Dr Anjuli Pandavar is a British writer and social critic who holds a PhD in political economy. She was born into a Muslim family in apartheid South Africa, where she left Islam in 1979. Anjuli is preparing to convert to Judaism. She is one of the staunchest defenders of Israel and a constructive critic of the Jewish state when she believes it is warranted. She owns and writes on Murtadd to Human, where she may be contacted.
In early December 2024, I urged Israel:
Seize Damascus, for pity's sake. When a jihad army takes control of Damascus, they will slaughter like nothing we have ever seen. Do it for those hapless people, if you cannot do it for yourselves. It is a genocide waiting to happen and you can prevent it.
On 9 March 2025, Monica Showalter wrote: "Syria's ruling ISIS 'moderates,' hailed by the EU and the swamp, commence slaughtering the Christians"
And the day before, Sabrina Penty wrote: "Horror in Syria as 'naked women are paraded and shot dead': More than 1,000 killed in just two days as country is gripped by deadly violence between new rulers and Assad loyalists"
Because Israel did not seize control of Damascus, my urging should not be read to imply the slightest Israeli responsibility for the horrors now unfolding in that unfortunate country, reduced to barbarism before our eyes, all for the sake of Allah. Jihad, however, is something a caliph must initiate, as it is a communal obligation on the Muslims. We do not know whether Al-Julani has declared a caliphate. Whatever the case, he is unlikely to restrict the butchery now getting underway, lest he fall foul of a Shari'a provision obliging Muslims to topple him if he should do so:
"If the caliph alters the Sacred Law [Shari'a] by imposing rules that contravene the provisions of the religion, ...or imposes reprehensible innovations while in office, then he loses his authority and need no longer be obeyed, and it is obligatory for Muslims to rise against him if possible, remove him from office. and install an upright leader in his place. If only some are able, they are obliged to rise up and remove the unbeliever, whether they believe they will succeed or fail." (Reliance of the Traveller, Book O25.3a)
Caliph or not, it is inconceivable that Al-Julani disapproves of the killing.
All Syrian religious minorities know that the Druze in the South are under Israeli protection. Whether Israel is ready for it or not, they have provided the only place where Druze and Christians in fear of their lives can save themselves. A very smart psychological warfare move on Israel's part would be to accept the Egyptian caravan offer, stipulating 200,000 family-sized caravans to be handed over to the IDF through the Rafah Crossing. The IDF then immediately moves the caravans out through the Kerem Shalom Crossing for inspection in Israel.
Once Israel is satisfied that the caravans are safe, move them all north and give them to the Christians and Druze refugees in the Druze protected area. All aid that would have been sent into Gaza gets sent to these refugees, with maximum publicity on all media outlets. Overwhelm the narrative while finishing the job in Gaza.
Israel's true role in the Middle East is materialising before our eyes. It is a role that demands confidence and a sense of responsibility. The responsibility of the strong towards the weak. Cometh the hour, cometh the nation.