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Jamesdiscusses this week’s Middle East developments on Radio Islam.
Tolisten to the podcast or watch the video, go to https://jamesmdorsey.substack.com/p/middle-east-report
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Transcript
[Anchor] 7.43am it is, Central Africantime, you’re listening to Radio Islam International, live from our studios inDurban for this morning, on this Friday morning, and roundabout quarter to twois our time for the Middle East Report, and joining us is James M. Dorsey,award-winning scholar and journalist with a different perspective on the MiddleEast. Remember, you can subscribe to James’ newsletter and blog, The TurbulentWorld of Middle East Soccer, and visit his website jamesmdorsey.substack.com toget a perspective of James’ thoughts and his articles and opinions on matterscoming out of the Middle East and the greater world. Well, James, good day toyou. Thank you for joining us.
{James M. Dorsey} As always, a pleasureto be with you on this Friday morning.
[Anchor} James, US President DonaldTrump, in addition to the other issues he’s addressing at home, this time, youknow what, on an anti-Somalia rant, but nonetheless, turning the screws onPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as policy towards Israel, and the Middle Eastemerges as a main fault line, or the main fault line, in the President’s MakeAmerica Great MAGA support base.
I mean, that base itself is a divided base,you know, nonetheless, although it may have one rallying point, and that’s thePresident himself. In recent days, Mr. Trump has nudged Mr. Netanyahu to abideby the Gaza ceasefire, facilitate the surrender of trapped Hamas fighters,refrain from attacks in Syria, and engage in negotiations with Lebanon, asopposed to airstrikes which have plagued that area for, renewed thereof. Yourthoughts on that, James?
[James M. Dorsey] Indeed. In additionto pressure exerted regarding Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, Trump is keenly awarethat Israel constitutes the last fault line in white nationalist domination ofhis Make America Great Again support base. The Make America Great Again crowdhas already adopted four of the far-right’s five key principles, includingreducing immigration to preserve white dominance, a perception of relationsbetween whites and non-whites, and Christians and non-Christians as a zero-sumgame, the ranking of Americans according to race, religion, and how far backthey can trace their ancestors’ presence in the country, and identity politics.
Meanwhile, Western and Arab diplomats expectthe Trump administration to announce the composition of a Palestinian committeemade up of non-affiliated Gazans that would run the Strip’s day-to-day affairsin advance of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington at the end of thismonth, summoning the Prime Minister for a fifth White House discussion,shifting attitudes in the President’s support base, and pressure from hisincreasingly important Saudi and other Gulf allies suggests that Trump andNetanyahu’s forthcoming meeting could mark a milestone.
[Anchor] James, moving back, I mean,all those years ago, 24 years ago, this is the premise of our next question,with regards to the September 11th, the 9-11 attacks, now there is a straightline that connects Osama bin Laden’s alleged destruction of multiculturalismwith the destruction of the 9-11 towers years ago, and mainstream racism,particularly in the form of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. Many writers wouldsuggest that there was an important catalyst, it was the turning point wherethe country, and many in the Western world for that matter, saw a rise inIslamophobia, anti-Semitism, various forms of racism, and it shattered thismulticultural dream that many, who the world refers to sometimes as liberals,had already in a post-modern world. Your thoughts on that?
[James M. Dorsey] Well, what startedwith 9-11 has become government policy in multiple Western democracies, withFrance backed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia seeking to definewhat constitutes moderate Islam, and regulating how Muslims should dress.Donald Trump this week took such policies a step further, after an Afghannational shot two West Virginia National Guard people in Washington, killingone. He cast all Afghan migrants as suspects, ordered the review of green cardsissued to nationals of 19 countries, half of them Muslim-majority nations, andhalted the issuing of visas for citizens of all third world countries.
In addition, he launched an all-out racistattack on the Somali community in the United States, and Somalia as a country,calling them garbage. Meanwhile, the Make America Great Again crowd strugglesto come to grips with rising anti-Semitism in its ranks, fuelled by Israel’sconduct of the Gaza War, and perceptions of Israel’s oversized influence inAmerican policymaking and a divergence of US and Israeli interests.
[Anchor] James, coming back to mattersrelated to the Middle East directly mired in financial crises. Now, theHouthis, the group of course, the Houthis in Yemen, resuming threats to SaudiArabia. Saudi Arabia was practically well involved in the strikes against theHouthis a number of years back, they and the Emiratis in particular.
They had stopped the actual militaryincursions and the military strikes, but once again, the Houthis seemed to bethreatening Saudi Arabia.
[James M. Dorsey] Since halting theirattacks on international shipping after the Gaza ceasefire took effect inNovember, the Houthis have stepped up their verbal attacks against SaudiArabia. They have accused the Kingdom of collaborating with Israel andthreatened to resume cross-border attacks if Saudi Arabia does not lift itseconomic blockade of Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Houthis need the liftingto address an economic crisis.
Israeli strikes have damaged ports andHouthi-controlled businesses. In addition, US sanctions are having an effect.The Houthis hope that their threats will persuade the Saudis to pay publicsector salaries in Houthi-controlled areas, something that was part of peacetalks that have stalled and would provide relief.
The Houthis’ stepped-up rhetoric raises thespectre of renewed hostilities.
[Anchor] Meanwhile, increased tensionswith Yemen, are sharpening the divide between Saudi and United Arab Emiratespolicies in Yemen.
[James M. Dorsey] Differences betweenSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over crises in Yemen and Sudan arebecoming more pronounced. In Washington last month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammedbin Salman urged Trump to mediate between the Saudi-backed Sudanese Armed Forcesand the rebel UAE-supported Rapid Support Forces.
In Yemen, the UAE backs the SouthernTransitional Council, which wants South Yemen to secede from theHouthi-controlled north of the country, while Saudi Arabia prefers to see Yemenremain united, and has signalled that it could accept Houthi rule. The Councilthis week moved into the resource-rich Hadhramaut region of Yemen. In response,Saudi officials visited Hadhramaut, calling for a withdrawal of the Council’sforces.
With Council forces seeking to take control ofan oil company that exploits two of Hadhramaut’s oil fields, the risk is thatdevelopments in the region could shatter Yemen’s de facto lull in the fighting.
[Anchor] James M. Dorsey, thank you foryour time this morning of the year for us in South Africa. Have a good rest ofyour weekend, James.
[James M. Dorsey] Thank you for havingme, and I wish you all the best.
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