While Barrack’s rejection of efforts to force democracy upon Middle Eastern countries drew praise, some Israelis bristled at what they claimed was the suggestion that their country is not a democracy, while other observers pushed back on the envoy’s assertion regarding regional monarchies and use of what one Palestinian digital media platform called “classic colonial rhetoric.” “The reality on the ground is the opposite of his claim: It is the absence of democratic rights, accountable governance, and inclusive federal structures that has fueled Syria’s fragmentation, empowered militias, and pushed communities toward separatism,” Syrian Kurdish journalist Ronahi Hasan said on social media. While nothing new in terms of US policy and practice in the region, the Trump administration’s recently published National Security Strategy prioritizes “flexible realism” over human rights and democracy and uses more candid language than past presidents have in explaining Washington’s support for repressive monarchs.
Author: Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams
Published at: 2025-12-08 23:17:35
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