Podcasts about Arab News

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, AJC hosted a conversation with Jason Greenblatt, a key architect of the Abraham Accords, and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. They discussed the challenges threatening regional stability, from unilateral moves on Palestinian statehood to political pressures within Israel, and underscored what's at stake—and what it will take—to expand the Abraham Accords and advance peace. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.  Episode lineup: Dan Shapiro (1:00) Jason Greenblatt (18:05) Full transcript: https://www.ajc.org/news/podcast/accords-of-tomorrow-architects-of-peace-episode-5 Resources: AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace - Tune in weekly for new episodes. AJC.org/AbrahamAccords - The Abraham Accords, Explained AJC.org/CNME - Find more on AJC's Center for a New Middle East Listen – AJC Podcasts: AJC.org/ForgottenExodus AJC.org/PeopleofthePod Follow Architects of Peace on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace You can reach us at: podcasts@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript: Manya Brachear Pashman: In September 2020, the world saw what had been years – decades – in the making: landmark peace agreements dubbed the Abraham Accords – normalizing relations between Israel and two Arabian Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Later, in December, they were joined by the Kingdom of Morocco. Five years later, AJC is pulling back the curtain to meet key individuals who built the trust that led to these breakthroughs and turning the spotlight on some of the results. Introducing the Architects of Peace. On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, American Jewish Committee hosted conversations with former Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, a key architect of the Abraham Accords, and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro:. Both diplomats discussed the dangers threatening peace in the region, including some countries' unilateral calls for Palestinian statehood. They shared what's at stake and what it will take to expand the Abraham Accords and make progress toward peace in the region. We're including those conversations as part of our series.  AJC's Chief Strategy and Communications Officer Belle Yoeli starts us off with Ambassador Shapiro. Belle Yoeli:  Ambassador Shapiro, thank you so much for being with us. We're going to speak primarily about unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, but I, of course, want to ask you a couple of questions, because you have so much to share with us before we dive in.  First and foremost, as we've said, It's been almost two years, and at AJC, we're all about optimism and playing the long game, as you know, but it does feel like the challenges for the Jewish community and the state of Israel continue to build. And of course, the war looms very large. What is your analysis of the geopolitical horizon for the war in Gaza. Dan Shapiro:  First, thanks for having me. Thank you to American Jewish Committee and to Ted and everybody for all you do. Thank you, Ruby [Chen], and the families, for the fellowship that we can share with you in this goal. I'll just say it very simply, this war needs to end. The hostages need to come home. Hamas needs to be removed from power. And aid needs to surge into Gaza and move forward with a reconstruction of Gaza for Palestinians who prepare to live in peace with Israel. This is something that is overdue and needs to happen. I think there have been a number of missed opportunities along the way. I don't say this in a partisan way. I think President Trump has missed opportunities at the end of the first ceasefire, when the first ceasefire was allowed to expire after the Iran strike, something I strongly supported and felt was exactly the right thing to do. There was an opening to create a narrative to end the war. I think there have been other missed opportunities. And I don't say in a partisan way, because the administration I served in, the Biden administration, we made mistakes and we missed opportunities. So it can be shared. that responsibility.  But what I do think is that there is a new opportunity right now, and we saw it in President Trump's meeting with Arab leaders. It's going to take very significant, deft, and sustained diplomatic effort. He's got a good team, and they need to do the follow through now to hold the Arabs to their commitments on ensuring Hamas is removed from power, on ensuring that there's a security arrangement in Gaza that does not leave Israel vulnerable to any possibility of a renewal of hostilities against it. And of course, to get the hostages released. That's pressure on the Arabs. And of course, he's got a meeting coming up with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and I do think he's going to need to lean on Prime Minister Netanyahu to overcome the resistance that he has to deal with in his cabinet, from those who want to continue the war or who those who rule out any role of any kind for the Palestinian Authority in something that will follow in the day after in Gaza.  So there is a real opportunity here. Once the war is over, then we have an opportunity to get back on the road that we were on. Two years ago at this UN General Assembly, I was serving as the Biden administration's Senior Advisor on regional integration, the first State Department position to hold that, trying to follow through on the excellent work that Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner and, of course, President Trump did in the first term in achieving the Abraham Accords. And we were building out the Negev Forum. And in fact, at that UNGA meeting, we had planned the next ministerial meeting of the Negev Forum. It was to take place October 19 in Marrakesh. Obviously, no one ever heard about that summit. It didn't happen. But getting back on the road to strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords, to getting Saudi Arabia to the table as a country that will normalize relations with Israel, to expanding regional forums like the Negev Forum. Those are all still within reach, but none of them are possible until the war ends, till the hostages are home, till Hamas is removed from power.  Belle Yoeli:  Absolutely. And we look forward to talking more about the day after, in our next segment, in a segment coming up. Ambassador, you just got back from Israel. Can you tell us about your experience, the mood, what's the climate like in Israel? And any insights from your meetings and time that you think should be top of mind for us? Dan Shapiro:  I think what was top of mind for almost every Israeli I spoke to was the hostages. I spent time in the hostage square in Tel Aviv, spent time with Ruby, spent time with other hostage families, and everywhere you go as everybody who spin their nose, you see the signs, you hear the anxiety. And it's getting deeper because of the time that people are worried is slipping away for, especially for those who are still alive, but for all of those hostages to be returned to their families, so deep, deep anxiety about it, and candidly, some anger, I think we just heard a little bit of it toward a government that they're not sure shares that as the highest priority. There's a lot of exhaustion. People are tired of multiple rounds of reserve duty, hundreds of days. Families stressed by that as well the concern that this could drag on with the new operation well into next year. It's allowed to continue. It's a lot of worry about Israel's increased isolation, and of course, that's part of the subject. We'll discuss how countries who have been friends of Israel, whether in the region or in Europe or elsewhere, are responding in more and more negative ways, and Israel, and all Israelis, even in their personal lives, are feeling that pinch. But there's also some, I guess, expectant hope that President Trump, who is popular in Israel, of course, will use his influence and his regional standing, which is quite significant, to put these pieces together. Maybe we're seeing that happening this week. And of course, there's some expectant hope, or at least expectant mood, about an election next year, which will bring about some kind of political change in Israel. No one knows exactly what that will look like, but people are getting ready for that. So Israelis are relentlessly forward, looking even in the depths of some degree of anxiety and despair, and so I was able to feel those glimmers as well. Belle Yoeli:  And relentlessly resilient, absolutely resilient. And we know that inspires us. Moving back to the piece on diplomatic isolation and the main piece of our conversation, obviously, at AJC, we've been intensely focused on many of the aspects that are concerning us, in terms of unfair treatment of countries towards Israel, but unilateral recognition of Palestinian state is probably the most concerning issue that we've been dealing with this week, and obviously has gotten a lot of attention in the media. So from your perspective, what is this really all about? Obviously, this, this has been on the table for a while. It's not the first time that countries have threatened to do this, but I think it is the first time we're time we're seeing France and other major countries now pushing this forward in this moment. Is this all about political pressure on Israel? Dan Shapiro:  Well, first, I'll say that I think it's a mistake. I think it's an ill advised set of initiatives by France, by Canada, Australia, UK and others. It will change almost it will change nothing on the ground. And so to that sense, it's a purely rhetorical step that changes nothing, and probably does little, if anything, to advance toward the stated goal of some sort of resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And in many ways, it may actually set it back in part because of the way it appears to and certainly many Israelis understand it too. And I'm sorry to say, many Arabs understand it to reward Hamas. Hamas is celebrating it as an achievement of October 7, and that October 7 will find its place in the pantheon of the Palestinian Liberation story that should never be allowed to happen. So doing it this way, doing it without conditioning it on the release of hostages, on the disarming and removal of Hamas from Gaza, is a mistake. And of course, it tells Israelis that their very legitimate concerns about obviously the hostages, but also that some future Palestinian state, wherever and whatever form it might take, could become a threat to them from other parts, from parts of the West Bank, as it was from Gaza on October 7. And you cannot get to that goal unless you're willing to engage the Israeli public on those concerns, very legitimate concerns, and address them in a very forthright way.  