Can mediation cut through conflict in the Middle East?

Can mediation cut through conflict in the Middle East?

In Gaza, a fragile ceasefire comes with great uncertainty for the future. In Yemen, the Houthis are abducting humanitarian workers and journalists in a witch hunt for alleged spies. And in Syria, a new and unstable political landscape could go either way.

“It's not easy to build peace. It's much easier to stop a war,” says Martin Griffiths, executive director of Mediation Group International.

The former under secretary general for humanitarian affairs at the UN speaks to The National’s editor-in-chief Mina Al-Oraibi in this special episode of Beyond the Headlines.

They discuss the instrumental role of mediation, not only to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, but to ensure peace will follow. Mr Griffiths draws insights from his decades-long career in the humanitarian field to reflect on current events in the region. He talks about the diplomacy model set by Gulf countries and about opportunities to reform a UN in crisis.

Episoder(479)

Is the Israeli election Netanyahu’s final chapter?

Is the Israeli election Netanyahu’s final chapter?

What does Israel’s second election in 2019 mean for Netanyahu, the Jewish population and the Arabs and Palestinians? Deputy foreign editor, Jack Moore, takes a look at the results of the vote and spea...

19 Sep 201923min

Bye bye, Bolton

Bye bye, Bolton

US National Security Advisor John Bolton has been fired. Or perhaps he resigned. On Twitter Donald Trump says he fired him whilst Bolton claims he quit. The hawkish security advisor has been one o...

12 Sep 201922min

The Amazon is still burning. Can we save it?

The Amazon is still burning. Can we save it?

In the first 26 days of August alone, 1,114 square kilometres of Brazil's Amazon rainforest, an area equivalent to the size of Hong Kong was on fire.  Tens of thousands of fires, far more than last ...

5 Sep 201918min

Drones above Beirut: Israel's battle against Hezbollah

Drones above Beirut: Israel's battle against Hezbollah

This week, we ask if Israel is stepping up its campaign against Iran and will it spark a war with Hezbollah. We talk to Sunniva Rose, the National's Beirut correspondent and Joseph Haboush, the nati...

30 Aug 201924min

Sudan: Can democracy work?

Sudan: Can democracy work?

On this week's episode, we catch up with The National’s Hamza Hendawi to talk about the historic move to democracy in Sudan and what he sees as the challenges ahead. We also speak to Sara Abduljalee...

21 Aug 201919min

What sparked the Hong Kong protests?

What sparked the Hong Kong protests?

Hong Kong is facing one of the biggest crisis since Britain handed the city back to China in 1997.  For 10 weeks, protesters have shut down the city, stormed the legislature, and even shut down the ...

15 Aug 201917min

Hajj for my brother who was killed at Christchurch

Hajj for my brother who was killed at Christchurch

On this week's episode we talk to Aya Al-Umari, the sister of Hussein Al-Umari, one of the victims who was gunned down in the Christchurch massacre earlier this year.  King Salman of Saudi Arabia ha...

8 Aug 201914min

Future-proofing our cities against record-breaking temperatures

Future-proofing our cities against record-breaking temperatures

This summer has beaten temperature records. Throughout July, Europe sweltered in baking heat. Paris hit 42 degrees centigrade, Berlin 40 and London 39. It is projected that at current rates of clima...

1 Aug 201921min

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