BICOM’s Podcast

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Dr. Raz Zimmt, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), about how the nuclear issue is debated from inside Iran. Dr Zimmt provides the arguments between the hardliners and the pragmatists, and explains how the nuclear issue could impact the upcoming Presidential elections in Iran. He also provides his assessment on how Israel should respond to both Iran and the Biden administration. 

In this latest episode, director Richard Pater speaks to Yamina candidate Jeremy Saltan on his party's views on the upcoming Israeli elections, whether the party will join a Netanyahu-led government and what differentiate Yamina from New Hope. Jeremy also talks about why he thinks Bennett is the right leader of Israel now, during the pandemic. Jeremy is a Knesset Insider, campaigner and leading political analyst and author of https://knessetjeremy.com/. 

Richard Pater speaks to Professor Tamar Hermann, a Senior Research Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and the Academic Director of the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. Richard and Tamar discuss the Israeli public response to the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and how the issue has affected the ultra-Orthodox community in particular. They also discuss the openness of Israel’s Arab community to further integrate into Israeli society, and the big issues facing voters in the March election.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks to MK Aida Touma-Suleiman from the Hadash faction within the Joint List. She describes what it means to be communist in 2021 and how the Joint List operates a shared agenda among competing ideologies. They discuss the party’s prospects of running without the United Arab List and why her party voted against the Abraham Accords in the Knesset.  

Richard Pater speaks to Sharren Haskel, a member of Gideon Saar’s New Hope party. Sharren, a former Likud MK, discusses her introduction into politics and decision to leave the Likud for New Hope. Richard and Sharren also discuss whether Israel needs elections right now, what New Hope’s main messaging will be throughout the election campaign and how the party plans to court Likud votes. Sharren explains why Gideon Saar is the only candidate who can oust Netanyahu and bring much needed stability and reform to the country.

Richard Pater speaks to Yair Zivan, the Foreign Affairs Advisor and International Media Spokesperson to Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid. Richard and Yair discuss the breakdown of the Israeli government and the factors the forced Israel into a fourth election in two years. They discuss whether the center left parties will unite with Yesh Atid ahead of the election and the party’s key messaging and priorities throughout the election campaign.

Richard Pater speaks with Eli Hazan, the Likud party’s foreign affairs director. Richard and Eli discuss the reasons why Israel is heading for another election and who is to blame. Eli explains why he believes Gideon Saar and Zeev Elkin made a mistake in leaving the Likud and outlines what we can expect to hear from the Likud campaign in the weeks ahead.

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. 

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.

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.