So I think it's a mistake. I'm sure, to some degree, others have made this observation. It is motivated by some of the domestic political pressures that these leaders feel from their different constituencies, maybe their left, left wing constituencies, some right wing constituencies, and some immigrant constituencies. And so maybe they're responding to that. And I think that's, you know, leaders deal with those types of things. I think sometimes they make bad decisions in dealing with those types of pressures. I think that's the case here, but I it's also the case. I think it's just fair to say that in the absence of any Israeli Government articulated viable day after, plan for Gaza, something we were urged Israel to work with us on all the time. I was serving in the Biden administration, and I think the Trump administration has as well, but it's remained blurry. What does what is that vision of the day after? Not only when does it start, but what does it look like afterwards? And is it something that Arab States and European states can buy into and get behind and and put their influence to work to get Hamas out and to do a rebuild that meets the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians. There hasn't been that. And so that could have been a way of satisfying some of those domestic pressures, but it wasn't really available. And so I think some of the leaders turn to this ill advised move instead. Belle Yoeli:  So perhaps catering to domestic political concerns and wanting to take some sort of moral high ground on keeping peace alive, but beyond that, no real, practical or helpful outcomes, aside from setting back the cause of peace? Dan Shapiro:  I think it has limited practical effects. Fact, I think it does tell Israelis that much of the world has not internalized their legitimate concerns, and that they will be, you know, cautious at best for this. Everybody knows that there are many Israelis who have been long standing supporters of some kind of two state resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And post October 7, they've, they don't still hold that position, or at least they say, if it can happen, it's going to take a long time, it's going to look very different. And I think that actually is some a real practical takeaway, that if we are going to talk about some future establishment of a Palestinian state and some two state arrangement, certainly separation between Israelis and Palestinians, so they don't try to live intermixed in a way that they govern each other. I think that is that is desirable, but it's not necessarily going to look like two state outcomes that were envisioned in the Oslo period, in the 90s and the 2000s it's going to look different. It's going to take longer. And so that is something that I think we have to make sure is understood as people raise this initiative, that their goal is not the goal of 1993 it's going to have to look different, and it's going to have to take longer. Belle Yoeli:  So as more and more countries have sort of joined this, this move that we find to be unhelpful, obviously, a concern that we all have who are engaged in this work is that we've heard response, perhaps, from the Israelis, that there could be potential annexation of the West Bank, and that leads to this sort of very, very, even more concerning scenario that all of the work that you were discussing before, around the Abraham Accords, could freeze, or, perhaps even worse, collapse. What's your analysis on that scenario? How concerned should we be based on everything that you know now and if not that scenario? What else should we be thinking about? Dan Shapiro:  We should be concerned. I was actually in Israel, when the UAE issued their announcement about four weeks ago that annexation in the West Wing could be a red line, and I talked to a very senior UAE official and tried to understand what that means, and they aren't, weren't prepared to or say precisely what it means. It doesn't necessarily mean they're going to break off relations or end the Abraham Accords, but that they would have to respond, and there's a limited range of options for how one could respond, with moving ambassadors or limiting flights or reducing certain kinds of trade or other visits. Nothing good, nothing that would help propel forward the Abraham accords and that particular critical bilateral relationship in a way that we wanted to so I think there's risk. I think if the UAE would take that step, others would probably take similar steps. Egypt and Jordan have suggested there would be steps. So I think there's real risk there, and I think it's something that we should be concerned about, and we should counsel our Israeli friends not to go that route. There are other ways that they may respond. In fact, I think we've already seen the Trump administration, maybe as a proxy, make some kind of moves that try to balance the scales of these unilateral recognitions. But that particular one, with all of the weight that it carries about what how it limits options for future endpoints, I think would be very, very damaging. And I don't think I'm the only one. Just in the last hour and a half or so, President Trump, sitting in the Oval Office, said very publicly that he, I think you said, would not allow Netanyahu to do the Analyze annexation of the West Bank. I think previously, it was said by various people in the administration that it's really an Israeli decision, and that the United States is not going to tell them what to do. And that's perfectly fine as a public position, and maybe privately, you can say very clearly what you think is the right course, he's now said it very publicly. We'll see if he holds to that position. But he said it, and I think given the conversations he was having with Arab leaders earlier this week, given the meeting, he will have his fourth meeting. So it's obviously a very rich relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday, I think it's clear what he believes is necessary to get to the end of this war and not leave us in a worse position for trying to get back on the road to his goals. His goals of expanding the Abraham accords his great achievement from the first term, getting Saudi Arabia to normalize relations, of course, getting hostages released and getting Arabs involved in the reconstruction of Gaza in a way that Gaza can never become the threat it was again on October 7, those are his goals. They'll be well served by the end of the war that I described earlier, and by avoiding this cycle that you're referencing. Belle Yoeli:  Putting aside the issue of unilateral recognition, I think we've seen in our work with our Israeli counterparts, sort of differences in the political establish. Around how important it is in thinking about the day after and seeing movement on the Palestinian issue. And we've seen from some that they perhaps make it out that it's not as important that the Palestinian having movement towards a political path. It's not necessarily a have to be front and center, while others seem to prioritize it. And I think in our work with Arab countries, it's very clear that there does have to be some tangible movement towards the political aspirations for the Palestinian for there to really be any future progress beyond the Abraham accords. What's your take? Dan Shapiro:  My take is that the Arab states have often had a kind of schizophrenic view about the Palestinian issue. It's not always been, maybe rarely been their highest priority. They've certainly had a lot of disagreements with and maybe negative assessments of Palestinian leaders, of course, Hamas, but even Palestinian Authority leaders. And so, you know, it's possible to ask the question, or it has been over time, you know, how high do they prioritize? It? Certainly those countries that stepped forward to join the Abraham accords said they were not going to let that issue prevent them from advancing their own interests by establishing these productive bilateral relations with Israel, having said that there's no question that Arab publics have been deeply, deeply affected by the war in Gaza, by the coverage they see they unfortunately, know very little about what happened on October 7, and they know a lot about Israeli strikes in Gaza, civilian casualties, humanitarian aid challenges, and so that affects public moods. Even in non democratic countries, leaders are attentive to the views of their publics, and so I think this is important to them. And every conversation that I took part in, and I know my colleagues in the Biden administration with Arab states about those day after arrangements that we wanted them to participate in, Arab security forces, trainers of Palestinian civil servants, reconstruction funding and so forth. They made very clear there were two things they were looking for. They were looking for a role for the Palestinian Authority, certainly with room to negotiate exactly what that role would be, but some foothold for the Palestinian Authority and improving and reforming Palestinian Authority, but to have them be connected to that day after arrangement in Gaza and a declared goal of some kind of Palestinian state in the future.  I think there was a lot of room in my experience, and I think it's probably still the case for flexibility on the timing, on the dimensions, on some of the characteristics of that outcome. And I think a lot of realism among some of these Arab leaders that we're not talking about tomorrow, and we're not talking about something that might have been imagined 20 or 30 years ago, but they still hold very clearly to those two positions as essentially conditions for their involvement in getting to getting this in. So I think we have to take it seriously. It sounds like President Trump heard that in his meeting with the Arab leaders on Tuesday. It sounds like he's taking it very seriously. Belle Yoeli:  I could ask many more questions, but I would get in trouble, and you've given us a lot to think about in a very short amount of time. Ambassador Shapiro, thank you so much for being with us. Dan Shapiro:  Thank you. Thank you everybody.  Manya Brachear Pashman: As you heard, Ambassador Shapiro served under President Obama. Now AJC's Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson speaks with Jason Greenblatt, who served under President Trump. But don't expect a counterpoint. Despite their political differences, these two men see eye to eye on quite a bit. Jason Isaacson: Jason first, thank you for the Abraham Accords. The work that you did changed the history of the Middle East. We are so full of admiration for the work of you and your team. Jared Kushner. Of course, President Trump, in changing the realities for Israel's relationship across the region and opening the door to the full integration of Israel across the region.  It's an unfinished work, but the work that you pioneered with the President, with Jared, with the whole team, has changed the perspective that Israel can now enjoy as it looks beyond the immediate borders, Jordan and Egypt, which has had relations with a quarter a century or more, to full integration in the region. And it's thanks to you that we actually are at this point today, even with all the challenges. So first, let me just begin this conversation by just thanking you for what you've done.  Jason Greenblatt: Thank you. Thank you, and Shana Tova to everybody, thank you for all that you do. Jason Isaacson: Thank you. So you were intimately involved in negotiations to reach normalization agreements between Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, of course, the United Arab Emirates. Can you take us behind the scenes of these negotiations? At what point during the first term of President Trump did this become a priority for the administration, and when did it seem that it might actually be a real possibility? Jason Greenblatt: So I have the benefit, of course, of looking backward, right? We didn't start out to create the Abraham Accords. We started out to create peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which, as Dan knows, and so many people here know, including you Jason, seems to be an impossible task. But I would say that if I follow the breadcrumbs, my first meeting with Yousef Al Otaiba was a lunch, where it was the first time I actually ever met an Emirati, the first time I understood the psychology of the Emiratis. And others. I realized that the world had changed tremendously.  Everything that you heard about anti-Israel wasn't part of the conversation. I'll go so far as to say, when I went to the Arab League Summit that took place in Jordan in March of 2017 where I met every foreign minister. And I'm not going to tell you that I loved many of those meetings, or 85% of the conversation, where it wasn't exactly excited about Israel and what Israel stood for. There were so many things in those conversations that were said that gave me hope.  So it was multiple years of being in the White House and constantly trying to work toward that. But I want to go backwards for a second, and you touched on this in your speech, there are many parents and grandparents of the Abraham Accords, and AJC is one of those parents or grandparents. There are many people who work behind the scenes, Israeli diplomats and so many others. And I'm sure the Kingdom of Morocco, where the architecture was built for something like the Abraham Accords, everybody wanted regional peace and talked about Middle East peace. But we were fortunate, unfortunately for the Palestinians who left the table, which was a big mistake, I think, on their part, we're very fortunate to take all of that energy and all of that hard work and through a unique president, President Trump, actually create that architecture.  On a sad note, I wouldn't say that when I left the White House, I thought I'd be sitting here thinking, you know, five years out, I thought there'd be lots of countries that would already have signed and all the trips that I take to the Middle East, I thought would be much. Now they're easy for me, but we're in a very, very different place right now. I don't think I ever would have envisioned that. Jason Isaacson: Thank you. The administration has talked a great deal about expanding the Abraham Accords, of course, and as have we. Indeed, at an AJC program that we had in Washington in February with Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, he talked publicly for the first time about Lebanon and Syria joining the Accords. Obviously, with both of those countries, their new political situation presents new possibilities.  