Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Nearly two decades after Israel withdrew from Gaza, dismantling settlements and military posts under Ariel Sharon’s leadership, the Israeli government has now approved a plan to take over the Palestinian enclave again, following 22 months of its war there.

What began as speculation this week quickly became official policy after a 10-hour security cabinet meeting, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gained approval to take full control of northern Gaza.

The plan includes displacing up to a million people and reshaping governance in the strip under an as yet undefined “civilian authority”.

Mr Netanyahu claims this move will restore Israel’s security and free Gazans from Hamas rule. But critics, including top military officials and former security leaders, warn this could destroy prospects for a ceasefire, worsen the humanitarian catastrophe and endanger remaining hostages.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher speaks to two Israeli figures on opposite sides of the debate: Yossi Kuperwasser, head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security think tank and former head of the research division in the Israeli military intelligence; and Ami Ayalon, a former commander of the Israeli Navy and former director of the Israel security agency Shin Bet. One defends reoccupation as a necessary strategy, the other calls it a dangerous step that could cost Israel its identity, security and future.

Episoder(477)

The changes in the Middle East after Joe Biden takes office

The changes in the Middle East after Joe Biden takes office

For nearly four years, US President Donald Trump has torn up America’s foreign policy handbook. The implications, both at home and abroad, have been significant. Most recently, Trump’s administration ...

12 Nov 202023min

Why superstorms are the new normal

Why superstorms are the new normal

The Philippines is no stranger to storms. The country's group of islands weather around 20 storms and typhoons a year. But when news of supertyphoon Goni was announced, it took action, preparing itsel...

5 Nov 202017min

US election special: Who will be the next US President?

US election special: Who will be the next US President?

In this special edition of Beyond the Headlines, Michael Goldfarb, author, journalist and host of the FRDH podcast based in the UK, talks to Joyce Karam, The National's correspondent in Washington, an...

28 Okt 202023min

Arab Americans vote in divisive presidential election

Arab Americans vote in divisive presidential election

Arab-Americans make up a tiny fraction of America’s 300 plus million people. But in three key swing states: Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania they are a significant enough voting block that th...

22 Okt 202017min

A year of revolution in Lebanon between fires, crisis and blast

A year of revolution in Lebanon between fires, crisis and blast

The fires didn’t start the revolution, but you could say it was the kindling. The country suffers fires every year, but these were different. In this week's Beyond the Headlines, host James Haines-You...

15 Okt 202026min

The challenges of finding a Covid-19 vaccine

The challenges of finding a Covid-19 vaccine

News update: Since publishing this podcast China announced on October 9 that it has joined Covax, the global scheme for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine backed by the World Health Organisation. ...

8 Okt 202024min

Iraq's year of protests, assassinations and foreign interference

Iraq's year of protests, assassinations and foreign interference

On October the 1st 2019, protestors took to the streets of Iraq demonstrating against unemployment, government corruption and poor public services, such as electricity and clean water. As Iraqis mark ...

30 Sep 202017min

Saudi Arabia at 90, an evolution from Bedouin culture to leading power

Saudi Arabia at 90, an evolution from Bedouin culture to leading power

Nadia Abdulwahab, Lecturer in English Literature at Umm Al Qura University, and Marcel Kupershoek, author and senior humanities research fellow at NYU Abu Dhabi takes us through the evolution of Saudi...

23 Sep 202016min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
stopp-verden
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
popradet
nokon-ma-ga
det-store-bildet
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
rss-ness
fotballpodden-2
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
e24-podden
frokostshowet-pa-p5
unitedno
rss-dannet-uten-piano