round of the election.



General discontent amongst Iranian citizens has been obvious during the electoral process. During the first round of the election, the country saw its lowest voter turnout since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 (40%). In this second round, turnout went up to 50%, with more than 30 million votes counted. Despite this small increase, many Iranians still decided to boycott the vote since they doubted the possibility of real change, especially when the supreme leader strongly controls public policy.



Once again, the Guardian Council’s veto power had a pivotal impact on the elections. This body, made of clerics and jurists, removed 74 candidates (including several women) from the presidential race. All those candidates who do not prove enough loyalty to the regime seem to drop like flies.



The new president comes with big promises: he wishes to end Iran's isolation from the world, resume negotiations for the renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal, and lift internet restrictions. Moreover, he is critical of the morality police and vows to end the enforcement of mandatory hijab for women. While he might have some room for manoeuvre, there is no doubt he will face plenty of structural obstacles to push these ambitions forward.





Gaza Crisis Doesn’t Go on Holiday
By Andrea

Al-Mawasi, a village in Gaza, became the setting of one of the deadliest Israeli strikes of the war. The attack took place in an area near Khan Younis that the Israeli military had claimed to be a safe zone for civilians. The Israeli military claimed they were targeting top Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif, and his deputy Rafa Salama. The independent UN expert who monitors human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, expressed how, once again, Israel committed a massacre with the excuse of targeting Palestinian militants.



The Saturday morning carnage has overshadowed ceasefire negotiations. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday in the hope of finding ‘practical solutions’ to obtain a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.



Beneath the strikes, the UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza have also been flattened, which the head of the organisation has referred to as a “blatant disregard of international humanitarian law”. Moreover, the United Nations Environmental Programme has indicated in its latest report that it would take 15 years to clear the tons of rubble in Gaza.





Uncharted Alliances: Morocco's Controversial Defence Pact with Israel

By Valentina

In 2021 Rabat and Tel Aviv shook hands over a defence pactcovering intelligence, military industries, and procurement. Three years later the courtship continues, and Morocco can't seem to get enough of Israeli spyware. In a move that certainly screams “modern diplomacy”, Morocco is set to sign a staggering $1 billion defence deal with Israeli Aerospace Industries to acquire a spy satellite. This development is part of the ever-deepening bromance between Israel and Morocco, which began with the normalisation process in 2020 as a side hustle of the Abraham Accords.



Meanwhile, Morocco adopts a cautious stance on Israel’s behaviour over Gaza – limiting itself to condemning civilian targeting and calling for a ceasefire. It's clear King Mohammed VI has bigger fish to fry. Securing borders from terrorist threats and managing the refugee influx is high on the agenda. And of course, staying friendly with the US and Israel isn't just about defence; it's also about keeping the economic wheels greased.

In Morocco, pro-Palestine activists are demanding an “official explanation” for this $1 billion splurge on a spy satellite and those eyebrow-raising student and professional trips to Israel. Yes, 23 young Moroccan leaders, influencers, and professionals just had a cosy get-together in Israel to learn about tolerance through Holocaust education, courtesy of Sharaka. This might not sit well with the masses who are vocally opposing the rapprochement with Israel and calling for more robust support for Palestine. The wave of protests against King Mohammed VI’s diplomatic recognition of Israel is getting louder, with some pondering if Morocco's priorities are getting a bit too tangled in geopolitical webs. However, sooner or later, Mohammed VI will have to confront the will of the people and decide whether to sacrifice it, along with his image, or to downgrade – at least in the short term and for the sake of promoting peace – the country’s geopolitical and geoeconomic interests vis-à-vis the US and Israel.



The European Union's role – or lack thereof – in providing regional stability is also in question. Perhaps the EU should ponder if their conflict management, peacebuilding, and defence strategies in the MENA region are truly effective.





Sham Parliamentary Elections in Syria
By Hafssa

Package of irony. On July 15^th, Syria held parliamentary elections to determine who would lead the 250-seat People’s Assembly (Majlis al-Shaab in Arabic). In 70% of the country’s territory only – since northern Syria is divided between Kurdish rebels, Turkish forces, and non-state armed groups – voters cast their vote for handpicked candidates that reflect the will of the Baath Party, the one and only party that has dominated the parliament since 1973.



"Your vote is a responsibility. Give it to those who deserve it." This is the slogan that appeared behind Bashar al-Assad as he held a press conference on the ties between Damascus and Ankara. On that matter, the president conveyed that he would not accept Erdoğan's offer to shake hands as long as Türkiye maintains a military presence in Syria. But let’s keep that to the side. Assad is aware that the travesty of Syria’s ballot box is no longer a secret, and… he couldn’t care less. His eldest son Hafez Jr. made an appearance shaking hands and taking selfies with loyalists. Meanwhile in Daraa and Suwayda, a Druze-majority governorate that has been witnessing massive demonstrations over the past months, locals boycotted the elections, raising the revolution’s three-star flag.



Who said elections are useless? If assembly elections don't serve their intended purpose, they still help Assad amass legitimacy while adjusting his network. Indeed, a seat at the Majlis is a reward for loyalty, and war profiteers do not miss a chance to get more cash. Additionally, elections, albeit rigged, project the false image that war-torn Syria is a country of stability and rule of law. Finally, the legislative body might be useless in creating legislations, but not constitution amendments. Syrians remember how the Majlis reduced the candidacy age to allow young Bashar to ascend to power in 2000. So, what are the odds that it wouldn’t legalise the incumbent’s candidacy in 2028?





Now, a bit of culture...

In this section, we uncover some of the most listened and watched musicians, writers or YouTubers of the MENA or new publications, articles or books either from or on the region. If you have any suggestions, you’re always welcome to tell us via our email!



The quest for power. Despite witnessing the bloody aftermath of the Arab Spring and surviving a coup attempt, Erdoğan has managed to navigate adversity, climbing the ladder of power to become Türkiye’s longest-serving president. But how did he succeed? This is what Gönül Tol tells us in her book, Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria. Through the case of Syria, Tol explores how Erdoğan consolidated his rule by adapting, delivering, dividing and ruling. Erdoğan’s War narrates a president’s journey from reform to autocracy, and from democracy to nationalism. This book is particularly relevant for academics and students interested in Turkish politics.



Did you know that… the Palestinian Keffiyeh (also Kufiya) – the piece of fabric used in demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza – dates back to the 1930s? Initially, Palestinian farmers wore Keffiyeh in summer against the sun, but during the Arab Revolt (1936-39), Palestinian rebels would wear it to conceal their identity from the British. Over time, the garment would evolve into a symbol of freedom, independence, and resilience. Keffiyeh gained prominence during the First and the Second Intifada in 1987 and 2000. Today, Hirbawi is the only remaining Palestinian factory that still makes Keffiyeh. It’s located in Hebron, West Bank.



Dear Esters, thank you for subscribing and making it to the end. It has been such an amazing journey this year with InsideMENA, uncovering the latest facts and events from the Middle East and North Africa, and narrating about this wonderful region we have all fallen in love with.



The Observatory goes on holiday, and InsideMENA will resume in mid-September. We already know you’re gonna miss us soooo much, but please don’t panic and set your countdown: only 64 days to go before the next issue!