Marc Martorell Junyent
@marcmartorell.bsky.social
Always reader, often researcher, sometimes writer. Focus on Europe-Middle East relations and German politics. Work featured at The New Arab, Jacobin, Inkstick, Stimson Center, Democracy in Exile, Informed Comment or Responsible Statecraft.
Pinned
What next for Germany's foreign policy in the Middle East?
Analysis: After recent elections, the next German government will be even closer to Israel, tougher towards Iran, and implement harsher immigration policies.
www.newarab.com
I discuss what is next for Germany's foreign policy in the Middle East after the February 23 elections. Via @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/analysis/wha...
Instead of improving the conditions for non-Ukrainian refugees to the level of their Ukrainian counterparts, Poland and Germany are downgrading the rights of both. My piece for Democracy in Exile. dawnmena.org/anti-migrant...
Anti-Migrant Sentiments in Central Europe Move Beyond Middle East Refugees
Across the Middle East and North Africa, 16.6 million people remain forcibly displaced or stateless. The minority that continues their journey to Europe in search of a better life suffers from an incr...
dawnmena.org
August 4, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Instead of improving the conditions for non-Ukrainian refugees to the level of their Ukrainian counterparts, Poland and Germany are downgrading the rights of both. My piece for Democracy in Exile. dawnmena.org/anti-migrant...
Instead of improving the conditions for non-Ukrainian refugees to the level of their Ukrainian counterparts, Poland and Germany are downgrading the rights of both. My piece for Democracy in Exile. dawnmena.org/anti-migrant...
Anti-Migrant Sentiments in Central Europe Move Beyond Middle East Refugees
Across the Middle East and North Africa, 16.6 million people remain forcibly displaced or stateless. The minority that continues their journey to Europe in search of a better life suffers from an incr...
dawnmena.org
July 31, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Instead of improving the conditions for non-Ukrainian refugees to the level of their Ukrainian counterparts, Poland and Germany are downgrading the rights of both. My piece for Democracy in Exile. dawnmena.org/anti-migrant...
"The deal marks Trump’s second humiliation of his European partners in two months, following a Nato summit at which allies yielded to his demands that they spend 5% of their economic output on defence", writes Paul Taylor. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The EU has capitulated to Trump. But even this doesn’t buy an end to the transatlantic trade war | Paul Taylor
The US president humiliated Ursula von der Leyen at his Scottish resort – but she still has no certainty on tariffs, says Paul Taylor of the European Policy Centre
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:33 AM
"The deal marks Trump’s second humiliation of his European partners in two months, following a Nato summit at which allies yielded to his demands that they spend 5% of their economic output on defence", writes Paul Taylor. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"AOC’s post highlighted a flawed logic that many American politicians continue to deploy: the idea that it is both moral and possible to distinguish between defensive and offensive weapons", writes Annelle Sheline. responsiblestatecraft.org/aoc-israel-g...
AOC wrong: More civilians die when we send Israel 'defensive weapons'
The progressive congresswoman deserves the heat she's getting for her vote against a bill that would've held back aid to Jerusalem
responsiblestatecraft.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM
"AOC’s post highlighted a flawed logic that many American politicians continue to deploy: the idea that it is both moral and possible to distinguish between defensive and offensive weapons", writes Annelle Sheline. responsiblestatecraft.org/aoc-israel-g...
"What shocked many was not just the content of the legislation but also the speed and manner in which it was pushed through: passed within a day, as an amendment hidden inside unrelated law enforcement reforms", writes Nataliya Gumenyuk. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Why are Ukrainians angry with Zelenskyy? Because even during wartime, some red lines must not be crossed | Nataliya Gumenyuk
A new law has caused uproar for a reason: it undermines the independence of anti-corruption bodies and is an affront to the people, says journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk
www.theguardian.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"What shocked many was not just the content of the legislation but also the speed and manner in which it was pushed through: passed within a day, as an amendment hidden inside unrelated law enforcement reforms", writes Nataliya Gumenyuk. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"America’s closest allies never wished to form an anti-China bloc before Trump took office. Now he’s offering most of them slimmer benefits at greater risk", writes Stephen Wertheim. www.ft.com/content/b324...
