A sharp, thirty-minute podcast for June's 'Middle East Analysis' that takes a slightly different format. Having returned from a six-day visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank, host James Abbott discusses Holy Land realities with regular studio guest Dr Harry Hagopian. 

To use an English translation of a French phrase that Harry has used more than once, it's a serious case of "the more it changes, the more it stays the same”.

Relating regional experiences - limited on the part of the host, extensive on the part of the guest - we focus on the people behind the politics of Israel/Palestine.

Holy Land, Unholy Problems

It's more of a hot rather than warm welcome to this 'Middle East Analysis' podcast. We've 'enjoyed' record temperatures of over 40°C  in recent times here in the UK - far more in keeping with the Middle East, Gulf States and North Africa.

Here to cool us down with his usual stylish, sharp analysis is the voice of MEA, Dr Harry Hagopian. The topic? Well it can only be the four-day visit of US President Joe Biden to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jeddah.

A trip pilloried in certain quarters as high on photo ops, low on substance, was it a charm offensive to bolster US relations with Israel? Motivated, with an eye on Saudi Arabia, by the energy crisis and energy security? Or, as President Biden stressed to Arab leaders, to affirm that the US will not walk away from the region leaving a void to be filled by China, Russia or Iran?

Dr Harry Hagopian takes a deeper look and gives us his opinion on whether there were any takeaways other than a rather uncomforable fist bump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.

Fist Bumps and Formalities - President Biden in the Middle East

Dr Harry Hagopian, the voice of 'Middle East Analysis', came up with the novel idea of looking behind the interventions made by the Heads of State and political leaders from the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf regions at the recent 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Treat this as a fly-on-the-wall side event, a briefing, that steps away from the carefully crafted podium speeches - somewhat predictable in terms of content and agenda - to get to the nub of neighbourly agitation or cooperation.

Iran, Qatar, Lebanon and, to a lesser degree, Israel/Palestine, Iraq and Jordan get the unique Hagopian treatment on this 'Middle East Analysis'.

UN-workable demands for the MENA and Gulf regions?

Ever clicked a link and hit a 404 "not found" error page? Happens a lot. It's also very frustrating. You think you've finally found that elusive content but it's a false dawn and you'll have to go back and search again. The image for this 'Middle East Analysis' podcast was taken on the West Bank side of the Separation Wall earlier this year. It seems rather appropriate for today's episode. 

Dr Harry Hagopian, our resident international lawyer and regional analyst, takes on a quick-fire five to being our podcast looking at a variety of regional elections, off-shore gas deals and - stand by your bunks - sportswashing in the context of the Qatar-hosted football World Cup.

The meat in the sandwich is the ongoing turmoil and violence in northern Palestine. Harry gives his take on the situation in Jenin and Nablus. The prevailing writing on the wall? It's a 404 - Solution Not Found.

All this and a few off-the-cuff afterthoughts from the good doctor.

404 Solution Not Found

The football World Cup, hurtling through the group stages in Qatar after a fair helping of pre-tournament controversy, takes centre stage for our November Middle East Analysis podcast. Surely even the most optimistic Saudi looked at the Argentina fixture and prayed KSA would just keep the score down? Well, would you believe it? Lionel Messi and co found themselves chastened after an extraordinary 2-1 win for Saudi Arabia. And, as far as the Arab States are concerned, that result wasn't the only surprise. Morocco held Croatia, Iran bested Wales, Tunisia drew with Denmark and even the hosts put a goal past Senegal. The MENA countries are not just making up the numbers. 

Not known as a football aficionado, our regular studio guest, Dr Harry Hagopian still has plenty to say on the subject before sinking his teeth into the violent crackdown on the protests in Iran before passing comment on the political survivor par excellence Bibi Netanyahu - cutting deals and grabbing power. 

If that wasn't enough, we conclude with three of Harry's unique afterthoughts.

It's all on November's Middle East Analysis.

Arab states not just making up the numbers

Ending a long-running podcast is painful. It's also hard to let go - especially when the expert sitting opposite you has been a friend for 15 years.

This is the last ever Middle East Analysis and, as such, is something of a fond farewell - on this channel at least - to Dr Harry Hagopian. The man's a colossus with a brain to match and a bucket-load of integrity. He also delivers his views and analysis with a fair dollop of wit and panache.

So it's with a heavy heart we say goodbye, but not without saying a huge thank-you to all our listeners. Whether you've tuned in regularly, been listening for years, or are comparatively new to the podcast, we salute you.

The last word is for Dr Hagopian... You may not be a prophet, Harry, but you're a mighty fine fellow!

Walls are meant for climbing

Five long, painful months after the Hamas terror attack of 7 October and the subsequent bombing and ground offensive that has reduced Gaza to rubble and led to several thousand deaths and a humanitarian disaster of the most tragic proportions, this 'Middle East Analysis' special asks the question: Is there a road map to peace in the Holy Land or are we eternally to walk the path of violence, revenge and hatred?

International lawyer and MENA region analyst Dr Harry Hagopian joins us in the studio for the first time in almost two years for this special podcast that features the Catholic Bishop of Clifton, Bishop Declan Lang.

The two old friends look for any sign of light in the darkness, and mourn decades of failure when it comes to securing a lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

Holy Land

Any hope left in the Holy Land?

We keep our firm focus on the Holy Land and whilst we continue to weep as we look on at the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the suffering of all civilians caught up in this conflict, we're joined by Fr Fadi Diab to discuss the lived realities of the Palestinian people in the West Bank as well as in the decimated strip.

Fr Diab is from Ramallah and is the rector of St Andrew's Episcopal Church and also minister at St Peter's Church in Bir Zeit.

He is also Chair of the Holy Land Committee of Friends of the Holy Land, an ecumenical, non-political charity with a mission, together with other Christian charities is to secure a resilient and enduring Christian community in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan.

Fr Fadi Diab | The Church's Prophetic Voice in the Holy Land

When Father Gabriel Romanelli travelled to the West Bank to get some urgently-needed medicine for a nun living with his community in Gaza, it never crossed his mind he'd be separated from his flock for over six months.
 
Father Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family Church in the north of the strip, had to watch from a distance as the horrors of the 7 October Hamas attack unfolded, before Israel's bombardment of Gaza led to the humanitarian crisis and suffering we now see in this torn land.

On this special episode of 'Middle East Analysis', we welcome to our podcast the shepherd of Gaza's tiny Catholic community - one that numbered only 135 people before the war.

Father Romanelli spent a week in the UK, in London and Glasgow, meeting with Christian leaders and politicians to highlight the plight of the near 500 people still sheltering in the compound of the Holy Family Church.

Regular studio guest Dr Harry Hagopian, an International lawyer and analyst who has long worked for peace between Israel and Palestine joins Fr Romanelli in conversation for this special podcast.

Harry was a Track II negotiator during the time of the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and a former Assistant General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Middle East Analysis

Separated from Gaza's Catholic community

The birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to St Matthew. Taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, this four-part audio series features the voices of over 20 Catholics living and working in England and Wales. Our contributors hail from more than 10 countries - including Poland, Malta, Burma, Spain, USA and the home countries - showing the rich diversity of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The Birth of Jesus and the Announcing of the Kingdom

Audio from the Catholic Church in England and Wales. We mainly post our podcasts here but we also upload lectures, talks, homilies and interesting audio snippets.

The Birth of Jesus and the Announcing of the Kingdom

Catholic Church

Related tracks