Matthew's Notebook

Home
Archive
About

November 2024

'Thugs, bandits, and pirates'
Turkish-backed rebel factions in Syria have a sordid history of gangsterism. To the extent that they're not in control of the current rebellion, Syrians…
 • 
Matthew Petti
International law is real
The Hague's arrest warrant against Israeli leaders seemed to have had effects on the ground in Lebanon.
 • 
Matthew Petti
Palestinian nationalism could have existed without Israel
Even many critics of Israel can't fully grasp that Palestinians are not just a foil in someone else's story.
 • 
Matthew Petti

October 2024

Yes, foreign backing did hurt the Iranian opposition
The Israeli attacks on Tehran have revealed how foreign patronage put factions of the Iranian opposition in a toxic, compromising position.
 • 
Matthew Petti
Does the Biden admin really want to end the war?
A response to Philippe Lemoine's essay.
 • 
Matthew Petti
When prophecy (about terrorism) fails
A year ago today, American media and politicians predicted a "Day of Jihad." It didn't happen — but it did incite anti-Palestinian violence.
 • 
Matthew Petti
The 'Iron Wall' faces the wrong way
Revisionist Zionism suffers from a catastrophic success. Its godfather, Zeev Jabotinsky, would not be happy.
 • 
Matthew Petti
'To the last Cambodian'
There is an uncanny recurrence of the Vietnam War in the Middle East.
 • 
Matthew Petti

September 2024

© 2025 Matthew Petti
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture