Making sense of Mideast alliances – Jerusalem Studio 745
Once upon a time, at the height of the Cold War, regional alliances were easily pictured.
On one half of the court stood the United States, with Turkey as a NATO member, Iran as the guardian of the Persian Gulf and Israel as the strongest power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Also on this list - Jordan, Saudi Arabia and at times weak Lebanon.
On the other side - the Soviet Union with the more radical Arab states, such as Iraq, Syria and South Yemen. Egypt moved towards the Western camp just as Iran moved out of it.
That was then, but now it is much more difficult to freeze-frame the state of alliances in the Middle East. Israel is of course a stalwart American partner, and so is Egypt under the current regime, but can Turkey and Saudi Arabia be safely said to belong there? And are Iran and Syria friends with each other, or mere Russian clients? And what is China’s role in this game?
Panel:
- Jonathan Hessen, Host.
- Amir Oren, Editor at Large, Host of Watchmen Talk and Powers in Play.
- Eran Etzion Former Deputy Head, NSC (National Security Council).
- Dr. Nir Boms, Research Fellow, Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv 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.
One Year Anniversary of Operation Waves Breaker – Jerusalem Studio 760
To Israelis - now immersed in the unfolding political /civil /judicial drama, it may seem as if it all happened ages ago; but in fact it was last year at about this time that a wave of terror acts hit Israel’s cities. Armed infiltrators seemed to operate at will in population centers as security forces…
Israel’s challenges emanating from Lebanon – Jerusalem Studio 759
For a decade and half now, the conventional wisdom has been that following the clash with Hezbollah in summer 2006, Israel’s frontier with Lebanon has been kept quiet due to the deterrence gained by the heavy blows inflicted by the IDF. This assessment was brought into question by a sudden terror act - probably conceived…
Ten years Since Israel’s Campaign Between the Wars – Jerusalem Studio 758
It was either January or March of 2013 - depending on whose position - when Israel’s Air Force struck a target deep inside Syria, with no response from Damascus. This turned out to be the quiet start of what Israel called “the Campaign Between the Wars” (with the Hebrew acronym MABAM). Hundreds of strikes later…
The Iran-Saudi deal vs Israel’s regional integration – Jerusalem Studio 757
In the 1970’s, when Iran was openly allied with the United States and less openly with Israel, the Shah was tasked by Washington in helping Saudi Arabia from falling into the Soviet orbit. Decades later, with Iran hostile to Americans and Israelis alike and Saudi Arabia openly allied against it with Washington and less openly…
Israel's external challenges amid internal strife – Jerusalem Studio 756
While Israel has been undergoing its internal struggle, external challenges have not receded. They may even have risen, as hostile forces were glad to watch the Jewish State and its defense establishment tear themselves apart. This was the backdrop to successive visits by the highest military and civilian officials of the Pentagon, US Chairman of…
Can Israel rely on the West vs Iran? Jerusalem Studio 755
In 1981 and 2007, Israel acted alone against Arab nuclear efforts. The strikes at the Iraqi and Syrian reactors were undertaken out of the blue and their limited nature helped convince Saddam Hussein and Bashar al-Assad to abstain from retaliation. This is not expected to be the case if Israel decides to send its Air…
Russia’s state of play in the Middle East amid the war in Ukraine– Jerusalem Studio 754
Up until a year ago, the Middle East seems to be Russia’s most pressing business. Ukraine was always in the background, but between 2014 and 2022 Syria seemed to occupy center stage, with Russian bases, units and operations bolstering the Assad regime while carrying out Moscow’s own missions. Now that Syria and perhaps the entire…
Military implications of Russia-Ukraine war for the Mideast – Jerusalem Studio 753
Each major war compels all defense establishments worldwide to reassess their priorities and doctrines. One does not have to be personally involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, directly in fighting it or indirectly in the supply of weapons, in order to be concerned with relevant lessons for one’s own challenges. So, what do we know so…
Prospects of escalation amid elevated Israel-Palestinian tensions - Jerusalem Studio 752
The English American Poet T. S. Eliot famously wrote that “April is the cruelest month.” While the Middle East is the province of T. E. Lawrence rather than of T. S. Eliot, the next several weeks risk proving the poet right this year - even starting a week before April when Ramadan begins. During this…
Iran’s efforts to restart talks on JCPOA revival – Jerusalem Studio 751
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was revoked by then-US President Donald Trump almost five years ago. It has not been successfully resuscitated by the administration of President Joe Biden, as there was no meeting of the minds with the Islamic Republic - which responded to Trump’s decision…
Israel’s northern arena amid earthquake devastation – Jerusalem Studio 750
Forces of nature have taken center stage on Israel’s northern frontier and beyond, where winter is always harsh, and the lack of energy supplies make conditions even more unforgiving. The 6 February earthquakes devastating parts of Turkey and northern Syria showed the generous and skilled face of the Israel Defense Forces, whose search and rescue…
Israel’s path into Africa amid recent developments – Jerusalem Studio 749
When Africa emerged from its intense period of de-colonization in the late 1950’s and 1960’s, Israel was the most helpful nation assisting the emerging governments and societies to develop their agricultural and industrial resources. In return, Israel was the recipient of goodwill and some diplomatic support, but under Arab pressure these relations proved too fragile.…
How credible is a Military Threat vs Iran’s nuclear program? Jerusalem Studio 748
In its first two years in office, the administration of US President Joe Biden was reluctant to threaten Iran with military action, should diplomatic moves to stop its progress toward nuclear weapons fail. Lately however, out of obvious frustration at Tehran’s refusal to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that was revoked by then-President…
Operation Waves Breaker: status report – Jerusalem Studio 747
Last spring, Israel came under attack by a series of terror acts in population centers. The perpetrators usually came from Palestinian towns and villages in the northern part of the West Bank, formally under the Palestinian Authority - but in fact only lightly supervised by its security forces. The Israeli response was to launch the…
Iran's race to nuclear weapon capabilities – Jerusalem Studio 746