However, the ongoing war in Gaza, as we've been discussing with Ambassador Shapiro, and Israel's actions, including most recently striking Hamas in Doha, have further isolated Israel in the region and made an expansion of the accords harder to envision. At least, that's the way it seems. Given the current situation in the Middle East. Do you think the Trump administration can be successful in trying to broker new agreements, or do the current politics render that impossible in the short term? How hopeful are you? Jason Greenblatt: So I remain hopeful. First of all, I think that President Trump is a unique president because he's extremely close to the Israeli side, and he's very close to the Arab side. And he happens to have grandchildren who are both, right. I think, despite this terrible time that we're facing, despite hostage families, I mean, the terrible things that they have to live through and their loved ones are living it through right now, I still have hope. There's no conversation that I have in the Arab world that still doesn't want to see how those Abraham Accords can be expanded. Dan, you mentioned the Arab media. It's true, the Arab world has completely lost it when it comes to Israel, they don't see what I see, what I'm sure all of you see.  I'm no fan of Al Jazeera, but I will say that there are newspapers that I write for, like Arab News. And when I leave the breakfast room in a hotel in Riyadh and I look at the headlines of, not Al Jazeera, but even Arab News, I would say, Wow, what these people are listening to and reading, what they must think of us. And we're seeing it now play out on the world stage. But despite all that, and I take my kids to the Middle East all the time, we have dear friends in all of those countries, including very high level people. I've gotten some great Shana Tovas from very high level people. They want the future that was created by the Abraham Accords. How we get there at this particular moment is a big question mark. Jason Isaacson: So we touched on this a little bit in the earlier conversation with Dan Shapiro:. Your team during the first Trump administration was able to defer an Israeli proposal to annex a portion of the West Bank, thanks to obviously, the oped written by Ambassador Al Otaiba, and the very clear position that that government took, that Israel basically had a choice, normalization with the UAE or annexation. Once again, there is discussion now in Israel about annexation. Now the President, as Ambassador Shapiro just said, made a very dramatic statement just a couple of hours ago. How do you see this playing out? Do you think that annexation is really off the table now? And if it were not off the table, would it prevent the continuation of the agreements that were reached in 2020 and the expansion of those agreements to a wider integration of Israel in the region? Jason Greenblatt: To answer that, I think for those of you who are in the room, who don't know me well, you should understand my answer is coming from somebody who is on the right of politics, both in Israel and here. In fact, some of my Palestinian friends would say that sometimes I was Bibi's mouthpiece. But I agree with President Trump and what he said earlier today that Dan had pointed out, I don't think this is the time. I don't think it's the place. And I was part of the team that wrote the paperwork that would have allowed Israel to . . . you use the word annexation. I'll say, apply Israeli sovereignty. You'll use the word West Bank, I'll use Judea, Samaria.  Whatever the label is, it really doesn't matter. I don't think this is the time to do it. I think Israel has so many challenges right now, militarily, hostages, there's a million things going on, and the world has turned against Israel. I don't agree with those that are pushing Bibi. I don't know if it's Bibi himself, but I hope that Bibi could figure out a way to get out of that political space that he's in. And I think President Trump is making the right call. Jason Isaacson: So, I was speaking with Emirati diplomats a couple of days ago, who were giving me the sense that Israel hasn't gotten the message that the Palestinian issue is really important to Arab leaders. And we talked about this with Ambassador Shapiro earlier, that it's not just a rhetorical position adopted by Arab leaders. It actually is the genuine view of these Arab governments. Is that your sense as well that there needs to be something on the Palestinian front in order to advance the Abraham Accords, beyond the countries that we've established five years ago? Jason Greenblatt: You know, when I listened to Dan speak, and I told him this after his remarks, I'm always reminded that even though we disagree around the edges on certain things, if you did a Venn diagram, there would be a lot of overlap. I agree with how he sees the world. But I want to take it even back to when I was in the White House.  There are many times people said, Oh, the Arabs don't care about the Palestinians. They don't care. We could just do whatever we want. It's not true. They may care more about their own countries, right? They all have their visions, and it's important to them to advance their own visions. The Palestinian cause may not have been as important, but there is no way that they were going to abandon the Palestinians back then, and I don't think the UAE or the Kingdom of Morocco or others having entered into the Abraham Accords, abandoned the Palestinians. I think that was the wrong way to look at it, but they are certainly not going to abandon the Palestinians now. And I think that how Dan described it, which is there has to be some sort of game plan going forward. Whether you want to call it a state, which, I don't like that word, but we can't continue to live like this. I'm a grandfather now of three. I don't want my grandchildren fighting this fight. I really don't. Is there a solution?  Okay, there's a lot of space between what I said and reality, and I recognize that, but it's incumbent on all of us to keep trying to figure out, is there that solution? And it's going to include the Palestinians. I just want to close my answer with one thing that might seem odd to everybody. I'm not prone to quoting Saeb Erekat, who I disagreed with, the late Saeb Erekat, who I disagreed with just about on everything, but he used to tell me, Jason, the answer isn't in the Koran, it's not in the Torah, it's not in the Christian Bible, and the Israelis and the Palestinians are not leaving the space. So let's figure out a solution that we could all live with. So that's how I see it. Jason Isaacson: Thank you for that. One last question. I also heard in another conversation with other em righty diplomats the other day that the conflict isn't between Arabs and Israelis or Arabs and Jews, it's between moderates and extremists, and that the UAE is on the side of the moderates, and Morocco is on the side of the moderates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain is on the side of the moderates, and Israel is on the side of the moderates. And that's what we have to keep in our minds.   But let me also ask you something that we've been saying for 30 years across the region, which is, if you believe in the Palestinian cause, believe in rights for the Palestinians, you will advance that cause by engaging Israel, not by isolating Israel. Is that also part of the argument that your administration used five years ago? Jason Greenblatt: 100%. I think, I mean, I kept pushing for it and eventually they did it, for the Israelis and the Arabs to engage directly. Yes, the US plays a role, and they could play a moderating role. They could play somewhat of a coercive role. Nobody's going to force the Israelis, or frankly, even the Palestinians, to do anything they don't want to do, but getting them in the room so there are no missed signals, no missed expectations, I think, is the key part of this solution. I'm still hopeful, just to go back to your prior question, that they could get the right people in the room and somebody like President Trump, together with Emirati diplomats, Moroccan diplomats and others. They could talk rationally, and sanely, and appropriately, and we'll get somewhere good. Jason Isaacson: Ok, look ahead. We just marked the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords. Will there be a 10th Anniversary of the Abraham Accords, and will it look the same that it is now? Jason Greenblatt: No, I think it's going to be better. Yes, I think there's going to be a 10th Anniversary. I think there will be challenges. But maybe the best way I could answer this is, when the, I'll call it, the beeper incident in Lebanon happened. Okay, quite, quite a feat. I was in a conference room at a client of mine in the Middle East. Most of the room was filled with Lebanese Arabs, Christians and Muslims and some Druze. And it was unusual for everybody's phone to buzz at once, because I'm usually following the Israeli and American news. They're following Arab news. All the phones buzz. So somebody stopped talking, and we all picked up our phone to look at it. And I'm looking at the headlines thinking, oh, boy, am I in the wrong room, right?  And after a minute or so of people kind of catching their breath, understanding what happened, two or three of them said, wow, Jason. Like, that's incredible. Like, you know, I wasn't in the White House anymore, but they also want a different future, right? They are sick and tired of Lebanon being a failed state. Their kids are like my kids, and they're just . . . they're everything that they're building is for a different future, and I see that time and time again. So to go back to the UAE diplomats comment, which I hear all the time as well. It really is a fight of moderates against extremists. The extremists are loud and they're very bad. We know that, but we are so much better. So working together, I think we're going to get to somewhere great. Jason Isaacson: Very good. Okay. Final question. You can applaud, it's okay. Thank you for that. Out of the Abraham Accords have grown some regional cooperation agreements. I too, you too, IMEC, the India, Middle East, Europe, Economic corridor. Do you see that also, as part of the future, the creation of these other regional agreements, perhaps bringing in Japan and Korea and and other parts of the world into kind of expanding the Abraham Accords? In ways that are beneficial to many countries and also, at the same time, deepening the notion of Israelis, Israel's integration in the region. Jason Greenblatt: 100% and I know I think AJC has been very active on the IMEC front. People used to say, Oh, this is not an economic peace. It isn't an economic peace, but nor is economics not a very important part of peace. So all of these agreements, I encourage you to keep working toward them, because they will be needed. In fact, one of the fights that I used to have with Saeb Erekat and President Abbas all the time is, I know you're not an economic issue, but let's say we manage to make peace. What's going to happen the next day? You need an economic plan. Let's work on the economic plan. So whether it's IMEC or something else, just keep working at it. Go, you know, ignore the bad noise. The bad noise is here for a little while, unfortunately, but there will be a day after, and those economic agreements are what's going to be the glue that propels it forward. Jason Isaacson: Jason Greenblatt, really an honor to be with you again. Thank you.  Manya Brachear Pashman: In our next episode of the series, we will explore more of the opportunities and challenges presented by the Abraham Accords and who might be the next country to sign the landmark peace agreement.  Atara Lakritz is our producer. T.K. Broderick is our sound engineer. Special thanks to Jason Isaacson, Sean Savage, and the entire AJC team for making this series possible.  You can subscribe to Architects of Peace on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and you can learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace. The views and opinions of our guests don't necessarily reflect the positions of AJC. You can reach us at podcasts@ajc.org. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to spread the word, and hop onto Apple Podcasts or Spotify to rate us and write a review to help more listeners find us. Music Credits: Middle East : ID: 279780040; Composer: Eric Sutherland Inspired Middle East: ID: 241884108; Composer: iCENTURY Mystical Middle East: ID: 212471911; Composer: Vicher

