Interviews

Interview

Macron aide warns Israel: All options on table as France readies for Palestine recognition

French President Emmanuel Macron’s special adviser, Ofer Bronchtein, told Al-Monitor that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates are mounting a smear campaign against the French president.

Ofer Bronchtein

Special adviser to the French president

Interview

Palestinian FM: US visa bans will not derail statehood drive

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian took time during a visit to Cairo on Sept. 4 to speak with Al-Monitor about the US' barring of President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials from the UN General Assembly, Israeli annexation threats in the West Bank and more.

Varsen Aghabekian

Palestinian Foreign Minister

Interview

Israel deputy FM: France’s Palestinian recognition push is 'reward' for Hamas

Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel says that French President Emmanuel Macron has undercut ceasefire negotiations and bolstered Hamas by declaring his intention to recognize Palestinian statehood and encouraging other states to do the same.

Interview

Marwan Barghouti’s wife slams ‘political targeting’ after Ben-Gvir video

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Fadwa Barghouti condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s prison video as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate her husband, Marwan Barghouti, while saying it instead reinforced his symbolic status among Palestinians.

Fadwa Barghouti

Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council

Interview

Israel’s former Germany envoy: Arms embargo 'warning sign' of growing isolation

Berlin’s embargo over the Gaza City offensive signals a rare fracture in one of Israel’s closest strategic partnerships, former Israeli Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff says.

Jeremy Issacharoff

Former Israeli ambassador to Germany

Interview

Palestinian UN envoy: Saudi-France summit was 'historic' milestone, builds on France recognition

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told Al-Monitor in an interview that the the summit created fresh momentum for Palestinian statehood in line with recent recognition moves by countries such as France and the UK.

Riyad Mansour

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN

Interview

Growing Chinese competition in Mideast car market 'key challenge,' Ford says

Chinese automotive companies are increasing their market share and are projected to capture 34% of the Middle East and Africa market by 2030, according to one analysis.

Ravi Ravichandran

President of Ford Middle East and North Africa

Interview

How Red Sea attacks prepared Egypt’s economy for future shocks

The CEO of Egypt's third-largest bank tells Al-Monitor why he is hopeful about the country's economic recovery.

Hisham Ezz Al-Arab

CEO, Commercial International Bank

Interview

Former French PM says Trump has ‘immense opportunity’ in Mideast

Dominique de Villepin, who recently announced a new political party, says in an exclusive written interview with Al-Monitor that France has a vital role to play in promoting regional cooperation.

Dominique de Villepin

Former French prime minister

Interview

Iran open to regional consortium, enriched uranium transfer in US nuclear talks

Iran’s UN ambassador says his country would consider transfer of enriched uranium stockpiles and outside investment in energy sector if there is an agreement with the US, but that the country is unwilling to accept restrictions on its missile program or domestic enrichment.

Amir Saeid Iravani

Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN

Interview

Amos Yadlin: Israel's goal to enable Trump to reach better Iran deal than 2015

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former head of the Israeli military intelligence directorate Amos Yadlin talks about the extent of the damage Israel has thus far inflicted on Iran and the strategic goals of the war.

Amos Yadlin

Former head of Israeli military intelligence

Interview

US believes Syria’s Sharaa at risk of assassination, Trump envoy says

US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack also discusses what’s next for sanctions relief, the country’s relationship with Israel and why the Trump administration is not engaged in “nation-building.”

Tom Barrack

US special envoy for Syria