The AL-Monitor Brief

Al-Monitor Brief host Adam Lucente provides an overview of significant developments in Iran this week, including Russian plans to build nuclear reactors in the country, a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian weapons shipment, and a controversial visit by South Africa’s top commander to Tehran. 

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Al-Monitor’s correspondent in Ankara, Ezgi Akin, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the recent Turkey-Syria defense cooperation deal, including Turkish security priorities in Syria, what the agreement means for Israel’s actions in the country, and why a conflict with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces is not a given, despite rising tensions.

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Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse columnist Ben Caspit joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s domestic political considerations, why military leadership opposes the move, and potential issues with the post-war plan for the enclave. Al-Monitor Israel Pulse chief Rina Bassist also chimes in on the implications of Germany stopping arms exports to Is...

Al-Monitor’s chief business correspondent Jack Dutton joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the effects US President Donald Trump’s tariffs will have on the Middle East, including potential benefits to Gulf economies, the dynamics of the oil exemption, who is most vulnerable to threats over trading with Russia, & what leverage regional states may have to negotiate new trade deals. 

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Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse chief Rina Bassist joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the latest on the Gaza war, including what the influx of aid means for the ceasefire and hostage talks with Hamas, whether reported proposals to annex the territory are credible, and the growing international pressure towards recognizing a Palestinian state. 

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Al-Monitor’s State Department correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn joins host Adam Lucente to discuss where the Gaza ceasefire and hostages talks stand after another setback, possible alternatives to reaching a deal, and what the Trump administration is doing in response to reports of a worsening hunger crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

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Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent Amberin Zaman joins host Adam Lucente to discuss why Turkey is worried about violence between Druze and Bedouin fighters in southern Syria’s Suwayda, as well as how the situation might strengthen the hand of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in their negotiations with Damascus. 

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Al-Monitor host Adam Lucente provides an overview of the latest in southern Syria’s Suwayda, including news on the renewed fighting in violation of the ceasefire, the different actors in the Druze community, the US-brokered Israel-Syria ceasefire, and the challenges facing the Syrian government, regional states and the United States.  

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Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse columnist Ben Caspit joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the latest Israeli military actions in Syria following violence between Druze and Bedouins in the south, including how the escalation will affect normalization talks between Israel and Syria and why the Israeli government is so interested in the plight of the Druze religious minority. 

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Al-Monitor’s Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab joins host Adam Lucente to discuss his recent interview with Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to court US President Donald Trump and how US policies in the region are perceived in Ramallah. 

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Al-Monitor’s State Department correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington and meetings with President Donald Trump, including what type of nuclear deal the US wants with Iran and if such an accord is possible, the points of contention between Israel and Hamas over a new ceasefire, and whether Trump is reviving his plan to relocate Palest...

Al-Monitor’s correspondent in Ankara Ezgi Akin joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the prolonged court case over the Republican People’s Party (CHP) leadership, including how it could hurt the opposition party’s growing popularity and benefit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid economic struggles and efforts to amend Turkey’s constitution. 

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Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse chief Rina Bassist joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the prospects of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, including the effects a deal would have on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future, how the war with Iran has affected Israeli thinking, and growing support in Israel for an agreement. 

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Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse columnist Ben Caspit joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the latest on the conflict between Israel and Iran, including the damage Israel has done to Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, the threat Iran’s strikes pose to Israeli civilians and infrastructure, and what Israel wants from the US. 

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