Iran & the West, diplomacy and war- Jerusalem Studio 431
Over the past several weeks, the emphasis - in what can be regarded as the Iran crisis – has shifted from belligerent rhetoric to indirect diplomacy, as well as an apparent beginning of confidence building measures. Do the latest developments indicate a mutual effort at de-escalation or are merely a pause in an inevitable military confrontation?
Panel:
- Jonathan Hessen, host.
- Amir Oren, analyst.
- Dr. Raz Zimmt, Iran expert – INSS.
- Dr. Menahem Merhavy, research fellow, Truman Institute, Hebrew University.
The program offers the viewer deeper understanding about current events in Israel. The topics vary from domestic and foreign policy to social changes, archaelogy and religion.
The program is hosted by TV7 Israel News anchor Jonathan Hessen.
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Israel-Turkey ties ahead of a new government in Jerusalem – Jerusalem Studio 729
Even before Israeli Designate-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to translate his apparent victory in the Knesset elections into the formation of a government; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated him and expressed his wish to continue the positive trend in relations between Ankara and Jerusalem - which was initiated by the Turkish head of state…
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With the midterm elections in the US essentially over, the Biden administration must reassess its priorities for the remainder of President Joe Biden’s term in the White House and before the next electoral cycle kicks into gear. Foreign policy did not play a prominent part in the contest between Democrats and Republicans. Domestic issues could…
Netanyahu's bid to form a government coalition – Jerusalem Studio 727
With Israel’s electoral train chugging along its stations, from polling booth to President’s house to parliamentary negotiations, the play is now in Benjamin Netanyahu’s half-court. His ability to traverse the obstacles along the way to forming a new coalition government will determine how soon he will head back to the Prime Minister’s residence he vacated…
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The biannual cycle of American politics has passed its midterm point and is barely posing for the holiday season. The bitterly fought Senate, House of Representatives and State elections did not provide for a clear winner in the contest between Democrats and Republicans. The American government will be divided for the remaining two years of…
Israel’s Polls, Politics and Policy - Jerusalem Studio 725
When millions of Israelis went to the polls, they hoped to elect a Knesset which will be able to form a stable government and rid the country of the curse hovering over it for more than three years now. This episode analyzes whether Jerusalem is expected to finally attain political stability? Panel: - Jonathan Hessen,…
Syria and Hamas - a renewed alliance? Jerusalem Studio 724
‘My enemy’s enemy' - is of course usually - 'my friend’ in the Middle East, but sometimes it is more complicated. Ten years ago, the Gaza-based Islamist Hamas Palestinian terror organization fell out with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the latter’s brutal suppression of revolts against it. Hamas officials also assessed, like…
Iran’s drones - a real threat to Ukraine or a pretext to gain Israeli support? Jerusalem Studio 723
Two relatively new weapons systems have captured the public’s imagination since the beginning of this century - armed unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, and the missiles intended to intercept them. Because the drones are playing such a prominent role in the Ukraine war, especially with Russia assisted by Iran in this dimension, Ukraine has asked…
The Unstable Situation in Iran - Jerusalem Studio 722
It has been almost 44 years since Shah Reza Pahlavi and his regime were toppled in Iran and the Islamic Republic was established - Time enough for two generations of disillusioned youth to grow up and protest against a corrupt, incompetent and cruel dictatorship. Except for those governments supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, the world…
Tensions escalate: Jerusalem & the West Bank – Jerusalem Studio 721
For the last several months, terror activity emanating out of the West Bank and leaking into Israel proper generated manhunts and preventive operations by the Israel Defense Forces, leading to clashes with armed individuals and cells, especially in and around the cities of Nablus and Jenin. Further south, East Jerusalem is a hotbed of friction…
Saudi Arabia's alignment amid shifting sands – Jerusalem Studio 720
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has of late been consolidating his domestic power, in anticipation of succeeding to the throne when his elderly father, King Salman, dies, abdicates or is incapacitated. MBS, as he is universally known, added the position of Prime Minister to his title, and proceeded to deal a blow to US…
