Near East Policycast

What is going on in Israeli politics? Two elections this year, both leaving no clear majority and a deadlocked parliament, a prime minister facing imminent criminal indictment, Israeli Arab leaders hinting at a willingness to join a Zionist government, and the clock ticking down to a possible third election - Israel expert and author David Makovsky explains who's who in Israeli politics, what each party and leader wants, and why repeated rounds of voting keep producing political deadlock for one of America's most vital allies. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"Turkey more isolated, more alone, and more exposed to foreign policy threats than it has been for decades if not centuries." Soner Cagaptay, author of a new book on Turkish foreign policy, details the ways in which Recep Tayyip Erdogan represents both a revolution in Ankara's regional relations and deep continuity with centuries of Ottoman and Turkish strategy. Find Cagaptay's new book, "Erdogan's Empire: Turkey and the Politics of the Middle East" at https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/erdogans-empire-turkey-and-the-politics-of-the-middle-east. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

What sets Israel's greatest leaders, Labour and Likud, apart from others? And can U.S. policy encourage wiser statesmanship from our Israeli allies? In this episode, David Makovsky and Ambassador Dennis Ross, veteran observers of and participants in the peace process, discuss the lessons of their new book on Israel's greatest leaders. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

What are the consequences of the Iranian government's massive, systematic campaign to spread disinformation about religious minorities through social and traditional media? Three leading Iranian activists detail Tehran's campaign of slander and incitement and offer practical suggestions for how tech companies and Western governments can act to protect vulnerable religious minorities in Iran. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkote, IDF (ret.) delivered the 2019 Zeev Schiff Memorial Lecture on Middle East Security earlier this month. In his first public remarks since his retirement as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Eizenkot detailed the four pillars of Israeli strategy and shared his assessment of Israel's military position as it faces new threats on multiple fronts. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Jared Kushner, the senior advisor to President Donald Trump, was the keynote speaker of the Washington Institute's 2019 Soref Symposium dinner on May 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. Kushner was interviewed by Institute executive director Robert Satloff. Since becoming the President's senior advisor, Kushner has traveled extensively in the Middle East and has met numerous times with the region's key leaders. He has been present for major Middle East policy decisions, including moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He has been central to the development of the administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

A notably divisive Israeli campaign is coming down to its final hours. Will Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu survive the election, a likely corruption indictment, and a strong challenge by a new centrist party led by three former top IDF generals? And whoever leads Israel's next government, what do the April 9 elections mean for American interests and for a potential U.S. peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians? Three leading experts, Ehud Yaari, Tal Shalev, and David Makovsky, share their assessments of the campaign, the candidates, the parties, the polls, and the implications. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The Arab states of the Persian Gulf region perceive that U.S. interest in and commitment to their region is declining even as Russian and Chinese military and economic activity in the Middle East grows. As a result, the Gulf states are looking to their west, to the Red Sea, to bolster their own long-term commercial and security interests. In this episode of Near East PolicyCast, Institute scholar Elana DeLozier explains the new Red Sea competition, why Gulf states are getting involved, and what it means for American interests and policy. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Israel's April 2019 parliamentary elections feature two of the most significant developments in modern Israeli political history, says Institute scholar David Makovsky: The formation of a new opposition coalition featuring three recently former IDF commanders and the criminal indictment of a sitting prime minister. In this episode, David explains the issues, parties, and personalities at play in Israel's parliamentary vote and what the outcome may mean for American policy and interests. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

American Middle East policy has focused on forging security and economic ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors. In a new report (http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/reclamation), Joseph Braude documents growing opportunities for reclaiming cultural space for Arab-Israeli reconciliation. In this episode, Joseph joins Brookings Institution scholar Tamara Cofman Wittes to discuss the possibilities and obstacles facing this new cultural opening, and how U.S. policy can encourage it. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Iran's latest missile tests point to a new generation of rocket, one potentially capable of delivering a first-generation nuclear warhead, and defeating advanced missile defenses, to targets up to 2,000 kilometers away with pinpoint accuracy. Farzin Nadimi, a longtime student of Iranian military capabilities and doctrines, joins us to explain the significance of Tehran's new missile and what it tells us about Iranian intentions. Also see Farzin's January report, "Iran’s Continued Push for a Nuclear-Ready Missile Capability" https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/irans-continued-push-for-a-nuclear-ready-missile-capability. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Dana Stroul, The Washington Institute's newest research fellow, is a veteran Pentagon and U.S. Senate foreign policy staffer. In this podcast, Dana shares her insights about Capitol Hill's role in making foreign policy, from the fraying bipartisan consensus on vital Middle East issues to the conflicts between the legislative and executive branches that transcend administrations. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Period. It has held that dubious distinction for many years now and shows no sign of relinquishing the title." Speaking at The Washington Institute on November 13, State Department Counterterrorism Coordinator Ambassador Nathan Sales announced new diplomatic and financial sanctions against Tehran and its terrorist proxies. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Since the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), November 4 has loomed large as the date on which significant U.S. sanctions on Iran, and on third parties doing business with Iran, return to force. Former Treasury Department sanctions expert offers a guide to what the new sanctions mean for U.S. strategy, for global markets, and for American businesses and citizens. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Do the counterterrorism partnerships that Washington has developed with Middle Eastern states since the 9/11 attacks helped or hindered the global war on terror? Four leading CT scholars debate the past success and future utility of counterterrorism partnerships in this latest episode of Near East PolicyCast. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

In early August, the Trump administration issued sanctions against Turkey for its continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Ties between the two governments have been under strain for years, but the latest incident has seemingly touched off the most severe crisis in recent memory. What are the future prospects and pitfalls for U.S.-Turkish relations? Listen to analysis from an expert panel as they debate how to salvage the bilateral relationship - and even whether the alliance is worth saving at all. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

When he passed away in May, Bernard Lewis—the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton and inaugural recipient of The Washington Institute’s Scholar-Statesman Award—left behind a legacy of unparalleled scholarly consequence that crossed disciplines, centuries, continents, governments, and generations. To discuss his influence on the study, politics, and policy of the Middle East, the Institute hosted a forum with three of his former students: Martin Kramer, the Institute’s Koret Visiting Fellow and founding president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, Katherine Nouri Hughes, author of the highly acclaimed historical novel The Mapmaker’s Daughter, and Michael Doran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Nagata, director of strategic planning at the National Counterterrorism Center, delivered a hard-hitting address at the Institute earlier this month. After nearly two decades and much success, General Nagata said it's time for Americans to ask ourselves had questions: Why is terrorism today more widespread and complex than ever? Why have terrorists proven so resilient and adaptive in the face of massive military pressure from the United States and its global allies? And what new policies and approaches should Washington consider to turn the tide?

Barbara Leaf served as U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2014-2018 and recently joined The Washington Institute as Rosenblatt Distinguished Fellow. In this episode, Ambassador Leaf looks back at her time as American envoy in Abu Dhabi, what the future holds for American interests in the Gulf, and her own transition from policymaker to scholar. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

On June 24, Turks voted for president and parliament for the first time under their new constitution, handing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP party narrow victories that may reshape Turkish politics and society for years to come. Did Erdogan win fairly, and what does his victory mean for the future of Turkey, the Middle East, and American relations with this key NATO ally? Turkey scholar Soner Cagaptay joins us to explain the elections and their implications for the future. Near East PolicyCast: Conversations on Middle East issues from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.