BICOM's Podcast

Episode 120 | The Four Camps in 2020 with Israel’s Former Deputy National Security Adviser

Sam Nurding speaks to Col (res) Dr Eran Lerman, the Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and former deputy director for foreign policy and international affairs at the National Security Council in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Dr Lerman shares his analysis of the competing regional powers and their alliances through ideological camps. Sam and Dr Lerman discuss the progress of the Iranian nuclear project, amid the expiration of the arms embargo and the European role in combatting the threat of a nuclear Iran. Dr Lerman also highlights the growing threat Turkey poses for Israel and the region and the importance of Israel’s normalisation with the UAE and Bahrain.

Episode 119 | The EU's role in the Israeli-Arab conflict

In this episode, Research Associate Samuel Nurding speaks with Anders Persson, senior lecturer at Linnaeus University and author of the new book, 'EU Diplomacy and the Israeli-Arab Conflict, 1967-2019'. The two discuss the EU's role in the conflict over the last 50 years, the impact of the Israel-UAE and Israeli-Bahrain peace deals on EU policy and how the EU has contributed to the development of Israel.  

Episode 118 | A Historic Day in Washington

Following the formal ceremony marking the normalisation of relations between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain at the White House, Richard Pater speaks to Ilan Goldenberg, the Director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security and former Chief of Staff to the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations at the US Department of State. Richard and Ilan discuss the how normalisation will impact the Palestinians and whether other Arab states will follow. They also discuss the importance of Jordan, the dangers F-35 sales to the UAE, what a Biden presidency means for the Middle East and more.

Episode 117 | Beyond Normalisation: Regional Cooperation

Richard Pater speaks to Dr Yossi Draznin, Director General of Israel’s Ministry for Regional Cooperation, about normalisation between Israel and the UAE. Dr Draznin was a member of the Israeli delegation on the direct flight from Israel to Abu Dhabi in early September and shares his experience from the visit. Richard and Dr Draznin also discuss government projects and private sector collaboration between Israel and the UAE, implications for regional cooperation with neighbouring countries and more.

Episode 116 | The Israel-UAE Business Council

Richard Pater speaks to Fleur Hassan-Nahoum who serves as the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and is one of the founders of the Israel-UAE business council. They discuss the recent visit of the Israeli delegation to Abu Dhabi, the aim of the Israel-UAE business council, the relationship Jerusalem can have with the Gulf through East Jerusalem’s Arab community, various development, high-tech and education projects in East Jerusalem, the coronavirus crisis and more.

Special Edition | The significance of Israeli ties with the UAE

Following the historic announcement between Israel and the UAE, Richard Pater speaks to Koby Huberman, the co-founder of the Israeli Peace Initiative.  The initiative is aimed at connecting Israel with the key Arab states to create a new regional paradigm.  They discuss the development of Israeli-Emeriti relations in recent years, the importance of the agreement for both countries, how the full normalisation of relations may progress in the future.

Special Edition | Israel and the UAE: how did we get here?

Ronie Gazit speaks to Dr David Pollock of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy about the historic agreement between Israel and the UAE. Ronie and David discuss what factors led the two countries to agree to the full normalization of relations, whether other moderate Arab states will follow suit, what it means for the Palestinians and more.

Episode 115 | The budget crisis in Israel: where next?

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks to veteran political commentator Nahum Barnea, at Yedioth Ahronoth, on the budget crisis in Israel and why Netanyahu is demanding a one-year budget despite historically preferring two-year budgets. Barnea also shares his time as a journalist during the Sharon, Barak and Olmert era and why Bibi has a different approach to the media than his predecessors. 

Episode 114 | The Beirut Blast

Richard Pater speaks to Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, CEO and founder of Alma, about the explosion that devastated Beirut, why Hezbollah has responsibility to bear, the fallout going forward, Iran’s ongoing entrenchment in Syria and more.

Episode 113 | What is Hezbollah doing?

Richard Pater speaks to Brig Gen (res.) Nitzan Nuriel, an associate at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Interdisciplinary Center, Herzilya and a former director of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau in the Prime Minister’s Office. They discuss the latest escalation on Israel’s northern border, why Hezbollah attempted to infiltrate Israel, Iran’s regional agenda and more.