Steffen Gassel
@steffengassel
Diplomatic correspondent @sternde magazine of Germany. @SOAS @UiB @nannenschule, usual caveats
Tallinn/Estonia earlier this evening. Rain? What rain? 10K+ on stage at Laulupidu (Tallinn Song Festival) for opening choral "Dawn" (conductor: Raul Talmar). Amazing atmosphere. Soundtrack of our time this, too. 🫶🇪🇪
My parents were murdered on October 7th, and if anyone is slapping us in the face, it's people like you, who for the past 20 years have failed to prevent violence and bloodshed in Israel-Palestine, whilst making inflammatory remarks. Your administration could stop the war…
The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.
‘There is no fire in hell,’ he reported. ‘Everyone who goes there brings their own fire, and their own pain,from this world.’ William Dalrymple Nine Lives
Schutzgeld
The EU’s acceptance of Japan-style 15 percent tariffs—and its decision not to use tariffs or anti-coercion instruments as a retaliatory measure—says less about the bloc’s economic strength relative to the U.S. and more about its reliance on the U.S. as a net security provider.
This as much as anything (or maybe more) will mark an end-of-an-era moment for many in Lebanon and the entire Arab world.
The EU’s acceptance of Japan-style 15 percent tariffs—and its decision not to use tariffs or anti-coercion instruments as a retaliatory measure—says less about the bloc’s economic strength relative to the U.S. and more about its reliance on the U.S. as a net security provider.
Noch ein Grund, Estland zu lieben🔽
🦔 #Tallinn has opened hedgehog drinking stations across the city to help our small urban neighbours stay hydrated! You’ll find them in parks, gardens and near kindergartens. If you spot a bowl, make sure it has water – every drop helps urban wildlife thrive.
Eine Stimme aus Gaza 🔽
We no longer have the strength to die for someone else’s ambitions. And that, perhaps, is our last act of dignity. To die for truth is sacred. But to die for slogans, empty and ravenous slogans, is hell with a flag. Two months ago, we ran. But how does one describe the act of…
Ja, es ist zunächst nur Symbolpolitik, was Macron da betreibt. Aber manchmal kommt es eben auch darauf an, das richtige Symbol zu setzen. Warum die Anerkennung eines Staates Palästina richtig ist und Deutschland folgen sollte: sz.de/li.3289375
„In recent days, I operated on two women who were shot by quadcopters while sheltering in their tents (…), according to the people who brought them in. One was breastfeeding her child when she was hit; the second was pregnant.“ @_FriedrichMerz theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Was schwächt Europa mehr? Dass Macron - nach mehrfacher Rücksicht auf Merz in Sachen Gaza nun Anerkennung ankündigt (sicher abgestimmt mit zB den Saudis)? Oder dass erst Scholz & jetzt Merz sich darum drücken, so angemessen auf Israels Barbarei zu reagieren wie auf die der Hamas?
Macrons Palästina-Vorstoß klingt gut – schwächt aber leider Europa. stern.de/politik/deutsc…
Es ist tragisch, wie sich Europa in Sachen #Gaza als ernst zu nehmender Akteur selbst aus dem Spiel nimmt. Wie will man Netanjahu beeindrucken, wenn nicht mal Berlin und Paris an einem Strang ziehen?
"Israelischer Stolz 2025" – so bitter kommentiert Yehuda Shaul, israelischer Kriegsveteran, Friedensaktivist und Mitgründer von "Breaking the Silence", das Titelbild der französischen Libération. #Gaza
If Israel breaks the new Syria, it will own it. Good luck with that. It is not Gaza and it is not southern Lebanon. It will be a monumental and historical mistake.
A statement just made by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the attacks by “the Israeli entity” & Israel-backed Druze rebels in Sweida. “You may be able to start a war but it’s not easy to control its consequences.” “We won’t give them a chance to start a war in our land.”
Und was ist mit dem Osten, Herr @bundeskanzler? Kurz und schmerzhaft von @Martin_Debes stern.de/politik/deutsc…
The region will have to contend with raw unchecked Israeli power. This dramatic footage from the heart of Damascus captures it best. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others watching, drawing lessons, repositioning. 👀
To the best of my recollection, the last time the Israeli Air Force attacked the Syrian army’s General Staff compound was during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Today's double strike was particularly powerful. With all due respect to the Druze community in Israel, which is outraged…
While other #Druze gunmen have been involved, the core resistance to gov't authority is Hikmat al-Hijri's "#Suwayda Military Council", which was established 24hrs after #Assad's fall & whose leadership contains 3 former #Assad regime generals. The SMC is #Israel's partner force.
Netanyahu nimmt sich ein Beispiel an Putin. Mittelfinger für Trump.
Netanjahu ignoriert Staatsgrenzen und jede nationale Souveränität: Die israelische Armee hat vor wenigen Minuten den Präsidentenpalast von Ahmed al-Scharaa in Damaskus angegriffen. Der syrische Interimspräsident blieb offenbar unverletzt und kündigte kurz darauf eine Rede an.
[1] Israeli public figures in a letter to the Irish Parliament in support of the proposed legislation to ban trade with settlements and urge other European states to follow suit. x.com/israelpolicy/s…
One year ago, the ICJ determined Israel's presence in oPt is unlawful and must cease immediately. Instead the Israeli government has escalated settlement expansion. Leaders of PWG joined this letter to the Irish Parliament in support of a ban on products from Israeli settlements
“They agreed [to] enrichment at less than 1%.” Secretary Antony Blinken reveals that before the Israeli-US strikes, Iran was prepared to come forward with a new deal Listen to the exclusive interview on Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files 🗂️ now on @globalplayer 🎧
Phantom orbit
Two Chinese satellites may have docked in geostationary orbit for a historic refuelling mission, an autonomous satellite servicing feat the United States has yet to achieve. scmp.com/news/china/sci…