Post Malone BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Post Malone is everywhere right now and in the past few days he has been on an absolute roll. His genre-bending takeover continues to attract headlines across music, business, and lifestyle media. According to the Los Angeles Times, Stagecoach just revealed Malone as one of three superstar headliners for its 2026 festival in Indio California alongside Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson, setting up what is already described as one of the most anticipated country music gatherings of the year. The full lineup, announced September 25, includes a stunning variety of acts, from country mainstays like Brooks & Dunn and Wynonna Judd to crossover legends Journey and Hootie & the Blowfish. Stagecoach producers are counting on Malone's country credibility, riding high after his chart-topping debut country album, to draw not just fans from Nashville but a new, broader audience of pop and hip-hop devotees.It does not stop there: Wildwood, New Jersey's Barefoot Country Music Fest announced on September 27 that Post will headline their own massive beachfront event in June 2026. Organizers call him the biggest superstar they've ever booked. With “F-1 Trillion” blazing up the country and pop charts and raking in eight 2025 Grammy nominations—including for his collaborations with Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Blake Shelton, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift—Malone is the hottest ticket in country right now. His show at Barefoot is shaping up to be a generational festival moment, putting him alongside the likes of festival-circuit giants.Not content to just change music, Post Malone is shaking up the snack world. USA Today and a release through Oreo's parent company Mondelēz confirm that Post has his own limited-run Oreo flavor: the Post Malone Oreo. This unique swirl—salted caramel and shortbread creme sandwiched between chocolate and vanilla wafers—officially arrives on shelves in February with nine collectible cookie embossments inspired by Post's signature songs and iconography. He admitted in interviews that this “is the best Oreo ever” and that he's been a lifelong fan of the cookie. Social media is already hyped about this launch, and the brand sees it as a game changer in its celebrity collaboration playbook.Internationally, Arab News reports that Post will perform at the opening of the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 10, and then headline the massive Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert in December. These global gigs reinforce his status as a sought-after festival magnet and a true global hitmaker, not just an American star.No major personal controversies or speculative stories have broken in the past week, and, if social buzz on X and Instagram is any indication, Post is in a celebratory and focused phase, sharing rehearsal snippets and tour moments, reposting Grammy nod congratulatory messages, and even poking fun at his Oreo obsession. If you're following headlines or cultural momentum, it is clear: Post Malone is pacing himself for a country music reinvention that could last, while his cross-platform savvy keeps audiences and brands chasing after him.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines across the footballing world and Saudi Arabia this week, as the Al Nassr captain took center stage both on and off the pitch. The most talked-about story is his public celebration of Saudi Arabia's 95th National Day on September 23, 2025. On Instagram and X, Ronaldo shared a heartfelt message wishing everyone in the Kingdom a day filled with pride, unity, and celebration with their loved ones. His post, which included a video where Ronaldo praised the country's safety, culture, and quality of life, quickly garnered millions of likes and went viral, especially as he appeared in traditional Saudi attire complete with a green-and-white scarf, embodying the spirit of the occasion. According to Arab News, the post was viewed more than 15.5 million times, reflecting both his enormous influence and his genuine connection with his adopted home.He reiterated that Saudi Arabia is a “safe country” and a “fantastic place to live,” highlighting the excellent schools, the vibrant tourism sector, and the hospitality of its people. In interviews picked up by Times of India and Free Press Journal, Ronaldo emphasized that his family loves living there and that his commitment to Saudi football and lifestyle has only deepened since extending his Al Nassr contract through 2027. He also stated his desire to contribute to the country's growth beyond football, hinting that the Kingdom may be where he settles long-term.Sporting highlights from this week include Ronaldo's absence from Al Nassr's squad in their King's Cup victory over Jeddah Club on September 24. Speculation arose about a possible injury, but head coach Jorge Jesus, as reported by Republic World, clarified that Ronaldo was simply being rested to maintain fitness ahead of upcoming Saudi Pro League matches, dispelling any rumors of health concerns. Meanwhile, Ronaldo's scoring tally for Al Nassr reached a staggering 103 goals in 116 appearances, with his most recent brace coming in a commanding league win over Al Riyadh on September 22. He now stands just 55 goals away from the awe-inspiring target of 1,000 career goals, a feat closely watched worldwide.Social media buzz has exploded around his National Day posts, with DAZN Football and other outlets highlighting his immense popularity and ability to connect with fans across cultures. No confirmed reports have surfaced regarding new business ventures or high-profile endorsements in the past few days, but ongoing speculation continues about his ambition to capture a long-awaited Saudi league title before retirement.In sum, this week's coverage cements Ronaldo as not only a football icon but also a cultural ambassador and unifying presence in Saudi Arabia, with every move on social media and the field scrutinized and celebrated by fans and the global press alike.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Cristiano Ronaldo has commanded global headlines in the past few days as the face of one of the most high-profile tourism campaigns of the year. Saudi Tourism launched its sweeping “Unreal Calendar” initiative on September 2, putting Ronaldo not just at the center of advertising but positioning him as the living embodiment of a new Saudi Arabia—one that's inviting the world far beyond its football stadiums. In lavishly produced TV spots and multilingual digital campaigns rolling out across Europe, India, and China, Ronaldo beckons audiences with the line “I Came for Football, I Stayed For More,” showing off everything from the adrenaline of packed stadiums to the vibrance of film premieres, fashion weeks, high-octane motorsport, and deeply-rooted desert festivals. According to the campaign's core message and Saudi government officials, Ronaldo is lending global credibility to the country's Vision 2030, an era-defining drive to diversify the kingdom's economy and cultural image. From camels to esports, Red Sea film festivals to Formula 1, the ads depict Ronaldo absorbing it all, and his voice leads viewers into the new Saudi—a nation that wants to be a year-round destination, not just a football pilgrimage according to the Economic Times and Arab News.Beyond the screen, the campaign is already being held up as a case study in using celebrity influence to shift perceptions, with tourism authorities making clear that their aim is more international visitors and a deeper sense of Saudi as a place of modern possibility. Ronaldo himself, now the highest-paid athlete in the world according to The Big Lead, publicly praised Saudi's mix of “heritage and ambition,” noting in multiple interviews that he never saw himself becoming part of such a journey but now feels the country is where the “future of sport” is being written.Social media has responded in kind: Ronaldo's campaign content has been trending across platforms, with Visit Saudi's official Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes material and Ronaldo's personal praise for the country's efforts. There was a brief stir online after Ronaldo posted a cryptic message about his future, leading to speculation among fans and internet detectives, but no major news outlets have confirmed any club or personal upheaval. In terms of business, Ronaldo's role is widely seen as a strategic partnership—a bridge from Saudi's sporting ambitions to its bid for cultural global relevance, as reported by Brand Vision Insights and PR Newswire.For long-term significance, this week's campaign anchors Ronaldo's continued evolution from global athlete to international business and cultural figure—cementing his place in not just football's, but also tourism and brand history.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Reconnaître l'État de Palestine. C'est l'annonce faite hier par Emmanuel Macron. La France officialisera cette reconnaissance lors de la conférence de l'ONU en septembre. Et les réactions sont nombreuses ce matin dans la presse internationale. The Times of Israel ouvre le bal avec les mots de Marco Rubio, secrétaire d'État américain. Il dénonce une décision « imprudente. Une gifle aux victimes du 7-Octobre », peut-on lire dans les colonnes du quotidien. The New York Times parle d'« une déclaration surprise », après « des mois d'allusions et d'hésitations ». The Washington Post y voit « une initiative diplomatique audacieuse dans un contexte de colère mondiale croissante face à la famine à Gaza ». La BBC relève la réaction de l'adjoint de Mahmoud Abbas, Hussein Al-Cheikh. Pour lui, cette décision reflète « l'attachement de la France au droit international ». Même tonalité du côté du mouvement terroriste du Hamas, qui parle d'une décision « allant dans la bonne direction pour rendre justice à notre peuple palestinien opprimé ». Et d'un appel à d'autres États pour « en faire autant ». À l'opposé, Benyamin Netanyahu prévient : « un État palestinien serait un tremplin pour anéantir Israël, et non pour vivre en paix à ses côtés ». The Times of Israel raconte comment la déclaration de Macron est tournée en dérision par plusieurs membres du gouvernement israélien. « Alors qu'Israël est susceptible de prendre des mesures punitives contre la France », écrit le quotidien, « certains ministres ont estimé que la réponse la plus appropriée serait d'annexer le territoire sur lequel les Palestiniens espèrent établir leur futur État ». Le ministre des Finances d'extrême droite, Bezalel Smotrich, remercie Macron d'avoir « fourni une nouvelle raison convaincante pour enfin appliquer la souveraineté israélienne sur les régions historiques de Judée et de Samarie ». Le ministre de la Justice, Yariv Levin, affirme, lui, que « la terre d'Israël appartient au peuple d'Israël ». D'autres vont plus loin encore. Le ministre de la Diaspora, Amichai Chikli, relaie la vidéo virale de la prétendue gifle de Brigitte Macron à son mari, expliquant que « c'est la réponse du gouvernement israélien » aux déclarations du président. La ministre de la Protection de l'environnement, Idit Silman, poste sur le réseau social X une image générée par IA de Macron embrassant le chef du Hamas, Yahya Sinwar [tué le 17 octobre 2024 à Gaza, NDLR]. Dans l'opposition, le ton est moins provocateur. Ayman Odeh, président du parti Hadash-Ta'al, parle d'une « étape nécessaire pour un peuple qui a tant souffert ». Gilad Kariv, député travailliste, fustige une « course puérile entre ministres pour attaquer le président français », au lieu de travailler à une stratégie de long terme. Il conclut : « une bande de bébés trop grands dirige notre pays ». À lire aussiConflit israélo-palestinien: «Reconnaître l'État de Palestine, c'est changer de prisme» Mais ces réactions israéliennes tranchent avec d'autres lectures dans la presse internationale. Arab News rapporte que l'Arabie saoudite « salue cette décision », la qualifiant de « prise de position historique ». De Riyad au Caire, en passant par Amman et Beyrouth, la France est saluée pour avoir « enfin franchi le pas » – aux côtés de 147 pays déjà favorables à la reconnaissance de la Palestine, selon le site argentin Todo Noticias. Et au Royaume-Uni, c'est le Guardian qui observe une onde de choc à Westminster. Un « comité multipartite de députés », appelle le gouvernement britannique à reconnaître à son tour l'État de Palestine, « immédiatement ». Le Premier ministre Keir Starmer, « confronté à une pression croissante pour tenir la promesse du Parti travailliste », convoque une réunion d'urgence avec la France et l'Allemagne. Objectif : discuter de la crise humanitaire à Gaza. Une crise qualifiée de « famine indéfendable » par le chef du gouvernement britannique. Et les bilans continuent de s'alourdir. Au moins quarante morts jeudi dans des frappes israéliennes, selon la défense civile locale. Parmi eux, des enfants et des personnes venues recevoir de l'aide. Quarante-cinq autres sont mortes de faim en quatre jours. Dans un communiqué glaçant, Philippe Lazzarini, commissaire général de l'UNRWA, parle d'« habitants de Gaza transformés en cadavres ambulants ». Il décrit des jeunes « émaciés, faibles, et courant un risque élevé de mourir s'ils ne reçoivent pas le traitement dont ils ont besoin de toute urgence ». Et rappelle que les médecins de l'agence survivent eux-mêmes avec « un petit repas par jour », selon Sky News Australia. Car, reconnaissance ou pas, ce sont bien la guerre et la famine qui se poursuivent sur le terrain. À lire aussi«Historique», «inutile»: le monde réagit à la future reconnaissance française de l'État de Palestine