Israel-Lebanon: Reaching an Agreement - Jerusalem Studio 719
The Arab-Israeli conflict has been known for tense negotiations, seemingly about to break down and lead to fighting between the parties, when at the last moment a compromise is suggested and a deal is struck. The bargaining between Lebanon and Israel on the demarcation of their maritime boundary is no exception. It had its ups…
Israel’s upcoming elections: Jerusalem’s reins of power – Jerusalem Studio 718
On 1 November, millions of Israelis will go to the polls and elect a new Knesset. The voters could make or break the next Israeli coalition government due to emerge three weeks from now - dependent on turnout from various sectors and population centers, unless there is not an absolute deadlock as has been the…
IAEA investigations into Iran’s undeclared nuclear activity – Jerusalem Studio 717
As a member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency, (IAEA) Iran must declare its nuclear facilities and open them to inspection on demand. It has been doing that regarding many installations but tried to hide an additional four, one of which has since been levelled and sanitized. The IAEA insists on inspecting the other…
The Russia-Ukraine war and its effects on the Middle East and Syria – Jerusalem Studio 716
More than seven months into Russia’s war in Ukraine it is too early to see its end, but enough time has passed in order to learn preliminary strategic and military lessons. For those of us in the Middle East, it is especially important to apply these emerging lessons to our region in general and most…
Israel’s economy amid global instability – Jerusalem Studio 715
Israel’s economy has surprisingly withstood the blows striking global commerce and finance in recent years, including COVID-19, uncertainty in the oil market and disruptions in supply chains. But can the Israeli economy thrive when the domestic political scene is perennially unstable, and when individual households complain that they do not reap the fruits of macro-economic…
Hezbollah’s threat of dragging Israel-Lebanon into war – Jerusalem Studio 714
With Israel and Lebanon apparently close to reaching an agreement on dividing the spoils of the sea in the Eastern Mediterranean across from their respective shores; the most tantalizing question is what Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah has in mind when he keeps hurling threats at Israel. Is he really willing to risk dragging his country…
IDF rules of engagement in war on terror – Jerusalem Studio 713
All modern military forces face the dilemma of overkill capabilities. Armies and Air Forces are equipped to clash with their opposite numbers, and in great numbers, under conditions which give rise to indiscriminate targeting. Yet in fighting terrorists sheltered among civilians, hitting innocents is almost unavoidable but still carries a heavy price morally, professionally and…
Iran’s nuclear program, prospects of JCPOA.2 – Jerusalem Studio 712
In almost every culture one finds the equivalent of the old Proverb: ‘Hope for the best, Prepare for the worst’ - especially in matters of war and peace. It seems to fit the pendulum called the negotiations over the revival of the lapsed JCPOA. Is it on or is it off? And what does one…
Israel Defense Force: A New Commander in Chief - Jerusalem Studio 711
The appointment of a new Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff is a very important event in the life of this military organization. More than in most Western democracies, Israel’s top General Officer has a major impact on the nation’s policies and conduct. Major General Herzi Halevi, an experienced Paratroop and Intelligence military leader,…
Iran’s nuclear diplomacy: What’s expected next? Jerusalem Studio 710
To deal or not to deal? That is still the question, as Iran seems to try to squeeze yet more concessions out of the Biden administration, which is obviously eager to revive the 2015 nuclear deal (or JCPOA) but can only go so far in the face of strong Congressional opposition to meeting voracious demands…
Israel's Campaign Between the Wars vs Iran – Jerusalem Studio 709
While senior Israeli officials keep trying to stop - or at least amend - the American tendency to renew the nuclear deal with Iran, Jerusalem and Washington are on the same page regarding the determination to fight Iran’s aggressive moves in the Middle East. Iranian forces and proxies in Syria and elsewhere pose continuous danger…
The battle over Iraq amid Iran's unrelenting grip – Jerusalem Studio 708
Last October, it seemed that at long last Iraq was on the verge of having a somewhat stable multi-confessional government, which would take care of the country’s domestic problems free of manipulation efforts neighboring Iran. This was good news to the Biden administration, because it showed that even after the end of America’s military involvement…
Israel-Turkey: normalization of bilateral relations – Jerusalem Studio 707
