Beyond the Headlines

As Israeli and American officials celebrated the controversial move of the United States' embassy to Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers were murdering peaceful Palestinian protestors. This week, host Naser Al Wasmi looks at the latest atrocities carried about by a newly empowered Israel against their Palestinian neighbours. Jack Moore and Willy Lowry, who have each spent time in Gaza and the West Bank, give their perspectives. #Gaza #Israel #Palestine #MiddleEast #News

For the first time since 2009, Lebanon voted to elect 128 members to parliament. Saad Hariri, the current Prime Minister of Lebanon and his Sunni-dominated party fared better than expected. But he lost seats to Hezbollah, the Shiite-movement that now has more seats and pull in the parliament than ever before. As in almost any election in the Arab World, this one was marred in controversy. Voter turnout was low with less than half of the population taking to the ballots. Those who did vote accused the system of voter fraud. The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections reported over 7,000 polling violations, fights broke out in the streets, and at least three candidates accused other parties of intimidation. All said, the results will have regional ramifications. In this episode, The National’s Foreign Editor, Arthur MacMillan, dissects the results and breaks down what the new parliament makeup will mean for the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday claimed Iran was developing a "secret" nuclear weapons programme in breach of the 2015 deal agreed with world powers. Iran responded by saying an alleged archive of tens of thousands of records was merely part of a "ridiculous propaganda" machine. We analyse the situation between Israel and Iran and how it pertains to the Iranian nuclear deal in this week's Beyond the Headlines podcast. We spoke to Robert Kelley, who was director of the International Atomic Energy Agency programme in Iraq in 1992 and again in 2001. Mr Kelly has experience in over 20 countries working on disarmament and more than 35 years working in the US of Energy nuclear weapons complex. He gave us his thoughts on what impact this will have on President Donald Trump’s impending decision on the United States's involvement in the deal, and how old intelligence documents can be used to push a political agenda.

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has always held a tight grip on media in his country. After seven years of a vicious war, the strongman maintains strict control over all news coming out of his side of the country. The National was given a glimpse into what President Bashar wants the world to interpret about his regime. Our correspondent, Gareth Browne saw right through it. We spoke to Gareth as he returned from a week-long government-monitored trip into Assad's Syria. He told us about how the country's secret service hounded the group of journalists from the UK and what it means for the Syria's outlook. 

The US launched airstrikes on Syria this week, sparking a wide range of reactions from the international community. The US-led airstrikes targeted a factory believed to be the source of a Syrian-regime chemical weapons attack last week, which killed dozens. Chemical weapons experts have been blocked from the Syrian attack site by regime forces, reinforcing claims that longstanding President Bashar Al Assad was responsible. But, with so many powers involved in the country, the question of who was involved remains. But it's just one of many questions swirling around the conflict. In this week's Beyond the Headlines, we assess the situation in Syria. Our guest is Lina Sinjab, the BBC’s Middle East Correspondent. She has spent several years covering the region and provided numerous insights into the Syrian war since it began in 2011. 

Extremist groups in Syria are planting landmines and booby traps all over the country with the intention of killing civilians. Even children aren't safe from bombs that are often disguised as toys. In this week's Beyond the Headlines, we look at the situation in Syria and the growing civilian deaths from the perspective of humanitarian efforts aimed at helping those affected by these attacks. Imad Aoun is a field communications adviser for Doctors Without Borders. We talk to him about a report he helped publish out of the organisation that presented their findings on the mine and booby-trap situation in Syria. Beyond the Headlines, produced by Kevin Jeffers, is The National's weekly podcast for analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

In 2002, a 12-metre statue of Saddam Hussein was erected in Baghdad's Firdos Square, right in the middle of one of the Iraqi capital’s many roundabouts. It depicted the Iraqi dictator standing heels together with his right arm outstretched in an open palm. It was a symbol of Saddam’s confidence and his ruthless grip on the country. A year later, Operation Iraqi Freedom was just a few weeks underway when the statue was torn down by US coalition forces, as some Iraqi citizens cheered. That was 15 years ago this week. On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we look at where Iraq is now from those who remember the statue's symbolic fall. Rasha Al Aqeedi was in Mosul at the time. Today, she works as a researcher in Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre in Dubai. She talks about the fall of Saddam as both a moment of joy and great concern for the country. Mina Al Droubi, a reporter on the National’s foreign desk, was in London when she saw the news in April 2003. Although only 14, she remembers the event as sparking a reaction that still marks the politics of Iraq today. Beyond the Headlines, produced by Kevin Jeffers, is The National's weekly podcast for analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

This week, Saudi Arabia witnessed the most aggressive attack on its own soil since their intervention in the Yemen civil war three years ago. The Houthis launched seven missiles at Riyadh. Saudi’s ministry of interior claimed to intercept all of them, but debris from one fell on a man’s house, killing him and injuring two others. This comes as all parties were engaged, indirectly, in talks that were believed to be considering a political settlement. The war has claimed thousands of lives, and displaced millions. In this week's Beyond the Headlines podcast, host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by analyst Baraa Shibanto explain the political fallout that might transpire as a result of the attacks. We also look at the humanitarian crisis in the country, as more than a million cases of cholera have been reported. As the rainy season in the Arab world’s poorest country approaches, the World Health Organisation is warning that an epidemic that has killed 2,000 people, could flare up again. Jessica El Zarif, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, tells us what can be done to prevent the disease from spreading.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in the United States on an official visit this week. The already strong relationship between the two countries is being reinforced during meetings with President Donald Trump and senior officials. He will then look to engage other aspects of his Vision 2030 in trips to Silicon Valley and other parts of he US. We talked to Joyce Karam, our Washington correspondent, who was present during Saudi embassy briefings and has been talking to insiders in the capital on what the trip means for bilateral relations. We were also joined by Thanassis Cambanis, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, who gave us a wider perspective on Saudis role in the region and the world.

This week, we discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's international outreach. The 32-year-old heir to the Kingdom made stops in Cairo and London and is next heading to Washington for a two-week tour of the US. This will be more than a political trip. After Washington, the Crown Prince is set to visit New York, Boston, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle to discuss economic co-operation, investments and his Vision 2030. We talked to Michael Stephens, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He tells us what he thinks the Crown Prince hopes to accomplish on this historic tour. Also, we look at the resurgence of ISIL in Iraq. Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi claimed the defeat of ISIL in 2017, but this week there have been dozens of deaths claimed by the terrorists.  Reporter Campbell MacDiarmid is in Iraq covering the resurgence of ISIL around the country. He told us what he perceives as the new phase in the battle.