With Nadim Shehadi in a conversation about his recent Arab News piece: "Reviving May 17 Agreement could be a solution for Lebanon" https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607526 The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 Lokman Slim event 5:21 1983 7:20 May 17 Agreement in retrospect 16:46 No push for internal disarmament 21:50 Tom Barrack's speech

Founded in its modern form in 1932, Saudi Arabia continues to play an important role in the world today, shaping many different regional and global issues. The country also shares a long history of engagement with the United States on various issues, from economic development, military support, and geopolitical goals. While not always in exact alignment, this enduring relationship has continued to strengthen since a historic meeting between U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud in 1945. In light of President Trump's recent visit to the Kingdom, we spoke with Fahad Nazer, Official Spokesperson for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, to gain his insights on this historic relationship, break down some of the deals that were struck during President Trump's visit, and to outline the future for this country. We acknowledge that a lot has changed in the region since the start of the current kinetic war between Israel and Iran, however, we want to note that this interview was completed prior to these attacks. We will continue to watch the ongoing war closely, as tensions in the region continue to rise. Fahad Nazer is the official spokesperson for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to the United States. He was appointed to this role on January 18, 2019. Prior to this appointment, Nazer was a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and served as an International Fellow at the National Council on U.S. Arab Relations. Additionally. He was also a columnist for the daily newspaper Arab News. His publications have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, CNN, Foreign Policy, YaleGlobal Online, The National Interest, and Newsweek. Nazer earned his BA in political science from New York University and an M.A in political science from Saint John's University in New York City. He has also completed the credit and examination requirements of the PhD program in political science at the Catholic University of America in Washington.  

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Episode III: 1995–2004 Taliban take Kabul, Khobar Towers bombed, Second Intifada erupts, 9/11 hits, US occupies Iraq Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Episode IV: 2005–2015 Rafik Hariri assassinated, Arab Spring uprisings erupt, Saudi women win driving rights Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Episode V: 2016–2025 King Salman reigns, Vision 2030 unveiled, Abraham Accords signed, Saudi-Iran ties restored Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Episode II: 1985-1994 Saudi prince in space, First Intifada starts, Lebanon war ends, Kuwait invaded, Oslo Accords signed Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Episode I: 1975–1984 Lebanon civil war begins, Iranian revolution erupts, GCC formed, Sabra and Shatila massacre. Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Today's episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance.

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 26: The American-Israeli aid plan for Gaza is widely scrutinised in the press, as obscure private contractors are involved. Next, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has refused to weaken the European Convention on Human Rights. Meanwhile, a series of power cuts threatened the closing ceremony of the Cannes Festival in the south of France. Also, two sports stars have emotional retirement parties. Finally, snails are celebrated in Catalonia. PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 26: The American-Israeli aid plan for Gaza is widely scrutinised in the press, as obscure private contractors are involved. Next, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has refused to weaken the European Convention on Human Rights. Meanwhile, a series of power cuts threatened the closing ceremony of the Cannes Festival in the south of France. Also, two sports stars have emotional retirement parties. Finally, snails are celebrated in Catalonia.Israel's latest strikes on Gaza killed dozens of people over the weekend, but many papers today are focussing on the IDF's plan to take over Gaza. The Times of Israel goes over the IDF's proposal to capture 75 percent of the Gaza strip in next few months. The joint Israeli and American proposal for a new aid delivery mechanism, which is supposed to start today, has also caused alarm in the papers. The Washington Post discusses the aid plan and the “Foundation for Gaza”. According to Haaretz, the foundation would oversee aid distribution in Gaza, supported by two private military organisations, which Libération explores in more detail. Questions on the transparency of the Israeli aid plan have led to the resignation of the CEO of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, as announced early this morning by Arab News.In Strasbourg, RFI says that the Council of Europe has refused to weaken the European Convention of Human Rights. A group of nine countries asked for a reinterpretation of the European Convention of Human Rights on questions of migration. The Guardian said that the European Court of Human Rights ruled against many of the nine countries who signed the letter, which might have motivated the move. It says that more than 30 cases are pending at the court against Latvia, Lithuania and Poland after allegations of pushing people back into Belarus to prevent them from claiming asylum.French authorities have launched an investigation into the blackouts that struck the Cannes film festival. The story is on the front page of the French paper Aujourd'hui en France. It says that multiple power cuts occurred over the weekend, which were later claimed by an anarchist group targeting the Cannes festival. Libération says that French authorities are still investigating the acts of sabotage that left 200,000 homes without power. Variety reports that the Cannes closing ceremony went ahead as planned. The Palme d'Or was attributed to Iranian Director Jafar Panahi for his film “It was just an accident”. Vogue summarises the best bits, from outfit bans to the red-carpet bee attack.While many papers like Marca are celebrating Rafael Nadal's teary retirement ceremony at Roland Garros, another sports star was making an equally teary departure in the UK. The Daily Mail reports that broadcaster and former England international footballer Gary Lineker has stepped down from his role as presenter of Match of the Day. The Guardian says that the host was forced to step down after 26 years in the job after he shared an anti-Semitic social media post, which he later deleted and apologised for.Finally, although France is known for its snails, it is the Catalans who celebrated the slimy delicacies this weekend. The Times reports on the three-day festival, in what looked like a large-scale gastropod gastropub.You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, May 14: French papers are slightly unsure of what to make of President Emmanuel Macron's three-hour interview on national television. Also, a recent report on the risk of famine in Gaza continues to make front pages, as Israel's aid blockade continues. Next, Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia is scrutinised by American journalists and cartoonists alike. Finally, a maverick mallard has been caught by a speeding camera in Switzerland. Emmanuel Macron's Tuesday night TV address has left most of the French press a little confused. Le Figaro says that the president tried to defend his record. L'Opinion is also describing it as Macron on the defensive. The president had been relatively discreet in the French media recently. The paper says the interview was a very inconclusive end to Macron's media diet. La Provence is also unsure of what the president's message was. The paper says his interview was "without horizon nor solution". Aujourd'hui en France says that Macron seemed "powerless" after three hours spent defending his eight years in office, without providing much insight on the rest of his mandate.A UN-backed report published by experts on food security in Gaza has been widely covered in the press and features on front pages this Wednesday. Le Temps in Switzerland features a cartoon by Chapatte on its front page and reads: "In Gaza, children are also killed by hunger". The front page of L'Humanité is quite distressing and it accuses Israel of using hunger as a weapon of war. The BBC warns that the entire Gaza population is at critical risk of famine. The article says that aid groups have said the blockade could be a war crime and that it amounts to a policy of starvation. The New York Times, meanwhile, reveals that Israeli officers have privately admitted that Gaza is on the brink of starvation.Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of his Middle East Tour. The Saudi paper Arab News is celebrating the "landmark visit" and highlighting Trump's promise to lift sanctions on Syria. The American press is unsurprisingly slightly more critical of his visit. The New York Times says that although Trump said he had secured $600 billion in Saudi deals, the details provided by the White House were vague and totalled less than half that number. Politico is looking at the star-studded cast in attendance during Trump's visit. It says that three dozen American business leaders were invited by the Saudis. Trump had said that the primary goal of his visit was to extend American business in the region. But the Guardian tells us that while the true value of Saudi investments in the US economy remain hazy, the Saudis' deals with the Trump family business are more obvious. A cartoon in The Telegraph illustrates Trump collecting deals for himself. The Times also has a cartoon that makes light of the apparent double purpose of Trump's trip. The Washington Post is similarly insinuating in its cartoon of the day that the US president is available for purchase.Finally, an unusual suspect is on the loose after breaking the speed limit for the second time in Switzerland. The Guardian is reporting on this piece of fowl play: a duck has been snapped flying at 52 km/h in a 30 km/h zone in Switzerland.You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, April 30: Papers worldwide are discussing the impact of Donald Trump's presidency as he marks 100 days in office. Also, Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification with a military parade in Ho Chi Minh City. Next, activists in the UK are finding new ways of protesting fast fashion by mailing their used clothes to CEOs. Finally, a baby vulture is fed in an original way at a New York zoo. Trump's first 100 days in office feature on many front pages. The New Yorker has an illustration of a locked-up Lady Liberty counting the days left on her four-year sentence. The New York Times has a graphic opinion piece, which says that every day since the US president's inauguration has "felt like utter chaos". Time Magazine does a spin on the front page it published almost 10 years ago in August 2015, while the New York Post says this is just the beginning.European papers are also talking about Trump's first 100 days. Les Échos puts into words what many people have been feeling: "100 days which feel more like a thousand”. A sentiment echoed by Libération. The French paper calls Trump's second term an "enterprise of mass destruction" both in the United States and abroad. In Switzerland, Le Temps has a cartoon on its front page by cartoonist Chapatte, illustrating the "hundred days of noise and fury". The Guardian has an opinion piece saying that "the uniting theme of Trump's presidency is ineptitude". The Economist, for its part, just chooses to remind us of how long we still have left.The International papers are also discussing the impact that Trump has had on the world so far. The Saudi news site Arab News says the consequences are clear, noting that Trump has led an "unpredictable campaign that has upended parts of the rules-based world order". The Kenyan paper The Standard takes a similar line. It says that Trump has shattered the US's role on the world stage. In South America, the Argentinian paper Clarin is focusing on Trump's dwindling popularity, while in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post looks at what it calls a "power grab by executive order".In other news, this Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam. The Vietnamese daily Viet Nam News is covering the National Reunification celebration parades happening in Ho Chi Minh City. The anniversary is also celebrated in France by the Communist daily L'Humanité, which devotes a number of pages to what it calls "the epilogue of the US imperialist war". The Italian daily La Repubblica has an article looking at how Vietnam is still fighting the effects of the chemical Agent Orange. The article says that US efforts to help fight the consequences of Agent Orange are now facing funding cuts under the Trump administration.With fast fashion having a huge impact on our environment, some climate activists are opting for a new strategy to hold brands to account. The Guardian has an article which says that activists have started mailing used clothes back to brands. Fast fashion's environmental impact motivated Wendy Ward to start a campaign called Take It Back. She encourages her followers to send their worn-out clothes to CEOs, along with a "non-confrontational letter".Finally, the Associated Press reports that zookeepers in New York are feeding their baby vulture with a hand puppet. The puppet imitates how a young vulture might be fed by its real parents in the wild.You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

