Middle East Forum Podcast

Led by the ruling Social Democratic party, Denmark’s government has very publicly experimented with new methods to stop “non-Western immigration,” even announcing the goal of admitting zero asylum seekers in 2021. What prompted this break with the usual leftist views, what are the methods involved, how effective are they, and how significant are the echoes of Danish policies in Germany and the U.K...

Over a distinguished career focused on Middle Eastern anthropology since the 1960s, Philip Salzman experienced academe’s profound transition from a place where open debate was encouraged to one where disagreement is punished. How did this happen, how did it affect Middle East studies, and what can reverse this grim evolution?

Another week of disputes in the Government regarding threats from Ra’am and cuts to benefits for the ultra-Orthodox: what are the ramifications for a coalition with a one-seat majority?

While serving in Congress in 2013-19, former U.S. Representative Keith Rothfus witnessed both the meteoric rise of ISIS and its crushing military defeat. But, knowing ISIS and its ilk cannot be defeated only on the literal battlefield, he took a leading role in efforts to fight it financially. What steps has the U.S. government taken to block terrorist group funding, how well has it done, what mor...

Is the failure to pass a law concerning Palestinians a sign of the new government’s deep-rooted contradictions or just its teething problems?

The Coalition government is at an impasse over the Family Reunification Law, a law prohibiting Israeli citizens to pass on citizenship to their Palestinian spouses. Mansour Abbas has been pushing for renewed negotiations with the PLO. What does this mean for the new government?

20th century America defeated its Nazi and Communist adversaries both militarily and ideologically. Twenty years into the “War on Terror,” however, military victories over al-Qaeda and ISIS leave little motivation to defeat the Islamist ideology in the war of ideas. As Indonesia, Central Asian states, and Morocco show, that is both possible and desirable. What lessons can America learn from them a...

Can the “Change government” sufficiently withstand both external pressures and internal divisions actually to be sworn in?

Israel as a whole – not just Benjamin Netanyahu – faces great peril as multiple domestic destructive forces reach a crescendo, including the fragmentation of Israel’s political system, “Bibi Derangement Syndrome,” the radicalization of its Arab minority, and Hamas’s growing interference in its internal affairs.

Is there finally an Israeli government, or not? If so, who is in and who is out? And what are the chances it will last?

Whether or not to return to the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) is a huge issue in U.S. politics; and so too in Iran. What are the primary camps arguing for and against going back to the JCPOA’s limitations, what are their motivations and arguments? Which side will the Supreme Leader likely support?

Few knew of Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) six years ago when his father, King Salman, appointed him the Saudi minister of defense. Today, few can forget him thanks to endless attention from by the media. Why was MbS chosen as Saudi Arabia’s future leader? How goes his grand project to remake a despotic monarchy long in cahoots with radical Islam and dependent on oil revenues?

With a week to go until the end of Lapid's mandate to form a government, is there still a chance for either side to cobble together a coalition or is Israel hurtling towards a fifth election?

If the great sea empires (British, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish) nearly disappeared sixty years ago, many land empires live on, conveniently hiding under their contiguity: the Chinese, Ethiopian, Burmese, and Persian. Iran’s non-Persian communities form about half of the population. Who are they, what are their political aims, and what potential do they have?

With Hamas continuing to relentlessly attack Israel, Arab pogroms and Jewish revenge attacks on Israel's streets, how does Israel achieve its objectives and return peace and security to its citizens?

Yemen’s civil war, underway since 2014, involves a dizzying array of combatant groups backed by an almost as large number of foreign governments. What is at stake in this conflict, what is the record of America’s allies in it, and what policies should the Biden Administration pursue?

Israel is under attack. Why has this conflagration broken out, how and when will it end, and what are its likely consequences?

The Islamic republic has developed extensive tools to engage in conflict short of war, in what has come to be known as the “gray zone.” Examples include the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, and the 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States. The U.S. government has struggled to adapt to the unique requirements of gray zone deterrence, esp...

The alleged coup attempt in Jordan last month briefly placed the Hashemite Kingdom at the forefront of the news. The crisis passed but it raised a host of questions about a country that usually attracts little attention: How vital is the monarchy to the country’s stability? How vital is Jordan’s stability to the region? After the Abraham Accords, what is Jordan’s role in diplomacy? What happens to...

The contrast between the Trump and Biden approaches to Israel points to the contrast between Republicans and Democrats on the issue. How much do views depend on the left-right spectrum and how much on other considerations? What accounts for them? What shifts in outlook are underway?

The half-million Iranians in the United States home divide sharply in their attitudes towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, with some supporting the regime and others hoping to bring it down. Who are the main players and what how goes their rivalry under the new administration?

Time is running out for a Netanyahu-led government, especially with the "Change Camp" in advanced negotiations. Could this really be the end of the line for Bibi as PM?

The first Palestinian legislative elections since 2006 are scheduled for May 22. If fair and free elections proceed as scheduled, Hamas is again expected to win, this time also in the West Bank. The consequences for Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel will be disastrous.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) is one of the most important young leaders in Washington. As the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest Conservative caucus in Congress, his views have a significant impact on the Middle East policy debate. Mr. Banks will present his views on Middle East issues, Biden Administration policies, and the role of Republicans in Congress in agree...

The New York Times has a history of major mistakes in the Middle East. For example, it relentlessly pushed the false WMDs in Iraq narrative and nearly always portrays Israel as an aggressor. What impact does this misreporting have on American perceptions and policy? Can the newspaper be held accountable?