Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Adjunct Lecturer in Middle Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University; author of Making Peace with the PLO: The Rabin Government's Road to the Oslo Accord and co-author of Myth, Illusions and Peace: Finding a New Direction in the Middle East; former executive editor of the Jerusalem Post
Palestinians Seize the World Stage To a standing ovation from the General Assembly, PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas applied for full Palestinian membership in the United Nations today. On the streets of Ramallah, rapturous crowds waved flags and cheered a speech that attacked Israel as an occupying power defiant of UN resolutions. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu , in turn, attacked "militant Islam" and said peace will not be achieved by UN resolutions but only by negotiations between the parties. Will today's actions renew the peace process? What are the implications for American diplomacy in the Middle East?
President Obama and Change in the Middle East President Obama has made his second major address on the Mid East and North Africa. We hear how he thinks the US needs to adapt to changes brought on by the so-called Arab Spring, and what they mean for Israel and the Palestinians.
President Obama on the Middle East and 'Arab Spring' Speaking in Cairo two years ago, President Obama called for a "new beginning" in the Muslim Middle East based on "respect" and "mutual interest." Today, he said the so-called "Arab Spring" requires yet another "new chapter in American diplomacy," and he promised economic help to facilitate democracy. Once again, he criticized Israeli settlements. For the first time, he said a Palestinian state should be based on 1967 boundaries. Did he achieve the goal of a sweeping survey of a complex region? Can he revive American influence? We hear a variety of opinions.
Peaceful Protests Turn Violent in Egypt After President Mubarak declared he would not run for-re-election last night, President Obama went on TV with his assessment of the ongoing protests in Egypt. At today's White House briefing , press secretary Robert Gibbs would not elaborate on whether the President was calling on Mubarak to step down immediately, rather than serving out his term, which ends in September. Meanwhile, after nine days of peaceful protest, Tahrir Square erupted in violence today as Mubarak loyalists arrived on the scene. Men on horses and camels beat anti-government protesters. Thugs attacked reporters and TV crews. As darkness descended, Molotov cocktails started fires in crowds of men, women and children, and there was the sound of gunfire. But, despite the presence of tanks and armored personnel carriers, there was no indication that the military was trying to restore order. It's now evening in Cairo. We hear from reporters and others about the developing scene, see how the Obama Administration is reacting, and talk to observers about repercussions in other Middle Eastern countries.
Barack Obama, the Middle East and Iran Israel and Hamas have rebuffed peace overtures, and the fighting in Gaza goes on, with President-elect Obama in the midst of choosing his foreign policy team . Israel says Iran is behind Hamas' rocket fire, and Obama today called Iran a "genuine threat" to America's national security. But he also repeated his campaign pledge to rely on diplomacy in the region, adding that "my national security team is a reflection of that practical, pragmatic approach to foreign policy." We hear about his most likely advisors. Will they open up to Arab and Muslim interests or continue the hard-line, pro-Israel line of the Bush Administration?
Fears, Hopes and Predictions for 2009 An election that turned conventional political wisdom upside down and an economy that turned everything upside down; 2008 was a year of some of the most profound changes Americans have experienced in decades. How will those changes play out in the year to come? Can Barack Obama capitalize on a new political landscape? Will the economy stabilize? What's happened to the American dream? From the economy to politics, from personal values to consumer lifestyles, we take advantage of one of those once a year moments – New Year's Eve -- to think about what was and what will be. Note: You can learn more about any of the topics discussed in today's show by searching the KCRW archives.
Fears, Hopes and Predictions for 2009 An election that turned conventional political wisdom upside down and an economy that turned everything upside down; 2008 was a year of some of the most profound changes Americans have experienced in decades. How will those changes play out in the year to come? Can Barack Obama capitalize on a new political landscape? Will the economy stabilize? What's happened to the American dream? From the economy to politics, from personal values to consumer lifestyles, we take advantage of one of those once a year moments – New Year's Eve -- to think about what was and what will be. Note: You can learn more about any of the topics discussed in today's show by searching the KCRW archives.
War or Peace in the Middle East? Condoleezza Rice is back in the Middle East , where continuing rocket fire has Israel threatening more attacks on Gaza. In Ramallah today, the Secretary of State asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to re-open peace talks he cancelled because of Israel's military incursion into Gaza. Although Israel has pulled out, Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, refused Rice's request, saying he first wants to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But Israel and the US are opposed. Can Secretary Rice get the Annapolis peace process back on track?
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.