I'm excited to share a special episode from the podcast, Gems of Arabia about Arab Representation in Media. The episode, hosted by WIDN alum Hatem Al Akeel, was recorded a few weeks ago at the CNN Academy in Abu Dhabi in front of a live audience of the Academy's latest cohort of budding journalists. We were joined by another WIDN alum Becky Anderson, Managed Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Arab News' Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas. This was a great conversation about breaking stereotypes, how Arab voices are represented, and the importance of re-shaping and owning our narrative on the world stage. I hope you find the conversation as insightful as I did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nadim Shehadi returns to The Beirut Banyan. In this episode we discuss the 2020 Eurobond default and the controversy surrounding that decision. We also look at fault lines formed between the banking sector and restructuring-advocacy groups and the wider story of the economic direction of the country. Nadim Shehadi is an economist and regular contributor to Arab News. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:47 The bigger story 2:58 Any banking sector 5:39 Individual action 12:45 Default 18:49 Fault line 24:08 The banks 33:11 A clear dichotomy 36:04 The Central Bank 43:23 The real question

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we take you into the world of BASE jumping with two of the sport's top athletes, Katie Hansen and Cornelia Mihai. Fresh off their participation in EXIT 139—a historic two-day event where 31 jumpers from 15 countries completed an astonishing 437 jumps from the Burj Khalifa—they share what it means to take that leap, both physically and mentally.Beyond the spectacle, BASE jumping isn't just about adrenaline—it's about trust, presence, and embracing life at full intensity. In a short but sweet episode, Katie and Cornelia reflect on their experiences, the mindset behind the sport, and why it's not about being reckless, but about truly living.Links:

Talks in Doha on a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages are in their "final stages". For the latest Leila Molana-Allen, Special Correspondent with PBS Newshour covering the Middle East and Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations, Chatham House and columnist with Arab News.

挺你所想～與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託銀行官網全新大改版！ 提供好用的數位金融服務～時時刻刻都挺你 立即搜尋【中國信託銀行】 https://bit.ly/3VFio3O -- 仔細聽! 科技聚落大利多! 左營市心，台積電特區，巨蛋高鐵一瞬間 【華友聯 NeXT21】校園首排、永久棟距、3房加平車1688萬起 全新完工，即刻預約 07-322-2121 https://bit.ly/4fkQmBM －－－－以上訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ ※中央社7/6報導 …..特斯拉人形機器人Optimus第2代在2024 WAIC世博展覽館區第1次亮相，其高約173公分、重約56公斤，行走速度每小時8公里，可搬運重物、可輕握雞蛋。 …..Optimus已經具備執行生產任務能力，現在有兩個這樣的機器人在美國工廠從事生產，其可以搬運電池，也可以拿起雞蛋，對於力道的控制非常地好，計畫明年將限量生產1000個機器人，放在美國特斯拉工廠執行生產任務。 …..最終目標希望機器人進入一般家庭，幫人類遛狗、做飯、洗衣服，「還有做那些枯燥乏味的工作」。 ※中央社10/30報導 …..綜合路透社及阿拉伯新聞報（Arab News）報導，馬斯克於沙烏地阿拉伯首都利雅德舉辦的第8屆「未來投資倡議」（Future Investment Initiative）會議發表談話。 …..馬斯克預言，這世界到2040年可能至少會有100億台人形機器人，每台售價落在2萬至2.5萬美元之間。 …..馬斯克還指出，到了2040年，人形機器人數量可能超越人類人口。 飛碟聯播網 提醒關心您： ※酒後不開車，飲酒過量有礙健康，未成年請勿飲酒。 ※吸菸易導致肺癌、心臟血管疾病、肺氣腫等，戒菸可減少健康危害。 ※尊重身體自主權，遇到性騷擾勇於制止，勇敢說不！報案：110，保護專線：113，婦女救援基金會：02-2555-8595，勵馨基金會：02-8911-8595。 ※自我傷害不能解決問題，勇敢求救並非弱者，請珍惜生命。衛福部24小時安心專線：1925，張老師：1980，生命線：1995。 ※拒絕暴力，如遇霸凌請勇於求助，反霸凌專線：1953，教育部投訴專線：0800-200-885，iWIN網路防護機構諮詢專線：02-2577-5118。 ※任何人在依法被判決有罪確定前，均應推定為無罪。 DJ：陶晶瑩（飛碟電台） 週一至五 首播 17:00​​​​​​​​​​​​​​-18:00​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 週六 精華重播 19:00​​​​​​​​​​​​​​-21:00​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 飛碟APP！收聽零距離 ▶ IOS：https://reurl.cc/3jYQMV ▶ Android：https://reurl.cc/5GpNbR ▶ 飛碟聯播網 Youtube頻道 https://www.youtube.com/@921ufonetwork ▶ 飛碟聯播網 FB粉絲團 https://www.facebook.com/ufonetwork921 ▶ 網路線上收聽 http://www.uforadio.com.tw/ ▶ Podcast SoundOn : https://bit.ly/30Ia8Ti Apple Podcasts : https://apple.co/3jFpP6x Spotify : https://spoti.fi/2CPzneD Google 播客：https://bit.ly/3gCTb3G KKBOX：https://reurl.cc/MZR0K4 陶晶瑩 ●Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/momoleelee/ ●facebook：https://www.facebook.com/people/%E9%99%B6%E6%99%B6%E7%91%A9/100044575080077/ ●Podcast：https://open.firstory.me/user/taowoman/platforms 按讚 訂閱 分享 開啟小鈴鐺 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The worst kept 'secret' in football has been confirmed: Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2034. After the announcement from FIFA on Thursday evening, the Kingdom now has ten years to prepare to host football global showpiece; just the third time the FIFA World Cup will be played in Asia after Japan-Korea 2002 and Qatar 2022. We're joined by Gulf football expert, Wael Jabir, and Arab News sports editor, Ali Khaled, to discuss what this means for Saudi Arabia, the reaction inside the country and the readiness of the country to host the biggest sporting event in the world. PLUS... we also speak with Japanese midfielder, Hosei Kijima, after his debut season in MLS and discuss his personal journey from Japan to America, and his love of modern, progressive coaches like Ange Postecoglou.

Hello, and welcome to guest Episode number 168 with Kristen Van Nest. In this episode of the Winging It Travel podcast, host James Hammond engages with author Kristen Van Nest, exploring her extensive travel experiences across 40 countries. They discuss the evolution of travel perspectives, the impact of cultural backgrounds on language and identity, and the personal growth that comes from travel. The conversation also touches on the effects of COVID-19 on travel habits and the generational shifts in how millennials navigate the digital landscape. In this conversation, they discuss the challenges millennials and Gen Z face, particularly in relation to economic shifts and the impact of social media. Kristen reflects on her experiences travelling without technology, shares a near-death skiing adventure, and recounts his experiences during Greece's banking crisis. The conversation also delves into cultural differences observed during his time living in China compared to the USA, highlighting the evolving nature of societal values and economic realities across generations. In this conversation, Kristen shares her unique travel experiences, discussing the cultural nuances of places like Thailand and Bali, her culinary adventures, and the challenges of budget travel. She delves into the themes of belonging and personal growth in her book and explores the intersection of travel and comedy. The discussion emphasizes the importance of being easy on oneself while travelling and embracing the adventure of exploring new places.Kristen Van Nest is the author of "Where to Nest: A Global Search for Love, Cheap Wine, and a Place to Belong"—a memoir that Arab News calls a "funnier, more relatable millennial version of 'Eat, Pray, Love'." Kristen's journey spans over 40 countries, and her book blends humour with insights on travel misadventures, dating dramas, and finding belonging as a young professional abroad. Kristen is also an observational comedian and this episode has plenty of laughs making it a perfect fit for the Winging It Travel Podcast audience.Kristen Van NestWebsiteBookInstagramWinging It Travel PodcastWebsitePlease leave a review and rating wherever you get your podcasts!Winging It Travel Podcast CreditsHost/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James HammondContact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com Social Media - follow me on:InstagramTikTok Facebook Support My Podcast - MembershipsPatreon - HereBuy Me A Coffee - HereSupport My Podcast - Affiliate Links If you click one of the below to book something, I get a...

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 61 of The Wicket, Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain join host Brian Murgatroyd to discuss the three dramatic Tests that took place within the past week, in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as women's cricket in Zimbabwe and India, a white-ball series between Sri Lanka and West Indies' men and the sacking of USA men's Head Coach Stuart Law.