A new cold war with China won’t help the US
Framing Beijing as a mortal enemy will hamper US growth and reduce Washington’s global influence
www.ft.com
July 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"America’s closest allies never wished to form an anti-China bloc before Trump took office. Now he’s offering most of them slimmer benefits at greater risk", writes Stephen Wertheim. www.ft.com/content/b324...
I interviewed Aaron Magid to discuss his book "The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan". www.juancole.com/2025/07/amer...
The Most American King: Interview on Jordan with Aaron Magid
Interview with Aaron Magid, author of “The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan” – “King Abdullah is likely more beloved in Washington than inside Jordan” Magid, Aaron. “The Most American King: Abdu...
www.juancole.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I interviewed Aaron Magid to discuss his book "The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan". www.juancole.com/2025/07/amer...
"La distorsión de la realidad impuesta por Israel es tal que, hoy por hoy, a Europa parece resultarle difícil saber de qué se está discutiendo", escribe Luz Gómez. elpais.com/internaciona...
Europa y Palestina: era la hora de la verdad
La UE certifica su irrelevancia. O lo que es peor: su connivencia con el genocidio.
elpais.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:39 AM
"La distorsión de la realidad impuesta por Israel es tal que, hoy por hoy, a Europa parece resultarle difícil saber de qué se está discutiendo", escribe Luz Gómez. elpais.com/internaciona...
Reposted by Marc Martorell Junyent
🇩🇪Las devoluciones en caliente de solicitantes de asilo pasan a ser política oficial en Alemania.
El 68% de los alemanes expresa su deseo de acoger menos refugiados, y el 57% apoya las devoluciones en caliente en la frontera.
✍🏻 @marcmartorell.bsky.social
https://elsal.to/43244
El 68% de los alemanes expresa su deseo de acoger menos refugiados, y el 57% apoya las devoluciones en caliente en la frontera.
✍🏻 @marcmartorell.bsky.social
https://elsal.to/43244
July 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
🇩🇪Las devoluciones en caliente de solicitantes de asilo pasan a ser política oficial en Alemania.
El 68% de los alemanes expresa su deseo de acoger menos refugiados, y el 57% apoya las devoluciones en caliente en la frontera.
✍🏻 @marcmartorell.bsky.social
https://elsal.to/43244
El 68% de los alemanes expresa su deseo de acoger menos refugiados, y el 57% apoya las devoluciones en caliente en la frontera.
✍🏻 @marcmartorell.bsky.social
https://elsal.to/43244
"Rafah will change the face of the IDF, turning it into the guard corps of the world's biggest concentration camp", writes Zvi Bar'el. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
How might Israel go about planning the world's biggest concentration camp in Gaza | Opinion
***
www.haaretz.com
July 15, 2025 at 11:38 AM
"Rafah will change the face of the IDF, turning it into the guard corps of the world's biggest concentration camp", writes Zvi Bar'el. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
Las devoluciones en caliente de solicitantes de asilo, política oficial en Alemania desde la llegada de Merz a la cancillería. Mi artículo desde Freilassing, en la frontera con Austria. Via @elsaltodiario.com www.elsaltodiario.com/fronteras/al...
Las devoluciones en caliente de solicitantes de asilo pasan a ser política oficial en Alemania
La Alemania de Friedrich Merz consagra una política de mano dura y devolución en caliente de solicitantes de asilo que las ONG de apoyo a migrantes denuncian como ilegal.
www.elsaltodiario.com
July 15, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Las devoluciones en caliente de solicitantes de asilo, política oficial en Alemania desde la llegada de Merz a la cancillería. Mi artículo desde Freilassing, en la frontera con Austria. Via @elsaltodiario.com www.elsaltodiario.com/fronteras/al...