When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, earlier this week, one of his top agenda items was obviously Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli officials have publicly claimed that they were successful in making the case to the administration of US President Joe Biden against re-entering the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, revoked by former…
Making sense of Mideast alliances – Jerusalem Studio 745
Once upon a time, at the height of the Cold War, regional alliances were easily pictured. On one half of the court stood the United States, with Turkey as a NATO member, Iran as the guardian of the Persian Gulf and Israel as the strongest power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Also on this list -…
The US-Israel alliance amid global developments – Jerusalem Studio 744
Washington and Jerusalem have long had a two-tiered relationship, with an underlying third one: that of the ties between people based on values, culture and identity. At the top, the political echelons interact, and right now there seems to be a built-in tension between the Biden Administration and the Netanyahu government. Professionally, the channels between…
Israel Defense Forces: Change of Guard – Jerusalem Studio 743
In a smooth military transition - so unlike the chaotic political scene - Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi took over the IDF Chief of General Staff position from his fellow Paratrooper Aviv Kochavi. All speakers in successive hand-over ceremonies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv mentioned the Iranian threat as a top priority, but also mentioned what…
Is Israel’s democracy under threat amid looming judicial reform? Jerusalem Studio 742
After only three weeks in office, the Netanyahu government is involved in a heated debate with its opponents in the Knesset and public. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, with Netanyahu’s backing, has unveiled an ambitious plan to redo the country’s judicial branch, moving its center of gravity from judges and legal advisors towards politicians. Levin argues…
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Vision of a new Mideast – Jerusalem Studio 741
Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, world-renowned with his own acronym MBS, has an ambitious program and only eight years remaining to implement it. MBS calls it “Vision 2030” and is marketing its main features in terms intended to appeal to Western decision-makers and publics. He talks about weaning the Kingdom’s…
Early next week the Israel Defense Forces will have a significant event, the changing of the guard. Major General Herzi Halevi will be elevated in rank and position to Chief of General Staff, making him the top military commander in the nation, of course subject to civilian political directives. His investiture was planned months in…
The enhanced Russian-Iranian military relationship – Jerusalem Studio 739
With the war in Ukraine only several weeks away from its first anniversary, it has obviously become the most important issue for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is going out of his way to salvage some part of his failed gamble on a clear victory. Putin is therefore now courting Iran - despite a lot…
There is very little profit for prophets, it they are careless enough to predict the immediate future - tomorrow, next week, next month. With that in mind, we are going to peer into the haze and snow of early 2023, in an effort to see the general outline of the year mostly ahead of us.…
As we send 2022 to its time capsule, for future generations and aliens from outer space to look up, let’s try to recap its most important events, trends and figures. Panel: - Miri Eisin, Host. - Col. (Res.) Reuven Ben-Shalom, TV7 Powers-in-Play Panelist, Cross-Cultural Strategist and Associate at ICT, Reichman University. - Eran Etzion Former…
China’s growing influence over the Mideast – Jerusalem Studio 736
With the United States openly shifting its focus from the Middle East to the Far East - as a long-term hot spot though right now Russia’s war on Ukraine is uppermost on decision-makers’ minds, China is given an opening to enhance its reach into if not over this region. Beijing is methodically following its multi-decade…
Israel’s Intelligence Assessment for 2023 – Jerusalem Studio 735
All intelligence assessments must be taken with a spoonful of salt. Who, in either Israel or abroad, could have predicted a year ago that at the end of 2022 a new government would emerge in Jerusalem with an unprecedented make-up, personally and functionally. That said, the Israeli intelligence community has fulfilled its task of giving…
Egypt-Israel relations: a strategic overview– Jerusalem Studio 734
In one of his last official acts before vacating the office he held since spring 2020, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz went out of his way to praise Egypt as a peaceful neighbor and strategic partner. Gantz reacted furiously to a statement by a junior but crucial member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s emerging coalition, who insisted…
Israel-US relations amid Jerusalem power change– Jerusalem Studio 733
The Biden administration has put the incoming Netanyahu cabinet on notice - try to make good on the election campaign pledges of right-wing and religious parties and bear the consequences in your relationship with Washington. Settlement activity, annexation, unjustified lethality and various other activities associated with a harder line towards Palestinians will put Netanyahu on…
Israel under threat of terror– Jerusalem Studio 732
In late November, two explosions rocked the calm morning of Jerusalem. Charges were detonated at bus stops several kilometers apart, killing two Israelis and wounding almost twenty. Had this simultaneous terror attack taken place aboard buses, the result could have been horrific, much like those of thirty and twenty-five years ago, and public pressure on…
Turkey’s looming offensive into Syria – Jerusalem Studio 731
The lethal terror attack on civilians innocently walking down Istanbul’s Istiklal Street on November 13 was probably perpetrated by a Kurdish underground cell fighting Turkish rule over this ethnic group. President Erdogan responded by air raids into Kurdish concentrations in northern Syria, bordering Turkey, and promising that a ground offensive will follow when conditions are…
Russia in Mideast - Challenges to Moscow-Jerusalem relations – Jerusalem Studio 730
Until early this year, the most sensitive dimension in the relationship between Russia and Israel was the Syrian one. Moscow was determined to protect its foothold there and therefore prop up the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Jerusalem avoided friction with the Russians to keep fighting Iran’s forces and proxies in the Arab…
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…
Iran's race to nuclear weapon capabilities – Jerusalem Studio 728
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…
US Midterm elections: Implications for the Middle East – Jerusalem Studio 726
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…
