"Palestinians destroy myth of invincible Israeli army"--Abbas Juma, journalist
I'm honoured to share the following brief interview with esteemed journalist, Abbas Juma, also a political commentator and Middle East and Africa specialist. See full bio at bottom.
Follow his Telegram channel.
EKB: Your latest article outlines the history of Shiite Resistance movements in the Middle East and Iran's political, financial, logistical and moral support to many of them. It is imperative reading for anyone following current events in the Middle East.
When it comes to Palestine, many people have only heard of Hamas. But this is only one of many Resistance movements fighting against the Israeli occupation brutality. Please outline other key Palestinian Resistance movements.
AJ: If we're talking about the Resistance in Palestine, of course there's more than just Hamas. But Hamas is the largest organization. It is not only a military organization; it is also a political organization. It was created as a reaction to the occupation. Its leader was Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a religious and very educated man.
It should be mentioned that Hamas emerged as the Palestinian branch of an older and influential Islamist organization, the Muslim Brotherhood. That is why the leadership of Hamas sits in Qatar today. Also, Hamas was different from another Resistance group, the Palestine Liberation Organization. Many people did not like that the PLO was not religious enough. Some accused the PLO leadership of corruption. Hamas, on the other hand, prioritized Islam. The concept that victory comes from God is akin to Iran.
Together with Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also created in the late 1970s on the basis of the Muslim Brotherhood, resists Israel. Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad does not have broad political and economic ambitions.
There are also the Popular Resistance Committees (the military wing is the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). All these organizations are united in the "Joint Headquarters of Palestinian Resistance Groups". And all of them are engaged in armed struggle against Israel.
EKB: Many who were duped by Western & Gulf propaganda around Syria and President Assad unfortunately downplay, or aren't aware of, Syria's longstanding support to Palestinian civilians and Resistance. Please speak on this.
AJ: Syria has always been and remains at the forefront of the defense of the Palestinian people. Even after the betrayal by Hamas in 2012, Damascus has not turned its back on the Palestinians. I note that the rapprochement between Syria and Hamas 10 years after the war began was made possible by Iranian mediation. Assad publicly supported Palestine after October 7. His father supported Palestine too. Syria has always been a base for Resistance. It is not for nothing that Israel hits Iranian positions in Syria so often.
EKB: Hezbollah has been conducting operations against Israeli forces on the Israeli border, as you detailed on your Telegram channel, destroying hundreds of pieces of military equipment, 68 military vehicles, 38 command centers, 287 bunkers and fortifications, 2 Iron Dome platforms, and more.
Israel has been shelling southern Lebanese cities (including repeatedly firing White Phosphorous shells), killing and maiming civilians and journalists. What would it take to draw Hezbollah further into war with Israel?
AJ: To draw Hezbollah into a war with Israel will require a political decision. Technically, Hezbollah has everything ready. If Israel launches an assault on Lebanon or if Tehran decides it's time (after the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria), it will start.
EKB: Israel's recent bombing of Damascus, killing seven military advisors of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps(IRGC), was a criminal attack. But did it “hurt” Iran as Israel has claimed, or is this merely wishful thinking and propaganda from Israel?
AJ: No, it hasn't hurt Iran in any way, like the death of General Qassem Soleimani didn't. Iran has built its system in such a way that there are no irreplaceable parts. Israel knows that. Their objective is not to hurt Iran in the moment, but to draw Iran into a major war with the US.
EKB: The US claims it has nothing to do with the attack, but when the US funds Israel with over US $3 billion in direct foreign assistance annually and gives Israel free reign to bomb other nations, is the US absolved of responsibility of Israel's attack?
AJ: The US is directly responsible for what is happening. It is only because of Washington's financial and military support that Israel is able to continue the war with Palestine. It is only thanks to the US that Israel has not gotten into the situation that Russia has gotten into: No one has imposed sanctions against Israel; their athletes were not suspended from the Olympics; McDonalds didn't walk away from Israel. That is the double standard policy. Israel is a proxy for the US.
EKB: Palestinian Resistance have fought back with strength and tactics Israel didn't expect and cannot cope with, in spite of having superiority in terms of warplanes, tanks and weapons. What are some of the key achievements of Palestinian Resistance recently?
AJ: The main achievement of the Palestinians is the destruction of the myth of the invincibility of the Israeli army, as well as of the all-powerful Mossad. Israel's credibility was based on this myth for many years. Israelis were proud of their country and their authority. Today they don't trust authority, they now know that they will never be able to sleep well. This is the beginning of the end of Israel.
In addition, Israel has lost the information war and turned the whole world against it Neither the American media nor the loyalty of European politicians helped them. By its actions, Israel has also dealt a strong blow to the West. Now the West has no moral right to accuse Russia, Syria, Iran or China of anything.
EKB: Gaza has been utterly decimated by Israel bombardment, then its deliberate starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, in its overall campaign of genocide, while the Western leaders who accused Syria and Russia of fabricated crimes do nothing to stop Israel. In your opinion, what will stop Israel?
AJ: Israel will be stopped by only one thing - a bitter and terrible military defeat.
Bio: Abbas Juma is a prominent Russian international journalist and publicist specializing in political conflicts, information wars, and the history and politics of the Middle East. He has over 12 years of experience in journalism and has authored numerous articles, reports, and interviews that have appeared in major Russian publications.
He actively covered the fighting in Syria, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Ukraine, as well as the coup in Sudan and attempted coup in Turkey. He also covered all recent elections and referendums in Turkey.
Juma frequently works in Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq, and has an extensive network of sources around the world. He is a regular guest on almost all major federal talk shows in Russia.
He also writes Russian articles on Dzen.