"Bombs can buy time; only diplomacy can buy lasting security", writes David Minchin Allison. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Why Force Fails to Stop Nuclear Proliferation
Only diplomacy can ultimately keep Iran from getting the bomb.
www.foreignaffairs.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
"Bombs can buy time; only diplomacy can buy lasting security", writes David Minchin Allison. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Tomorrow EU foreign ministers meet in a new Foreign Affairs Council. One of the topics under discussion will be the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I wrote about it recently via with the comments of Martin Konečný and Michelle Pace. www.newarab.com/analysis/how...
How the Gaza war tests Europe’s commitment to human rights
Divisions in the EU have stalled decisive action against Israel during the Gaza war, exposing the bloc’s struggle between its alleged values and realpolitik
www.newarab.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Tomorrow EU foreign ministers meet in a new Foreign Affairs Council. One of the topics under discussion will be the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I wrote about it recently via with the comments of Martin Konečný and Michelle Pace. www.newarab.com/analysis/how...
Nothing New on the European Front or Why the EU is Unlikely to Act Decisively Against Israel for its War on Gaza. My piece for The New Arab. www.newarab.com/analysis/how...
How the Gaza war tests Europe’s commitment to human rights
Divisions in the EU have stalled decisive action against Israel during the Gaza war, exposing the bloc’s struggle between its alleged values and realpolitik
www.newarab.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Nothing New on the European Front or Why the EU is Unlikely to Act Decisively Against Israel for its War on Gaza. My piece for The New Arab. www.newarab.com/analysis/how...
"The idea that stirring separatist sentiment will fracture Iran is a dangerous fantasy -one that deliberately overlooks how schemes hatched, in major part, by pro-Israel neoconservatives, have backfired in Iraq and Syria...", writes Eldar Mamedov. responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-war-267...
First it was regime change, now they want to break Iran apart
Reckless fantasies of balkanizing the country misunderstands Iranian nationalism and risks catastrophic blowback
responsiblestatecraft.org
July 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
"The idea that stirring separatist sentiment will fracture Iran is a dangerous fantasy -one that deliberately overlooks how schemes hatched, in major part, by pro-Israel neoconservatives, have backfired in Iraq and Syria...", writes Eldar Mamedov. responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-war-267...
Poland has just announced it will impose police controls on its border with Germany. I wrote about Germany's border controls, and the consequences for Berlin's relations with its neighbors, for @inkstickmedia.com. inkstickmedia.com/germanys-mig...
Germany’s Migration Crackdown Faces EU Resistance and Domestic Doubts
Chancellor Merz’s asylum crackdown is drawing legal challenges and diplomatic pushback, even as experts warn it could boost far-right parties abroad.
inkstickmedia.com
July 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Poland has just announced it will impose police controls on its border with Germany. I wrote about Germany's border controls, and the consequences for Berlin's relations with its neighbors, for @inkstickmedia.com. inkstickmedia.com/germanys-mig...
"For policymakers in GCC states, a US foreign policy that enabled Israel’s unprovoked war on their Persian neighbor threatens the stability which they seek in the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East", writes Giorgio Cafiero. orionpolicy.org/gulf-arab-st...
Gulf Arab States Need Israel and Iran to De-escalate - Orion Policy Institute
President Donald J. Trump successfully cajoling Israel and Iran into a precarious ceasefire this month was welcome news in the six Gulf Cooperation Council
orionpolicy.org
July 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM
"For policymakers in GCC states, a US foreign policy that enabled Israel’s unprovoked war on their Persian neighbor threatens the stability which they seek in the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East", writes Giorgio Cafiero. orionpolicy.org/gulf-arab-st...
