Podcasts

Renowned Egyptian novelist Alaa Al Aswany, author of the award winning The Yacoubian Building, discusses his experience during the Egyptian revolution and his book, The Republic of False Truths, which was released in English this year. “The Egyptians I lived with in Tahrir Square have nothing to do with the Egyptians I used to live with before the revolution," Aswany tells Gilles Kepel. "They are probably the same people, but something happened, and this something is great."

Biography of Alaa Al Aswany:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2069280/alaa-al-aswany/

Further reading by Al-Monitor:

Sisi warns of ‘grave threat’ from Ethiopia over Nile dispute

Egypt to Security Council: Ethiopian dam an ‘existential threat’

Egypt announces human rights strategy to mixed reviews

Sisi statements spark debate about status for Egyptian atheists

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Al-Monitor columnist Daoud Kuttab says that Jerusalem and settlements remain the big issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; why Hamas is gaining in popularity; how Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has managed the consequences of the  Abraham Accords and thinking about his legacy and succession; and why we may see more Palestinian protests in the coming year.

Links:

-Palestinian olive season begins with settler attacks, arson — Al-Monitor

-Jewish prayer continues to rile Al-Aqsa Mosque — Al-Monitor

-Hamas says Gaza crisis linked to Jerusalem — Al-Monitor

Ben Caspit hosts this week Alon Ben David, the senior military analyst for Channel 13 news. Ben David says that "in 2012 Israel abandoned practicing and preparing for a viable military option [to attack Iran]. Netanyahu was responding to requests made by the American administration at the time. Now the Israeli army is back to doing what it should have done long ago, namely preparing an option to be presented for the Israeli decision-makers." Still, he emphasizes that Israel’s military options vis-à-vis the Iranian nuclear program are very, very limited. "The ability to launch a strike that would stop the Iranian nuke program, like the strike in Iraq in 1981 or the strike in Syria in 2007, is almost non-existent."

Links:

-Israel still fears US approach to Iran - Al-Monitor

-Israel stands alone on Iran - Al-Monitor

-Lapid’s Washington visit brings Israel little assurance on Iran - Al-Monitor

As the coronavirus crisis continues to grip the world, the markets have been on the shakiest ground yet since the 2008 economic recession - especially with regards to the price of oil. In the last few years, Saudi Arabia and Russia have developed a special relationship to stabilize oil prices in the face of growing competition from the Americans, who for the first time has begun to outpace both countries in terms of production. But when demand for oil began to fall precipitously in the face of COVID-19, the relationship ended in a messy way. Phil and Cooper break down the bad breakup and how it’s affected economies worldwide.

• Russia might not be ready for long-term OPEC commitment (Nikolay Kozhanov)
• Russia hoping to outdo Saudis over time in coronavirus-hit oil market (Max Suchkov)
• Does Moscow's withdrawal from OPEC-plus deal end Russia-Saudi honeymoon? (Nikolay Kozhanov)
• Intel: How the US is relying on Riyadh to reassure global markets (Elizabeth Hagedorn)

Extra Listening

• Episode #114, Double Double, Oil and Trouble (9/27/2019): Exploring the special relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.

Music: Elman - “Антигерой” (Spotify)