BICOM's Podcast

In this special podcast, Richard Pater speaks to Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal about the latest developments in Israel's political crisis. With Yair Lapid officially being tasked with trying to form the next government, Nadav discusses the chances of success in the 'bloc of change' and what impact a new Prime Minister and government will have on Israeli policy both inside and outside of the countr...

In this podcast, BICOM's Ronie Gazit speaks to Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Khaled Elgindy. They discuss the recent postponement of the Palestinian elections and what impact it could have on Palestinian politics and the wider region. They also touch upon US-Palestinian relations and whether the Biden administration will look to play a role in peacemaking between Israelis and the Palestinian...

Richard Pater speaks to former senior Mossad official Sima Shine. Sima, the head of Iran programme at the Institute for National Security Studies outlines the latest developments surrounding Iran's nuclear programme and its implications for regional and international players. Richard and Sima also discuss the progress made in the Vienna talks, what returning to the JCPOA nuclear deal means for Isr...

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks to Yohanan Plesner, the President of the Israel Democracy Institute, about the chances of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being able to form a government, the alternatives and what to look out for in Netanyahu’s trial. Plesner, a former member of the Knesset  between 2007-13, also offers an insider's guide to coalition building.  

In this episode, BICOM's Sam Nurding speaks with Daoud Kuttab about the unprecedented public dispute in the Jordanian Royal Family, how it has affected the King's stability as well as the domestic and international challenges facing the country. They also discuss the upcoming Palestinian elections and whether PA President Abbas has passed the point of no return.    

In this episode, BICOM brings you a recording of the webinar with Director Richard Pater about the initial results from Israel's 4th election and what they mean for breaking the political stalemate. The webinar was held on Thursday 25 March at 3pm UK time, when around 99% of the votes were counted. 

In this episode, editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post Yaakov Katz and Walla News correspondent Tal Shalev share their latest analysis ahead of Election Day. They discuss the prospect of Benjamin Netanyahu leading the next government, or whether a new figure will become the country's prime minister. 

In this episode Richard Pater speaks with Dahlia Scheindlin and Anshel Pfeffer about the latest campaign developments in Israel, whether Benjamin Netanyahu or Yair Lapid has done enough to win a decisive victory, and what to expect for the day after 23 March. 

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Dr. Raz Zimmt, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), about how the nuclear issue is debated from inside Iran. Dr Zimmt provides the arguments between the hardliners and the pragmatists, and explains how the nuclear issue could impact the upcoming Presidential elections in Iran. He also provides his assessment on how Isra...

In this latest episode, director Richard Pater speaks to Yamina candidate Jeremy Saltan on his party's views on the upcoming Israeli elections, whether the party will join a Netanyahu-led government and what differentiate Yamina from New Hope. Jeremy also talks about why he thinks Bennett is the right leader of Israel now, during the pandemic. Jeremy is a Knesset Insider, campaigner and leading po...

Richard Pater speaks to Professor Tamar Hermann, a Senior Research Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and the Academic Director of the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. Richard and Tamar discuss the Israeli public response to the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and how the issue has affected the ultra-Orthodox community in particular. They also d...

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks to MK Aida Touma-Suleiman from the Hadash faction within the Joint List. She describes what it means to be communist in 2021 and how the Joint List operates a shared agenda among competing ideologies. They discuss the party’s prospects of running without the United Arab List and why her party voted against the Abraham Accords in the Knesset.  

Richard Pater speaks to Sharren Haskel, a member of Gideon Saar’s New Hope party. Sharren, a former Likud MK, discusses her introduction into politics and decision to leave the Likud for New Hope. Richard and Sharren also discuss whether Israel needs elections right now, what New Hope’s main messaging will be throughout the election campaign and how the party plans to court Likud votes. Sharren ex...

Richard Pater speaks to Yair Zivan, the Foreign Affairs Advisor and International Media Spokesperson to Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid. Richard and Yair discuss the breakdown of the Israeli government and the factors the forced Israel into a fourth election in two years. They discuss whether the center left parties will unite with Yesh Atid ahead of the election and the party’s key messaging and pr...

Richard Pater speaks with Eli Hazan, the Likud party’s foreign affairs director. Richard and Eli discuss the reasons why Israel is heading for another election and who is to blame. Eli explains why he believes Gideon Saar and Zeev Elkin made a mistake in leaving the Likud and outlines what we can expect to hear from the Likud campaign in the weeks ahead.

Richard Pater talks to Yaakov Katz the editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post.  They discuss the break-up of the coalition and what messages we will hear during the campaign. Yaakov outlines the competition Prime Minister Netanyahu faces from other right-wing parties and the prospects of him able to form a governing coalition next time around. 

Richard Pater speaks to Britain’s Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan. Richard and Ambassador Wigan discuss the role the UK has played and will continue to play in supporting the Abraham Accords including in economic, scientific and political areas. The two also discuss concerns over the JCPOA nuclear deal, Iran’s regional agenda and the UK’s role in the Middle East. Ambassador Wigan also addresses b...

In this episode, Research Associate Samuel Nurding speaks to Sir John Jenkins, a senior fellow at Policy Exchange and a board member for MENAF (Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum), on whether Saudi Arabia will normalise relations with Israel after 20 January 2021, how the US-Iran nuclear standoff will play out, and why the UK Government is still not confronting the challenge of Islamism....

In the episode, Richard Pater speaks to Shalom Lipner, the nonresident senior fellow for Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, and a former veteran of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, serving seven consecutive Israeli prime ministers over 25 years. They discuss the fallout of President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Israel, what the implications of a democratic President are on dome...

In this episode Richard Pater speaks to Dr. Majid Al Sarrah and Dan Fefferman, both founding member of the UAE-Israel Business Council and Policy Forum. Dr. Majid is an Emirati legal adviser and expert in public policy. He is a former professor at the American University of Sharjah and a researcher in international law, economics and policy analysis. Dan Feferman is a Fellow at the Jewish People P...

In this episode, Ronie Gazit speaks to Israel Policy Forum’s Policy Director, Dr Michael Koplow. Ronie and Michael discuss what we may see from the Trump administration’s last two months in office, and what actions he make take regarding Iran and Israel. Michael also lays out how President Elect Joe Biden’s administration will differ from what we’ve seen from Trump in its approach to Israel, the P...

In this episode, BICOM’s research associate Samuel Nurding speaks with Jonathan Paris, a geopolitical analyst and Senior Advisor at the Washington-based Chertoff Group, to discuss the US presidential election, how the make-up of the Senate and House of Representatives could impact US foreign policy, and what a Biden 1st term means for Israel, Iran and the region as opposed to a Trump 2nd term.

Five days out from the US Presidential election, Richard Pater speaks with Joel Braunold, the managing director of the S Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. How important is foreign policy in this election? Have the Abraham Accords swayed any American votes? Richard and Joel discuss this, what four more years of Trump mean for the Middle East compared to a Biden administration’s approach...

In this episode Richard Pater speaks with Blue and White MK Michal Culter-Wunsh to discuss what political life is like in the Knesset under the cloud of coronavirus. Michal also speaks about her new proposed law to enshrine Israel's Declaration of Independence into a new social contract, what needs to be done to help ensure the return of Israeli soldiers and civilians from the Gaza Strip, and why...

Richard Pater talks to Tal Shalev, the political correspondent for Walla News. They discuss the likelihood of passing a budget and the prospect of new elections, how loyal is Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and could Naftali Bennett really form a government with the centre-left?