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 60 of The Wicket, host Brian Murgatroyd is joined by Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain to discuss the conclusion of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, dramatic Test matches in Multan and Bengaluru, the ongoing white-ball series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies' men's sides, the Asian cricket Council's Emerging T20 Asia Cup in Oman, Nepal's T20I series win in the USA and much more.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 46 of Dawri, Middle East football journalist Matt Monaghan joins host Peter Redding and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled to discuss the disappointing form of Arab nations during the recent international break, the latest from the Saudi Pro League and the return of the AFC Champions League Elite.  

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 59 of The Wicket, host Brian Murgatroyd is joined by Arb News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain to discuss the Women's T20 World Cup, before tripping around the world to India, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Nepal and Saudi Arabia.

The date is Friday, 11 October 2024 and women's sports news discussed on the podcast today include:

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 58 of The Wicket Arab News cricket columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain join host Brian Murgatroyd  to discuss the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE, the India – Bangladesh men's T20I series, topics around the England – Pakistan Test series, the resignations of Tim Southee as New Zealand Test captain and Babar Azam as Pakistan's leader in white-ball cricket, and much more.

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. In a special edition of The Wicket (Episode 57), the regular Arab News team of host Brian Murgatroyd, columnist John Pike and reporter Subas Humagain discuss the start of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, asses the teams taking part and look forward to the action taking place until Oct. 20.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 45 of Dawri, host Peter Redding and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled are joined by Asian football journalist John Duerden to discuss Al-Hilal's continued dominance in the Saudi Pro League and the state of their challengers after six rounds of matches, as well as look forward to the Asian World Cup qualifiers during the latest international break, including Saudi's vital clashes against Japan and Bahrain.  

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 56 of The Wicket, host Brian Murgatroyd is joined by Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain to discuss the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, New Zealand's Test defeat against Sri Lanka, Pakistan Chairman Mohsin Naqvi's “strategic connection camp”, and much more.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 44 of Dawri, host Peter Reading and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled are joined by Middle East football journalist Matt Monaghan to discuss Al-Hilal's win over Al-Ottohad in the Saudi Classico, the Round of 32 of the King's Cup, Al-Ahli's up down season so far, and much more.

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 55 of The Wicket, Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain join host Brian Murgatroyd to discuss the Tests and One-Day International series involving ICC Full Members, women's series that are acting as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE, as well as World Cup League 2 series in Canada and Namibia.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 43 of Dawri, host Peter Redding and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled are joined by Middle East football journalist Matt Monaghan to discuss a gritty 2-1 win over China for Roberto Mancini Saudi Arabia, the start of the AFC Champions League Elite group stages, the latest SPL news and the Saudi Classico between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad this weekend.

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On episode 54 of The Wicket, Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain join host Brian Murgatroyd to talk about the consequences of not having an Afghanistan women's team and the benefits of the UAE's excellent cricket facilities.

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 53 of The Wicket, host Brian Murgatroyd is joined by Arab News cricket columnist Jon Pike and reporter Subas Humagain to discuss Pakistan's venues for Test series against England, the repeated interruptions to play due to bad light in the recent England v Sri Lanka Test , and much more.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 42 of Dawri, Middle East and Asia football writer John Duerden joins host Peter Redding and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled to discuss Matchday 1 of Round 3 of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, including sensational results for Bahrain, Palestine and the UAE, but a somewhat disappointing outcome for Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia against Indonesia. 

The Wicket is a podcast by Arab News that covers the latest cricket news and results from across the Middle East, Asia and the world. On Episode 52 of The Wicket, host Brian Murgatroyd is joined by Arab News columnist Jon Pike and reporter Suba Humagain to discuss the historic result of the Pakistan v Bangladesh Test in Rawalpindi, as well as cover a raft of other topics from England v Sri Lanka and reflections on Jay Shah's elevation to the ICC Chair, to men's and women's T20 cricket in the Caribbean and Australia, as well as a preview of the Ireland – England women's series.

Dawri is a Saudi football podcast by Arab News. The domestic and continental seasons are over across the region and many countries around the world. On Episode 41 of Dawri, host Peter Redding and Arab News Sports Editor Ali Khaled are joined by Middle East football journalist Matt Monaghan to discuss the opening two rounds of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season, Al-Hilal's continued dominance, Al-Ahli's signing of Ivan Toney from Brentford, Saud Abdulhamid's sensational move to Roma, as well as the prospects for Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab nations in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Joel and Lynn Rosenberg discuss the Evolution of All Israel News and All Arab News. Welcome to Inside the Epicenter, where we take you into the heart of impactful movements and initiatives. In this episode, we delve into the birth of All Israel News and All Arab News as we sit down with Joel and Lynn Rosenberg, the founders of The Joshua Fund. Through compelling storytelling, they passionately discuss the critical need for financial support, the power of educating the church about the truth in Israel, and their mission to bless Israel and her neighbors. Join us as we uncover these news services' significant impact and their vital role in educating the global audience about God's plan for the Middle East. (00:04) Educating the church about truth in Israel. (07:05) Engaging story with scientific and moral elements. (16:46) Ancient watchmen relied on human surveillance. (19:4) Podcast, tours, speaking engagements, frustration with media. (29:14) Taking a break, Ezekiel 33 watchman passage. (35:56) Engaging biblical prophecy videos with animation and music. (41:28) All Israel News showcasing growth, diverse content. (44:13) New service gives voice to diverse perspectives. (53:57) Public outcry and action led to change. (59:07) Founder thankful for Joshua Fund's increased support. Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.comMake a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua FundStock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5 Verse of the Day Ezekiel 33:1-3 - The word of the Lord came to me:  “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them and make him their watchman,  and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people,  then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.   Prayer Request Praise the Lord for all those working for the Joshua Fund, All Israel News, and All Arab News. Pray that God continues to bless and help them.Pray that God protects All Israel News and All Arab News from cyber attacks and from all those trying to shut them down. Related Episodes: What it's Like to Walk Through a War Zone in Gaza #184 Evangelical Perspectives on the War in Israel #160 The Media's War on Israel #136 The Joshua Fund's Origin Story #107 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Professor Mekelberg is an esteemed professor of International Relations, an Associate Fellow of the MENA Programme at Chatham House, and a columnist for Arab News, and joins John Maytham on the Afternoon Drive show to delve deeper into the latest developments regarding Kamala Harris's presidential bid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We focus once again on the ongoing genocide in Gaza with Delinda Hanley, executive editor of the “Washington Report on Middle East Affairs” who tells the heartrending story of an undertaker in Gaza who since October 8th personally has had to bury over 17,000 people. Then, Ralph welcomes back retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to widen out the discussion to include the war in Ukraine and contends that “the Pentagon runs America.”Delinda Hanley is news editor and executive director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. She writes extensively for the magazine on an array of topics and her stories have also been published in the Arab News, Saudi ARAMCO World, The Minaret, Islamic Horizons and other U.S. magazines, including The Jewish Spectator. She has written extensively on Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, the emergence of the Muslim voice in Arab politics, and fairness in the mainstream American media.During this (Gaza) crisis, it's been a meeting point for people on the sidewalk. We've had fundraisers, people just come and vent because they're so upset about our U.S. foreign policy. Diplomats come in and vent about how they don't get a say anymore—it's just top-down foreign policy decisions. We've had ex-military people, who served in Iraq, vent. Everyone just comes here and starts to feel a little better because they're talking to like-minded people. The only people who don't come here are the media. We've never had a story about the magazine. It's just verboten.Delinda HanleyWhile most publications depend on advertising to last, we don't have much advertising. Only charities dare to advertise with us because if you're a lawyer or insurance salesman, you get phone calls from our adversaries saying, "That's an anti-Semitic magazine. Don't do that. You won't have our business." We have a real problem with advertising. And also, may I say, we are so happy to send free subscriptions to libraries…Libraries are afraid to have us on their shelves sometimes because they get complaints. Delinda HanleyLawrence Wilkerson is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Over his 31 years of service, Colonel Wilkerson served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. Colonel Wilkerson also served as Deputy Director and Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia, and for fifteen years he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, senior advisor to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum. AIPAC—the Israeli-government-can-do-no-wrong lobby here—poured over $14 million to defeat Jamaal Bowman, the Democrat from the Bronx and Westchester County just this week in the primary. And it came down to $17,000 an hour they were spending on blanket ads and other media against this super progressive member of Congress who dared a few weeks after October 7th to call for a permanent ceasefire and describe what Netanyahu was doing as genocide.Ralph NaderWe know, all of us know, that the armed forces of the United States are broken. They are broken from years and years of the all-volunteer force, years and years of war, years and years of stupid idiotic war with no purpose, years and years of wounds, PTSD, suicides just off the charts now. And the armed forces are not doing well. Colonel Lawrence WilkersonIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 6/26/241. In a story that could have been written 200 years ago, independence activists in the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific have been sent to mainland France for pre-trial detention, per Al Jazeera. According to this report, these seven detainees include Christian Tein, head of the pro-independence group Field Action Coordination Cell, or CCAT. Tein's lawyer Pierre Ortent said he was “stupefied” that Tein was being being held in France, accusing authorities of “answering to purely political considerations.” A lawyer for another detainee said these actions would only create “martyrs for the independence cause.” Riots broke out in New Caledonia earlier this year when France instituted new rules allowing long-term, non-indigenous residents to participate in independence referenda – which “Indigenous Kanaks feared…would dilute their vote.” France deployed 3,000 soldiers in response. New Caledonia remains on the United Nations list of “non-self-governing territories,” the modern euphemism for imperial colonies.2. Following a decade-long legal battle, the saga of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is finally coming to a close. Defending Rights and Dissent reports “On Monday, it was announced that Assange had filed a guilty plea in the US District of Northern Mariana Islands. Assange, who faced 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud And Abuse Act, pled guilty to [a] single count of conspiracy… Assange…will make an appearance in court and be sentenced to time served. He will then return to Australia a free man.” However, Policy Director Chip Gibbons was quick to note “Plea deals…set no legal precedent…the US government's decision to charge Assange under the Espionage Act remains unconstitutional due to the First Amendment's press freedom guarantees.”3. In an interview with Declassified UK, reported by Yahoo News, Independent MP Candidate and former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn recounted how he was pressured to give blanket support to military actions by Israel. In the interview, he said “During one extremely hostile meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party Committee they confronted me and said will you give a blanket undertaking that you, as party leader and potentially prime minister, will automatically support any military action Israel undertakes?” Corbyn responded “no, I will give no such undertaking, because the issue of Palestine has to be resolved and Palestinian people do not deserve to live under occupation…” Corbyn is currently fighting to keep his longtime seat in Islington North after being expelled from the Labour Party by it's reportedly CIA-linked new leader, Keir Starmer.4. British humanitarian group Save the Children has published a new report which finds “Over 20,000 children [are] estimated to be lost, disappeared, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves,” in Gaza. A Child Protection Specialist with the group, on the ground in Gaza, is quoted saying “Every day we find more unaccompanied children and every day it is harder to support them…there is no safe place in Gaza… Neighbours and extended family members who have taken in lone children are struggling to meet their basic needs, such as shelter, food, and water. Many are with strangers - or completely alone - increasing the risk of violence, abuse exploitation and neglect.” Jeremy Stoner, the group's regional director for the Middle East, says “Gaza has become a graveyard for children.”5. On Tuesday, a new citizenship law took effect in Germany, allowing new immigrants to obtain a German passport within five years – but only if they declare that the State of Israel has the right to exist, per the Financial Times. This piece notes that the “[German] government…has…sparked anger by…[cracking] down on…criticism of the Israeli government over its conduct in Gaza, fuelling (sic.) a debate over free speech in Germany, particularly among artists and academics. Sabine Döring, Germany's junior minister for higher education, was forced to resign earlier this month after her ministry started exploring legal options to defund the research of German academics who had signed a public letter criticising a police crackdown on anti-Israeli student protests.”6. AP reports Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling this week that “the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service…[putting] an end to a decades-old system that granted ultra-Orthodox men broad exemptions from military service while maintaining mandatory enlistment for the country's secular Jewish majority.” The exemption from military service for the ultra-Orthodox Haredim has been a long-term flash-point in Israeli society and the issue has only grown more contentious as the recent campaign in Gaza has dragged on. The Netanyahu regime, which rules in coalition with Haredi parties, fought this ruling tooth and nail, claiming that forcing the Haredim to serve would “tear Israeli society apart.” Many speculate that the ruling will cause the ultra-Orthodox parties to leave Netanyahu's coalition, which would precipitate the collapse of his government.7. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, over 20 elder care facilities in the area have closed in just the last few weeks, which this report ascribes to “The long-term mismanagement of nursing homes by private equity firms,” like the Carlyle Group. Specifically, the paper excoriates how “Private equity firms extract money from nursing homes,” using “sale-leaseback[s]…selling the land out from under the facilities for lump payments…[meaning] Nursing homes are suddenly forced to pay rent or ‘management fees' to occupy facilities they once owned…the same process…that resulted in the bankruptcy of the Red Lobster restaurant chain.” The paper notes that the Biden administration is promulgating a new rule that elder care facilities must disclose their ownership, while acknowledging that “This will hardly solve the problem, but it will allow families to make informed decisions about their loved ones' care.”8. Rumblings suggest Congress may raise the corporate tax rate. POLITICO reports “anti-corporate sentiment is running high among increasingly populist-minded Republicans,” and this article quotes Congressman Chip Roy of Texas saying “There's a bubbling-up concern that we should not be doing the bidding of corporate America.” Roy is reportedly “consider[ing] kicking the corporate rate up to 25 percent, from the current 21 percent, if it means being able to extend breaks for individuals and small businesses.” On the Democratic side, Representative Don Beyer said “Every Democrat thinks the 21 percent corporate rate is far lower than is necessary,” and Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden added “Western civilization is not going to end if there's some increase.”9. The Guardian reports DC area coffee chain Compass Coffee is “hiring dozens of friends of management, including other local food service executives and an Uber lobbyist, in an effort to defeat a union election.” Compass Coffee United, the union representing these workers, “accused the coffee chain of hiring 124 additional people at cafes that are attempting to unionize…[and] manipulating worker schedules retroactively to try to make the new employees eligible to vote in the union election.” The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB. Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter “Claiming that a lobbyist from Uber & CEOs from other companies are workers in order to rig a union election is totally absurd & disgusting.”10. Finally, in more labor news, CNN reports Teamsters President Sean O'Brien will speak at the Republican National Convention. Former President Trump wrote on Truth Social “Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nation's working families they come first…When I am back in the White House, the hardworking Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world.” Trump and O'Brien previously met at Mar-a-Lago in January. According to Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz, “O'Brien's appearance does not represent an endorsement of Trump,” and “O'Brien has requested the opportunity to also speak at the Democratic National Convention…The DNC has yet to accept that request.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

