The Great Powers and the War in Gaza - with Walter Russell Mead
Jun 7, 2024
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Walter Russell Mead discusses the Israel-Hamas war from a global perspective, touching on the involvement of regional players and global powers. The conversation explores complexities in Gaza, including anti-Semitism, media coverage, and Hezbollah's decisions. Saudi Arabia's stance, Russia and China's influence in the region, and American support for Israel are also analyzed.
The conflict highlights the delicate balance of power and potential catastrophic outcomes in the Middle East region.
Examining how the Israel-Hamas war impacts global powers like China and Russia unveils their interests.
Deep dives
Implications of Hezbollah's Role as Iran's 'Terrific Gun'
Hezbollah is portrayed as a potent weapon at Iran's disposal, aimed at Israel. However, using this 'loaded gun' might result in significant damage to Israel, possibly leading to catastrophic outcomes. Despite potential harm, Israel remains resilient and combat-ready, potentially causing Iran to lose this strategic asset. This scenario highlights the delicate balance of power and consequences in the region.
Analyzing the Middle East Conflict Beyond Israel and Palestine
The podcast delves into the broader dynamics of the Middle East conflict, shifting the focus from Israel and Palestine to other regional players and global powers like China and Russia. By examining how the Israel-Hamas war impacts various stakeholders, including major global players, the episode aims to uncover whether this conflict advances or undermines their interests.
Surprises and Shifts in International Relations Amid the Conflict
The ongoing conflict has led to unexpected developments in international relations. Surprising occurrences include a rise in anti-Semitism globally and shifts in support for Israel across European nations. Additionally, the American Jewish community grapples with debates regarding the significance of Zionism versus liberalism, echoing historical dilemmas among Jews.
Interplay of Factions and Interests in Regional Dynamics
Amidst the conflict, various factions within groups like Hamas and Hezbollah emerge, each with its own interests and relations, both with their patrons and internally. The intricate web of factionalism and competing interests underscores the complexity of the regional landscape, where uncertainty, competition, and strategic alignments shape the ongoing dynamics.
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Over the past 8 months, we've focused most of our attention on Israel's perspective and the American perspective since October 7th. But what we wanted to do today is gradually zoom out from Israel and Gaza, to the perspective of other regional players in the Middle East, and finally examine this war from the perspective of the global powers, especially China and Russia. Has the Israel-Hamas war advanced their interests or reversed them?
Our guest today is Walter Russell Mead. He is at the Hudson Institute, he is the Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal. He was previously the Henry Kissinger fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He also has a terrific podcast at Tablet Magazine, called What Really Matters: https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/what-really-matters
He is also a prolific author. His most recent book is -- The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People, which you order here -- shorturl.at/bdhpz
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