The current protests are economic in nature, but build on discontent and cynicism with a monarchy that stifles debate while failing to deliver improving living standards.
Behind the former is the force that drives the current conflict: the not-so-hidden hand of Iran – and its exported violence.
Sunni Arab leaders now recognise that Iran’s aggression represents an existential threat to more than just the Jewish state.
It is poor foreign policy. It will damage Israel’s counter-terrorism efforts. And it’s flagrantly unacceptable to the Palestinians.
We are not just helping them – we are empowering them to help themselves. That transforms individual lives and helps the region to stabilise.
To advocate regime change without a plan for the future would be criminally negligent. What we can do is to influence, support and invest in the people of Syria.
I’m tired of being lectured by Labour politicians. When they were in government, around 800 refugees were resettled each year. We are doing five times that.
Unless we sort out the problems right now, then I fear it is a battle I will lose.
America, Egypt, Pakistan: former allies are finding reasons to distance themselves.
This is better way of dealing with both migration and the terror threat than the patchwork measures taken so far by the EU.
At last we could pass a decisive parliamentary vote for cooperative action in Syria, and now lead a reform agenda in the EU which could make way for two-tier membership.
So much of the present crisis – and of the intervening suffering – can be traced to our failure to move decisively against Assad two years ago.
There is much more to the country than the political controversies which are the focus of most reports.
Traditional secular nationalist-driven Palestinian terrorism has been taking on a more religiously motivated dimension in recent years.