The Palestinian Authority faces a legitimacy crisis. Many Palestinians see it as little more than a subcontractor of occupation in the West Bank.
Middle East
The Middle East is both ancient and dramatically changing. Authoritarian rulers dominate, but some countries are opening economically and socially. And new alignments are being forged as the U.S. takes a step back from the region and China begins to play a more active role.
Turnout is likely to be low in Iran’s elections on Friday, but the vote will be consequential as the new Assembly of Experts will probably choose the next supreme leader
Iran’s will to win the Middle East wars stems from a strategic culture of “us against the world,” forged in the cauldron that followed the 1979 revolution.
By centering the defense of Palestinians, the Houthis have found a way to discredit their domestic opponents and strengthen their hold on power.
Iran’s proxy Axis of Resistance network seldom involves absolute control but gives it flexibility to conduct asymmetric warfare across the Middle East.
If the Houthis can force a prolonged diversion of global trade from the Red Sea, most countries will be hit by the economic impact.
Israel’s assassination campaign escalates its shadow war with Iran, with the growing potential for a second front in Lebanon opening.
The rerouting of ships as a result of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea is causing shipment delays and increasing costs and carbon emissions.
The U.S.-led anti-Houthi naval task force faces significant operational challenges, including few warships for a large area and short missile warning times.
Hesham Sallam joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss how Pres. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has dominated Egypt and its 110 million people for a decade.