Dr. Tova C. Norlén

Professor of Counterterrorism and International Security, @Marshall_Center; Research: radicalism & extremism; conflict; MENA & US. All views my own.

[francesco strazzari - @zaz.bsky.social @franxstrax]

the richest man on Earth, ready for key role in US govt, backs far-right German party in plain sight, with an eye to destroying European Union. Expected to become a (China-like) integrated platform for daily sharing and transactions, X is part of the plan. Time to leave it

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Israel has no more excuses for entering Syria, rebel leader Julani says https://t.co/B58T0NLXzq

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Israeli Generals, Low on Munitions, Want a Truce in Gaza. #hezballah clearly states that they will end their attacks on the north once there is a cease fire in #Gaza. #IDF Generals say victory over #Hamas is not possible. Now is the time to try. https://t.co/z0XidLp0hF

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Does anyone know what the #iranian President was so close to the Azeri border? Azerbaijan and Iran are not best friends…. And what happened to the other two helicopters and who was in them? #Raisi

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

@KatieSpencey I’m my previous position it was commonplace for emails to be addressed to “Dear Gentlemen and Tova”.

[Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib @afalkhatib]

Gazans in the north, center, and southern parts of the coastal enclave are cursing out Hamas and its criminal “resistance,” specifically how the group’s fighters launch useless rockets or “tubes / mawaseer” & mortar rounds from the middle of tents, residential neighborhoods, and civilian areas. People are furious at how Hamas reconstitutes in regions vacated by Israeli ground troops, as is the case in Jabalia & northern Gaza, and conducts activities that bring the IDF back in, causing further bombardment, death, destruction, and displacement. Some civilians who didn't flee northern Gaza over the past seven months are now forced to do so as a result of Hamas's insistence on using civilians as human shields and conducting worthless attacks amidst the population. Gazans call these horrendous, criminal, reckless, and damaging actions and activities acts of treason and betrayal of the civilian population by a ruthless terror organization that has no regard for its people's safety and survival. I challenge any “pro-Palestine” activist who’s cheering on Hamas’s “resistance” in the Western world to face those Gazans who are being annihilated and facing unimaginable suffering, being stuck between the Islamist group's ruthlessness and a ferocious Israeli war machine. Down with Hamas and any ignorant fool that cheers on this death cult, which caused a second Nakba to the Palestinian people in Gaza and is determined to get most of the enclave’s residents killed and harmed by its sick strategies and futile armed resistance project and narrative.

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

If you don’t understand how close we might be to a total catastrophe and Armageddon just by these kooks playing high priests, you need to do some reading: Activists arrested trying to sacrifice goats hail Ben-Gvir's illegal efforts to free them… https://t.co/Le9OvpCai9.

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

It may sound trivial and cute but it is absolutely terrifying how close these kooks are in setting off an even more acute crisis in the Middle East: Police arrests multiple people on suspicion of planning Passover Sacrifices in Jerusalem https://t.co/q7eFwbdvhn #mena #extremism

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Given possible future scenarios this is important

[Tal Hagin @talhagin]

Over the past 12 hours, numerous activists, journalists, news channels, organizations, and government officials have spread a plethora of misinformation.
This thread will cover all of the misinformation I personally verified.

Overview of the misinformation spread:

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

@TheUCS473 @TamirSinai Wow looking forward!

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Using Palestinian “clans” went so well last time they tried in the 1970’s. I bet nobody remembers that now: #israel #gaza
IDF testing how Palestinian clans could control Gaza's civilian affairs https://t.co/dHdy30ANnf

[Open Source Intel @Osint613]

#Breaking: U.S. Officials confirm a ballistic missile attack near the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Northern Iraq, was directly launched by the IRGC from Iranian territory.

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Thank you for this really great read on the diversity of thought and political ideologies within Zionism and the misunderstanding among most Palestinians. Both sides fail to see the diversity of thought and ideology among the perceived enemy.

[Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib @afalkhatib]

What about Zionism? Most Palestinians believe that their traumatic lived experience is the direct result of Zionism & the Zionist project. My grandparents were pushed out of their homes in 1948, and I very much carry a generational trauma from their displacement. However, so many Palestinians & their allies still don't truly grasp the vast diversity of Zionism as an ideology & what it actually means to various Jewish & Israeli audiences. Zionists are not monolithic and come in all sorts of political, religious, social, and national orientations and tendencies. It’s hard to capture the nuances and intricacies of this topic in brief words on Twitter, but my main thoughts are:

1. The idea that the pro-Palestine cause can only be advanced by aligning with “anti-Zionist” Jews is inaccurate & and outright wrong and detrimental. Zionists are an inevitable part of the solution.

