BICOM's Podcast

Episode 130 | Israel enters another election cycle

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

Episode 129 | In conversation with Britain’s Ambassador to Israel

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

Episode 128 | Will Saudi Arabia make peace with Israel?

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

Episode 127 | Biden and domestic Israeli politics

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

Episode 126 | Exploring the Abraham Accords

In this episode Richard Pater speaks to Dr. Majid Al Sarrah and Dan Fefferman, both founding member of the UAE-Israel Business Council and Policy Forum. Dr. Majid is an Emirati legal adviser and expert in public policy. He is a former professor at the American University of Sharjah and a researcher in international law, economics and policy analysis. Dan Feferman is a Fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, and a former Israeli intelligence analyst. They discuss the opportunities created by the Abraham Accords, where this leaves the Palestinians and the significance of the F-35s deal.

Episode 125 | Trump’s last 70 days

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

Episode 124 | What Israel and Iran should expect from a Biden administration?

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

Episode 123 | Trump vs Biden in the Middle East

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

Episode 122 | Politics in the Knesset under Corona

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

Episode 121 | How long will the government survive?

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