"Who seriously believes Netanyahu will readily relinquish the dominance over Iran’s airspace that his forces have established withunexpected ease? It’s unlikely he will be able to resist the temptation to target Iran again", writes Simon Tisdall.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Don’t count on the Iran-Israel ceasefire lasting. What Netanyahu really wants is a forever war | Simon Tisdall
Like Putin, Israel’s prime minister sees continuing destruction as an opportunity to boost support and outflank his enemies, says Guardian columnist Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"Who seriously believes Netanyahu will readily relinquish the dominance over Iran’s airspace that his forces have established withunexpected ease? It’s unlikely he will be able to resist the temptation to target Iran again", writes Simon Tisdall.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"The official narrative that Iran has scored a major triumph against Israel is a classic case of when George Orwell talks about nationalism and indifference to reality", says Ali Ansari. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Trust in UN’s nuclear watchdog is broken, Iranian president says
European nations defend IAEA chief as Tehran accuses him of failing to condemn Israeli and US attacks on nuclear sites
www.theguardian.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"The official narrative that Iran has scored a major triumph against Israel is a classic case of when George Orwell talks about nationalism and indifference to reality", says Ali Ansari. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
"Money spent on weaponry has proven to leak away to shareholders abroad since weapons production is capital intensive and labor-light", writes Ewald Engelen. jacobin.com/2025/06/gree...
Greens for Tanks
Many of Europe’s Green parties have pacifist roots — but now support hurried rearmament. The plan to boost defense spending to 5 percent of GDP is turning Europe away from green investment and plowing...
jacobin.com
June 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
"Money spent on weaponry has proven to leak away to shareholders abroad since weapons production is capital intensive and labor-light", writes Ewald Engelen. jacobin.com/2025/06/gree...
"The Iranian government will now make its efforts more opaque than ever, even if it engages in diplomacy. Iran’s new timeline may therefore vary wildly. The country may never produce a weapon. Or it could produce one very quickly", says Richard Nephew. www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/did-att...
Did the Attacks on Iran Succeed?
Israel and America bought themselves time but will pay in other ways.
www.foreignaffairs.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
"The Iranian government will now make its efforts more opaque than ever, even if it engages in diplomacy. Iran’s new timeline may therefore vary wildly. The country may never produce a weapon. Or it could produce one very quickly", says Richard Nephew. www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/did-att...
"Merz’s moves reinforce the narrative that Germany is being overwhelmed by newcomers. The approach bolsters the far-right AfD –a close second in the polls–which has called for the deportation of thousands of people". www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Germany urgently needs to attract migrant workers – it just doesn’t want them to feel welcome | Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes
Friedrich Merz is unwisely trying to revive the discredited postwar ‘guest worker’ programme, say journalists and authors Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes
www.theguardian.com
June 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"Merz’s moves reinforce the narrative that Germany is being overwhelmed by newcomers. The approach bolsters the far-right AfD –a close second in the polls–which has called for the deportation of thousands of people". www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"Ayatollah Khamenei will not retreat, let alone surrender. He has, for now, accepted a cease-fire with Israel — but only because he is confident that Iran held its ground ground in the face of U.S. and Israeli strikes", writes Vali Nasr. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/o...
Opinion | The Ayatollah Has a Plan
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
"Ayatollah Khamenei will not retreat, let alone surrender. He has, for now, accepted a cease-fire with Israel — but only because he is confident that Iran held its ground ground in the face of U.S. and Israeli strikes", writes Vali Nasr. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/o...
"Real diplomacy doesn’t happen on a countdown clock. Sixty days wasn’t a deadline; it was an excuse," writes
Adam Weinstein. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/23/t...
Adam Weinstein. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/23/t...
Trump Makes Devastating Strike on U.S. Diplomatic Credibility
The attack on Iran makes it harder to get any adversaries to the table.
foreignpolicy.com
June 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"Real diplomacy doesn’t happen on a countdown clock. Sixty days wasn’t a deadline; it was an excuse," writes
Adam Weinstein. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/23/t...
Adam Weinstein. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/23/t...
"Although Trump has sought to eliminate the nuclear threat from Iran, he has now made it far more likely that Iran becomes a nuclear state", says Ellie Geranmayeh. www.bbc.com/news/article...
What the US and Iran do next could be even more momentous
The "tortuous" US-Iran relationship was tested at least once before, but this is of far greater magnitude
www.bbc.com
June 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"Although Trump has sought to eliminate the nuclear threat from Iran, he has now made it far more likely that Iran becomes a nuclear state", says Ellie Geranmayeh. www.bbc.com/news/article...