2. A Zionist doesn’t by default mean “anti-Palestinian” or anti just peace & coexistence with Palestinians. I understand why so many would think otherwise, but we need a different framework for working with Zionists and their beliefs to move forward and build a different future.

3. So many of the early Zionists were very left-leaning, pro-coexistence people who wanted to live side-by-side with the indigenous Palestinian population. And yes, many were militant from the get-go or became militant after skirmishes and clashes with Palestinian revolutionaries (right or wrong, but that’s what happened). The idea here is that Zionism is a diverse movement that was not just a bunch of angry or hateful European Jews who were seeking the displacement of Palestinians. There were also numerous Arab Jews who adopted Zionist ideologies because they, too (like many Muslims in the Middle East/ consider the Caliphates & their conquests), longed for a safe place that could unify them with their brethren.

4. Because of the thousands of years of diaspora & oppression, Zionism became an appealing ideology to so many Jews who were longing for a sense of belonging and the right to self-determination. I understand why so many Palestinians feel it's unfair for Jewish self-determination & liberation to come at their expense. But it’s important to understand this point to grasp why Zionism became a dominant theme within mainstream Judaism.

5. A free and prosperous Palestinian state will not come about from the “eradication” of Zionism, and the ideology is here to stay. Before you attack me as a “Zionist apologist," please understand that my motivation is for us to find a way to move forward & affect the trajectory of this horrendous and bloody conflict.

6. It is not inherently antisemitic to criticize Zionism, which is a multi-faceted ideology that should not be immune to critique & scrutiny. However, and especially in recent times, anti-Zionism critiques can often veer over to antisemitic tropes, stereotypes, and classically hateful sentiments that cross the line from anti-Israel/anti-Zionist activism to antisemitism. This has been especially disturbing to observe since the horrendous events of October 7th.

The Palestinian people have legitimate grievances that are worthy of a just resolution. The occupation of the West Bank cannot go on forever if Israel is to have a secure future as a Jewish state. The despicable calls for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s population by high-ranking Israeli officials are immoral, terrible, problematic and must be confronted.

Nevertheless, reductionist, simplistic slogans and rhetoric that pins all the ills, problems, issues, and current challenges experienced by Palestinians on Zionists and Zionism will neither advance the Palestinian cause nor will they help in understanding and working with Israelis and Jews for whom Israel means so much. Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are going anywhere – I'm not a Zionist. Still, I know that for peace to have any chance of succeeding, I have to work with Zionists and stop the endless cycle of demonization and dehumanization.

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Someone asked me about the “from
The River to the sea concept and here is an interesting perspective.

[Dahlia Scheindlin @dahliasc]

FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA: The same slogan, translated into #Israeli, from my private collection (spoiler: the hypocrisy, &my collection project, began well before Oct. 7). Start with weather, something that happens every day. Here's Ynet, 12 May, 2023. Keep reading.

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Super important thread. If we don’t recognize the humanity of ordinary #gazans that make them susceptible to radicalization we will not be able to prevent the monstrosity of #hamas or similar groups in future. Simply: #Israel can’t offer Gazans hope without a political solution.

[Not by might @lobechayil]

Hi David. I spent just under a year of my life serving as a soldier at the Erez Crossing. I think there are a few points from your thread here that it’s worth clarifying:
🧵

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

Not too many are thinking hard yet about future options for #Gaza and how to rule ones #Hamas is gone so I appreciate @DovWaxman’s long analysis.

[Dov Waxman @DovWaxman]

A🧵 on the need for a #CeasefireNOW in #Gaza and on what to do about the very real problem of #Hamas:

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

I wonder…What purpose does it serve to be self-critical and be honest about missteps rather than lie or use propaganda and lies to misinform the outside world? Best choice if #IDF wants to be set apart from enemy. #israel #gaza https://t.co/Vdp6B4emeZ

[Amy Diehl, Ph.D. @amydiehl]

When female Israeli intelligence officers & spotters monitoring the Gaza border warned male superiors about forthcoming Hamas attacks, their concerns were brushed off & labeled "imaginary." If the men had listened, the Middle East might not be at war today.https://t.co/YJgt9WHhUj

[Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll @skjask]

IDF Chief of Staff: We don't shoot people who are surrendering. We don't shoot people who have their hands up. Take 2 seconds and investigate what is happening...and if they are Gazans and they want to surrender, do we shoot them? Absolutely not. That's not the IDF

[Dr. Tova C. Norlén @tovact]

@RnaudBertrand Great reflections and analysis @RnaudBertrand