Babel: Translating the Middle East

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hans Grundberg, the United Nations' special envoy of the secretary-general for Yemen. They discuss what a UN mediator does, why successful mediation is about more than just reaching a peace agreement, and how the internationalization of conflicts complicates mediation. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss the tradeoffs between different mediators and why the UN separates its humanitarian work from its mediation efforts.Transcript, "Hans Grundberg: Mediation in Yemen," CSIS, April 30, 2024.

Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the tensions rising between Iran and Israel, as well as the potential for regional escalation. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hiba Husseini, a Palestinian lawyer and a legal adviser to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations for 30 years. They discuss the state of pro-peace communities after October 7th and the war in Gaza's effect on future peacemaking efforts. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss why youth are increasingly supportive of armed struggle, the pre-conditions for a new Palestinian political leadership, and the ways in which Gaza’s reconstruction could create opportunities for peacemaking.Transcript, "Hiba Husseini: Peacemaking After Oslo," CSIS, April 2, 2024.

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Will Todman, deputy director and senior fellow with the CSIS Middle East Program, about how displacement has become a flashpoint across the region and the innovative solutions necessary to mitigate these crises. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.Will Todman, "Support for Refugees Erodes in the Middle East," CSIS, June 5, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a former Jordanian diplomat, and the current president and CEO of the International Peace Institute. They discuss the pursuit of human rights in a multipolar world and the role that the United Nations can play in Gaza. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to explore the importance of codifying human rights into international law and the challenges of sustaining international attention on human rights crises.Transcript, "Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein: Human Rights in a Messy World," CSIS, April 2, 2024.

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the CSIS Middle East Program, about the U.S. strategy toward protracted conflicts, which can serve as forums for great power competition. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.Natasha Hall, "The New Forever Wars," CSIS, January 25, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dana Stroul, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. They talk about the U.S. defense strategy in the Middle East before and after the war in Gaza, how the conflict has changed U.S. security partnerships with Arab states, and the lessons Israel should learn from U.S. military experience in the region. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss the multi-dimensional challenges of the Israel-Hamas war and the timeline for U.S. government action.Transcript, "Dana Stroul: The U.S. Defense Strategy in the Middle East," CSIS, March 19, 2024.

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the CSIS Middle East Program, about the challenges of mitigating climate change through humanitarian interventions in conflict-affected countries. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.Natasha Hall, "Redefining Climate Finance for a Troubled World," CSIS, March 12, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Amos Yadlin, a former head of the Military Intelligence Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces. They discuss Israeli strategy in Gaza, the impacts of the war on Israel’s global relationships, and how this war differs from Israel’s previous conflicts. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss how Israelis weigh their international partnerships against what they perceive to be a threat to their survival.Transcript, "Amos Yadlin: A New Type of Israeli War," CSIS, March 5, 2024.

On January 28, a drone reportedly piloted by forces connected to Iran killed three U.S. troops at a base in northeast Jordan and wounded more than two dozen more. The strike is the highest casualty event the United States has had in the Middle East in more than a decade, prompting questions about how the United States will respond. A new audio brief from the CSIS Middle East Program. Jon Alterman, "What Will the United States Do after the Drone Strike in Jordan?" CSIS, January 29, 2024. Jon Alterman, "'What Will the United States Do after the Drone Strike in Jordan?': Audio Brief with Jon Alterman," CSIS, January 30, 2024. For more spoken word summaries from CSIS experts about their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries, please listen to the CSIS podcast Audio Briefs.