As soon as Benjamin Netanyahu vacated the Prime Minister’s office 14 months ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan moved to unfreeze his nation’s relations with Israel. When then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid failed to respond to Ankara’s advance, Erdogan outflanked him and found a warm welcome in Jerusalem’s non-executive presidency, eventually bringing around Lapid and the…
Just like the status of “threshold nuclear weapon state,” to which Iran evidently aspires before the final dash towards the weapon itself, there is apparently a new phenomenon in global diplomacy - a threshold nuclear agreement. With the essentially revoked JCPOA ever closer to a revival but not across the finish line, Iran is surely…
Concerns over Israel’s northern front – Jerusalem Studio 705
Israel’s two Palestinian fronts - at its center in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and in the southwest with Gaza - have been relatively quiet over the last two weeks, save for the occasional terror attack or incident. Danger seems to lurk in the north - including in Syria, where Iran proactively seeks to entrench…
Iran’s nuclear deal: What’s next? Jerusalem Studio 704
The haggling over the revival of the dormant JCPOA is over, at least according to the Biden administration. For the last five months, a formula has been on the table at the Vienna Talks, and it is time for political decisions in Tehran and Washington. The Khomeini regime may wish to wait a little longer…
The global war on Islamic terror – Jerusalem Studio 703
The recent focus on Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s militant move against a perceived threat to the status quo in Taiwan reflect a reality envisioned several years ago in American defense planning - the world has reverted to a game of nations. States and governments, not movements and organizations, operate and interact. This is…
Western response to Iran’s nuclear advancements - Jerusalem Studio 702
The movie “Iran’s progress towards nuclear weapons” is seemingly being shot in slow motion. Rather than a mad dash to the finish line, which could immediately also turn out to be the finish line for Iran’s nuclear project because it will be struck by countries or alliances opposed to it, the Iranians are deliberately crawling…
Russia-Iran mutual reliance, Mideast implications - Jerusalem Studio 701
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Tehran last month was not aimed at getting concrete and immediate results. It was unrealistic to expect Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and their host, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to settle all of their differences on various issues, such as the situation in Syria. The intention was obviously…
Will Lebanon's crisis risk escalation with Israel? Jerusalem Studio
Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon has been mostly quiet for the last 16 years, with periods of tension although not of escalation. There is no symmetry between Jerusalem and Beirut, as one side has a government and military while the other is dominated by an organization, Hezbollah, whose very existence is predicated on continued “resistance.”…
Israel's Strategic Overview amid Political Instability - Jerusalem Studio
With less than 100 days to go before its general election, Israel is facing military and security challenges which refuse to wait until the voters have their say and the new Knesset comes up with a coalition government - or gives up and calls for yet another round. With Palestinian disappointment at lack of progress…
Saudi Arabia reasserts its regional role – Jerusalem Studio
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went on a tour of Mideast capitals late last month, renewing his contacts with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. MBS, as he is known, was a favorite of the Trump administration, but was subsequently shunned by the Biden team – which frequently waves the flag of human…
Turkey-Israel Cooperation versus Iranian terror - Jerusalem Studio 700
The old principle that a crisis is also an opportunity was validated last month when Israel learned that its citizens were actively being targeted by Iranian hit squads in the city of Istanbul. Close cooperation between Mossad and the Turkish MIT intelligence service managed to foil several plots and bring about the arrest of would-be…
Middle Eastern Energy amid Supply Shortages - Jerusalem Studio 699
The Middle East became prominent in world affairs for its religious and cultural centrality due to its location between continents and maritime routes, but most of all because of the discovery of oil -- at a time when demand for the resource escalated by the industrial and transportation sectors. "Oil is still King" but there…
Washington’s Mideast Efforts and Aspirations - Jerusalem Studio 698
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the Middle East next month for the first time in his term in office, although he has of course been to the region many times in the past, dating back to 1973. During his 4-day tour in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia, the US leader…