GUEST OVERVIEW: John Hulsman, author of The Last Best Hope: A History of American Realism, is the President and Managing Partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. Literally, the sun never sets on John's political risk analysis: He is Senior Columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the city of London, while also writing regular columns on geopolitics, macroeconomics, and politics for Arab News in Riyadh, The Hill newspaper in Washington, Aspen in Rome, and various outlets in New Delhi.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: John Hulsman, author of The Last Best Hope: A History of American Realism, is the President and Managing Partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. Literally, the sun never sets on John's political risk analysis: He is Senior Columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the city of London, while also writing regular columns on geopolitics, macroeconomics, and politics for Arab News in Riyadh, The Hill newspaper in Washington, Aspen in Rome, and various outlets in New Delhi. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Dr Piers Robinson is a political scientist. He is a co-director of the Organisation for Propaganda Studies, co-editor of Propaganda in Focus and was previously Chair/Professor in Politics, Society and Political Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Dr. Piers Robinson is a co-director of the Organisation for Propaganda Studies, convenor of the Working Group on Syria, Media and Propaganda, associated researcher with the Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 Global ‘War on Terror', member of Panda and BerlinGroup21. He researches and writes on propaganda, conflict and media and was Chair/Professor in Politics, Society ad Political Journalism, University of Sheffield, 2016-2019, Senior Lecturer in International Politics (University of Manchester 2010-2016) and Lecturer in Political Communication (University of Liverpool, 1999-2005). X: @PiersRobinson1

Fa sentire instancabile e invincibile: che si voglia ballare per ore o compiere una spietata azione criminale, il principio attivo è sempre quello. Si tratta del captagon, un'anfetamina chiamata anche "la droga dell'ISIS". Con noi Tarek Ali Ahmad, capo dell'Unità di ricerca e studi di Arab News, il quale ha curato l'inchiesta fatta dal giornale saudita sul captagon "The Kingdom vs Captagon: inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world", Andrew Cunningham, analista esperto di traffici di captagon e anfetamine dell'Osservatorio europeo delle droghe e delle tossicodipendenze (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction - EMCDDA) con sede a Lisbona, Antonino Occhiuto, analista e ricercatore presso Gulf State Analytics, esperto dei Paesi del Golfo, e il Colonnello Claudio Molinari, della Guardia di Finanza, comandante del nucleo di polizia economico-finanziaria di Salerno.

GUEST HOST: Lembit Opik filling in for Marc Morano. GUEST OVERVIEW: John Hulsman, author of The Last Best Hope: A History of American Realism, is the President and Managing Partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. Literally, the sun never sets on John's political risk analysis: He is Senior Columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the city of London, while also writing regular columns on geopolitics, macroeconomics, and politics for Arab News in Riyadh, The Hill newspaper in Washington, Aspen in Rome, and various outlets in New Delhi.

Fa sentire instancabile e invincibile: che si voglia ballare per ore o compiere una spietata azione criminale, il principio attivo è sempre quello. Si tratta del captagon, un'anfetamina chiamata anche "la droga dell'ISIS". Con noi Tarek Ali Ahmad, capo dell'Unità di ricerca e studi di Arab News, il quale ha curato l'inchiesta fatta dal giornale saudita sul captagon "The Kingdom vs Captagon: inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world", Andrew Cunningham, analista esperto di traffici di captagon e anfetamine dell'Osservatorio europeo delle droghe e delle tossicodipendenze (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction - EMCDDA) con sede a Lisbona, Antonino Occhiuto, analista e ricercatore presso Gulf State Analytics, esperto dei Paesi del Golfo, e il Colonnello Claudio Molinari, della Guardia di Finanza, comandante del nucleo di polizia economico-finanziaria di Salerno.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: John Hulsman, author of The Last Best Hope: A History of American Realism, is the President and Managing Partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. Literally, the sun never sets on John's political risk analysis: He is Senior Columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the city of London, while also writing regular columns on geopolitics, macroeconomics, and politics for Arab News in Riyadh, The Hill newspaper in Washington, Aspen in Rome, and various outlets in New Delhi. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Danny Armstrong is a Political Commentator on both Russian and Ukraine politics, having spent years living in Russia and being a reporter there. He is a frequent guest on GB News.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: John Hulsman, author of The Last Best Hope: A History of American Realism, is the President and Managing Partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. Literally, the sun never sets on John's political risk analysis: He is Senior Columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the city of London, while also writing regular columns on geopolitics, macroeconomics, and politics for Arab News in Riyadh, The Hill newspaper in Washington, Aspen in Rome, and various outlets in New Delhi. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Tony Gosling is an independent-minded investigative journalist who follows the story to its own conclusion, however uncomfortable.