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Middle East
The Arab view of US-Israeli relations
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has dismissed the idea that US-Israeli relations are in crisis amid a quarrel over Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem. The spat has certainly been getting a lot of attention in both the US and Israel. But what’s been the reaction in the Arab world? The World’s Jason Margolis has more. Download MP3
The East Jerusalem issue
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US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has postponed a visit to Israel amid a continuing quarrel over Israel’s decision to build more Jewish homes in East Jerusalem. The building announcement angered Washington. Tension remains high in Jerusalem, with more security forces moving in as rock throwing protesters vent their frustration. The World’s Matthew Bell chronicles the developing tensions over East Jerusalem. Download MP3 (photo: Matthew Bell)Palestinian business hampered by visa problems
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Vice President Biden’s Middle East trip could not change the impression that the peace process there is as stalled as ever. A viable Palestinian state is not imminent and developing the Palestinian economy remains difficult. Investors are even having trouble getting visas to the Palestinian territories – and that’s blocking economic growth in the West Bank. Daniel Estrin reports from Ramallah. Download MP3 (Photo: Daniel Estrin) Biden criticizes Israel over building project
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Vice-President Joe Biden has again condemned Israel over a controversial building project, saying approval had undermined trust in the peace process. Biden was speaking after meeting the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah (Photo: David Furst/AFP/Getty Images). Linda Gradstein reports. Download MP3
Mistaken identity
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Freelance journalist Alon Tuval has the misfortune of looking a lot like one of the suspects in the Dubai case. He says even friends are mistaking him for one of those involved. He’s in Jerusalem now. Katy Clark checks in with him. Download MP3
Murder mystery in the Middle East
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Last month, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a military commander of the Palestinian group Hamas, was killed in Dubai. Hamas blamed Israel. This week, Dubai police released names, photos, and passport numbers of 11 members of an alleged hit-squad. Dubai said they carried European passports, but most of the identities appear to have been stolen. And at least seven of those identities matched up with Israeli citizens. We hear from Ronen Bergman, the security and intelligence correspondent for the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth. Download MP3
A Palestinian view of US Mideast policy
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Palestinians take a dim view of President Obama’s performance in advancing the Middle East peace process over the past year. That’s according to Mustafa Barghouti, a leading Palestinian politician, who speaks with anchor Marco Werman. Download MP3
Obama’s new words, Avatar in the Amazon and a Chinese satire
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As Obama enters the second year of his presidency, he’s dropped some expressions — “war on terror”, “Af-Pak”, even “Middle East”. His administration has invented a few too: “remotedly piloted aircraft” (drones) and “overseas contingency operations” (wars). Also, a special screening of Avatar in Ecuador for indigenous groups. What did these Shuar and Achuar speakers think of Avatar’s invented language, Na’vi? Finally, a new online satirical movie is all the rage in China. It features a Chinese double-entendre phrase aimed at avoiding government censorship. The movie also includes a fantastic “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” rant.Download MP3
The village of Ghajar
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Israel is prepared to hand the northern section of a divided village on the Lebanon border over to United Nations forces. But people in the town aren’t happy about it. They say they’re part of Syria. Aaron Schacther reports from the village of Ghajar. Download MP3
Another hummus record
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Israel has taken the upper hand in a different kind of Mideast conflict: cooks in a town near Jerusalem have whipped up more than four metric tons of hummus, the chickpea paste that is a staple for many in the region. The cooks doubled the previous record for the world’s biggest serving of hummus, set in October by cooks in Lebanon. Aaron Schachter checks out the culinary delights. Download MP3
A Middle East update from correspondent Alan Johnston
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In 2007, he was kidnapped and held by militants in Gaza for 117 days. Johnston just returned to the region for the first time since his release. He says some things have changed. On today’s show, we get a Middle East update from correspondent Alan Johnston.
Exchange could impact Palestinian politics
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A leading Palestinian leader who is currently in an Israeli jail could be released as part of a prisoner exchanged being negotiated. The World’s Aaron Schachter reports on the role Marwan Barghouti could play in Palestinian politics.
Entire program – December 21, 2009
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Today on The World: The funeral of one of Iran’s most influential dissident voices stirs new protests from opposition supporters; Also, nations point fingers at each other after the failure to reach a binding agreement at the Copenhagen climate summit; Plus a video game in which the Russians are the bad guys, gains popularity in Russia.
A glimpse into the Persian blogosphere
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Persian language bloggers, both inside and outside the country, have been weighing in on the day’s events in Tehran. Those bloggers are the subject of some new research carried out by The BBC World Service Trust and a Persian social media website called Balatarin. Marco Werman hears more from The World’s technology correspondent Clark Boyd. Download MP3Podcast: New Peace Lobby for Israel
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On this week’s American Influence podcast, J Street has its coming out party in Washington. The new pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby group creates a stir. And US-funded Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. Join The World’s Matthew Bell for his weekly in-depth look at US foreign policy and its effects across the globe. Download MP3
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