The Turbulent World with James M. Dorsey

On his weekly Middle East Report show on Radio Islam International, James M. Dorsey discusses Iran’s charm offensive at the United Nations, the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and a US-French-led effort to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Israel has signalled it is ready to invade Lebanon following weeks of intense bombardment, ostensible against Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has responded with rocket attacks which were mostly intercepted by Israel's defences. Dr James M. Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, shares insights into how the current conflict is escalating on BFM 89.9

Israel has signalled it is ready to invade Lebanon following weeks of intense bombardment, ostensible against Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has responded with rocket attacks which were mostly intercepted by Israel's defences. Dr James M. Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, shares insights into how the current conflict is escalating.

A Saudi push to become a major natural gas player is as much about diversifying the kingdom’s domestic consumption and export mix as it is about cementing Saudi Arabia as a global geopolitical, economic, and energy player. It also is about capitalizing on harsh US economic sanctions against Iran designed to force a change in the Islamic Republic’s policies.

Months of cross-border exchanges have forced thousands of people to evacuate areas along the Lebanon's southern border. James M. Dorsey, an adjunct senior fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies explains, escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have increased discontent among the country's citizens.

James M. Dorsey discusses on Backchat with Steve Vickers and Daniel Marwecki what escalating tensions between Israel and the Iranian-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah mean for the Middle East.

James M. Dorsey discusses on Radio Islam the fallout of a massive attack on Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah's communications infrastructure.

James M. Dorsey, adjunct senior fellow at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, weighs in on Israel-Hezbollah tensions following the deadly pager blasts in Lebanon, and considers whether Washington has any leverage to prevent the conflict spiralling out of control.

Iran and its Arab allies may not want an out Middle East war, but that has not stopped them from increasingly engaging Israel on multiple fronts.

A US decision to dial back its reinforced military presence in the Middle East suggests that America’s commitment to defend Israel could be less ironclad than the Biden administration would like the world to believe.

Israel hasn’t just lost the battle for hearts and minds in much of the world, including significant constituencies in Western countries. It has scored a significant own goal that has rendered it all but impossible to achieve a key element of Israel’s quest for Middle Eastern and Muslim recognition.

Let’s be clear. Hamas’ alleged execution of six Israeli hostages constitutes a war crime. The hostages were killed in line with new Hamas guidelines that violate international law on how guards should handle hostages if Israeli forces approached their hideouts Even so, the guidelines have proven to be a powerful tool in the struggle to achieve a Gaza ceasefire.

James M. Dorsey, senior fellow at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies talks to TRT World about Gaza ceasefire negotiations and unpacks what Washington could do to bring Israel to the negotiation table.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and onetime Palestinian foreign minister Nasser Al-Kidwa have put forward a proposal designed to keep a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict alive. The proposal caters to Palestinian national aspirations as well as Israeli efforts to groom a Palestinian leadership that is not tied to Hamas or the internationally recognised, West Bank-base...

This week’s US sanctioning of an Israeli-government-backed vigilante settler group constitutes a weak shot across Israel’s bow as the United States and Europe mull also sanctioning ultra-nationalist members of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s cabinet.

Middle East Report 30 August 2024

A recent evolution in critics’ thinking about Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s drivers suggests that he is motivated as much by ultra-nationalist ideology as by political opportunism.

James M. Dorsey tells TRT World that the escalating hostilities raise more questions than they provides answers.

Sunday’s escalation of hostilities along the Israeli-Lebanese border raises more questions than it provides answers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to continue the Gaza war extends beyond personal political survival and legal concerns, says Dr James M. Dorsey in an interview with Radio Islam.

Gaza’s desperately needed but increasingly elusive ceasefire, if achieved, is likely to be fragile, threatened by multiple ticking time bombs that could explode at any given moment unless it is embedded in a political process that culminates with the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The time bombs are ticking with or without a ceasefire but will likely be accentuated if and when the g...

US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators appear optimistic after two days of Gaza ceasefire talks. Even so, US officials are considering confronting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly should the talks ultimately fail. Long frustrated with Mr. Netanyahu's refusal to heed US advice, President Joe Biden is considering shelving his bear hug approach for a more assertive attitude should the US-Qatar-...

James M. Dorsey, adjunct senior fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies talks to TRT World about the latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha and the prospects of a lasting truce in Israel’s war on Gaza.

When Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif with up to 3,000 of his singing, dancing, and praying ultra-nationalist religious followers, he didn’t just target the site holy to Jews and Muslims.

Former US national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski’s warning in 2002 that Israel was losing its global standing as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalated during the second Intifada or uprising against Israeli occupation seemed overstated at the time. However, looking back, Mr. Brzezinski’s warning rings prophetic.