Podcasts

Dr. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center, discusses how the Abraham Accords could help provide context for tough concessions on the most controversial issues facing Israelis and Palestinians; UAE interests and expectations in dealing with regional security and Iran; why the UAE is well-placed to help mediate in the Horn of Africa; how the Gulf manages the US-China competition; and her own journey as distinguished academic to founder of one of the region’s most influential and impactful think thanks.

Links:

-Can China balance ties with Iran and the GCC? (Al-Monitor)

-What UAE’s growing presence in Somaliland means for its Horn of Africa strategy (Al-Monitor)

-Egypt, UAE boost security cooperation in Chad, Sahel (Al-Monitor)

-UAE balances ties with Egypt, Ethiopia in Nile Dam Crisis (Al-Monitor)

Ben Caspit speaks this week with strategist Eran Etzion, who previously served as head of planning policy at Israel’s foreign ministry and as deputy head of the National Security Council in the prime minister's office. Etzion argues that the main reason for the escalation we now see both in east Jerusalem and the West Bank is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies — policies that he says are totally guided by Netanyahu’s own, narrow political considerations. "We are indeed in a dangerous situation, and the core driver of these events is Israeli politics. What hopefully we will see soon is a relatively quick transformation of Israeli politics and the assembling a new government, to be followed by, gradually over time, with changes of the political terrain, the security terrain and the country’s strategy,” he says. 

Links:

-Israeli court to reconvene next week on eviction of Palestinian families (al-monitor.com) 

-Netanyahu’s government shaking over decision to ban demonstrations (al-monitor.com) 

-Naftali Bennett could be Israel’s next prime minister (al-monitor.com) 

-How Netanyahu is turning Israel into a banana republic (al-monitor.com) 

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)