Lebanon: will political instability lead to war? Jerusalem Studio 697
A month after its parliamentary elections, Lebanon is still sinking into the abyss with no political center to stabilize the turbulent system. No major group or coalition emerged, many new members are unknown qualities with questionable loyalties; the economy is crashing, and everyday life becomes ever harder to negotiate. How can Lebanon emerge out of…
Israel's military preparedness post-Chariots of Fire – Jerusalem Studio 696
The Israel Defense Forces changes its top leader every four years. The current chief, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, is due to retire at the turn of the year. He is already preparing his end of tour report by testing his forces through a month-long exercise, Chariots of Fire – which was held not only in…
Turkey's security-related considerations for Syria & Iraq – Jerusalem Studio 695
The Kurdish minorities in several Middle Eastern countries have never been close to fulfilling their historical dream of creating a Kurdistan, which will inevitably mean cutting territories out of nations currently with sovereignty over them. They nevertheless keep trying - and by the same measure - those nations are resisting Kurdish efforts. None more so…
Jerusalem’s political stability – Jerusalem Studio 694
In a week’s time, Israel will mark Benjamin Netanyahu’s first year out of power. His rivals have managed to hold together a unique right-center-left coalition - united on almost no issue save the determination to block Netanyahu’s return to the office he occupied for the preceding dozen years. The government headed by Naftali Bennett and…
Iran’s nuclear advances amid diplomatic deadlock – Jerusalem Studio 693
When Special Envoy for Iran in the State Department Rob Malley testified during a Senate committee on the Biden Administration’s policy last week, he expressed a rather pessimistic view of the prospects for a renewed nuclear deal. Such an agreement, he said, is better than the present situation because without it, “Iran advanced its program…
Iran's domestic woes due to its malign priorities – Jerusalem Studio 692
The Islamic regime in Tehran does not derive its legitimacy and authority from popular support. It claims divine backing, but just in case - relies on brute force, through the Revolutionary Guards Corps and other military, security and police organizations. Nevertheless, the problems endemic to Iran’s economy and exacerbated by the sanctions imposed on its…
Gaza: An obstacle to regional stability – Jerusalem Studio 691
For the last 17 years, Israel has been out of the Gaza District, having unilaterally left it under Palestinian rule. For 15 of those years, Hamas has controlled this jam-packed narrow territory and its two million inhabitants. And for 11 of those, the leader of Hamas and therefore of Gaza has been Yahya Sinwar, a…
The Damascus-Tehran link amid global developments – Jerusalem Studio 690
Earlier this month, the European Union convened in Brussels a meeting of representatives of mostly Arab and European nations and organizations, along with the United States and Japan. The agenda had to do with the humanitarian situation in Syria and the country’s political future, as well as the determination to keep fighting Daesh (Islamic State);…
US-Israel relations amid great power competition – Jerusalem Studio 689
U.S. President Joe Biden intends to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority next month, in a show of support for their governments and for an internationally aspired Two-State solution. However, the fragility of the Israeli ruling coalition - which is hanging by a thread- prevents any substantive progress on the Israel-Palestinian file – at a…
Iran’s nuclear advances & regional implications – Jerusalem Studio 688
The Vienna talks on reviving the dormant Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions have seemingly been on hold for several weeks now, with the parties closer than ever but unable to close the deal yet. The negotiations are complicated by two of the parties: Russia in the negotiating room and the United…
Lebanon Pre-Election analysis – Jerusalem Studio 687
On the 15th of this month Lebanese voters will elect a new parliament. The 128 seats are allocated along “confessional” and geographical lines. As no party can garner a majority, the government is thus always based on complex coalitions. Lebanon is in permanent crisis, economically and socially. Its ruling elite is corrupt. As there is…
US-Iran standoff amid stalled nuclear talks – Jerusalem Studio 686
Seven years after Iran reached a nuclear deal with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union, the talks over the revival of the agreement - which was breached by the Trump administration and then by Tehran - are close to the finish line but are apparently stalled there.…
