In this week’s episode of “Israel Undiplomatic,” Ruthie Blum, senior contributing editor at JNS, and Mark Regev, former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom—both former advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office—unpack a series of urgent and unfolding developments in the Middle East, beginning with the rumored ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
The two debate whether Israel is being pushed toward a short-term truce in exchange for only a small number of hostages, and whether or not this compromises the goal of total victory over Hamas. They also challenge the fact that Qatar, a longtime patron of Hamas, is being treated as a neutral mediator, questioning why Washington and Jerusalem haven’t applied real pressure on Doha to leverage its influence over the terror group.
The conversation shifts to the geopolitical chessboard, focusing on the potential for expanding the Abraham Accords. Following the recent joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Blum and Regev explore how this show of force has renewed confidence among Arab nations in Israel’s deterrence capabilities. They assess the possibility of normalization with Saudi Arabia, Oman and even Syria, weighing the risks of engaging with Assad’s regime against the strategic opportunity it could open, especially if it leads to peace with Lebanon.
They delve into defense strategy, discussing reports of a potential sale of U.S. B-2 stealth bombers to Israel, and how such a move could enhance Israel’s independence in countering Iran. The hosts also argue that there can be no peace with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, citing the P.A.’s ongoing support for terrorism and its refusal to condemn the massacre in southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023.
Finally, they explore the controversial topic of Gaza’s postwar future, from the feasibility of voluntary relocation to the pitfalls of another international reconstruction effort.
See more at: @JNS_TV. And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button!
Send feedback or topic suggestions to: undiplomatic@jns.org
