Middle East Analysis

'Hot Region, Cold War' was the working title proposed for today's podcast. Why? Well, it's a little conceptual. It was born from a desire to ask our big-brained studio guest Dr Harry Hagopian to analyse the foreign policy agendas of the Russian Federation on the one hand and the United States on the other with regard to the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf States. Harry took exception to 'Hot Region, Cold War' and proposed 'Hot Region, Hot Wars'. Fair enough. But superpower policy, regional tension and proxy wars aren't the only subjects up for discussion. In the first Middle East Analysis podcast of 2019, we sweep across the region - getting updates and context as we go - concluding with an ode to Olivia Newton-John (don't ask, best just to listen). 45 minutes of packed anaysis from Dr Harry Hagopian is a treat but if you have a particular interest in a topic or country, we have timecoded the podcast. Start - 5m 39s: Introduction - Brexit Backdrop 5m 40s - 14m 7s US and Russian Federation 'policies'

As we approach Christmas, when Christians around the world look to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Dr Harry Hagopian, lead contributor to our Middle East Analysis podcasts, encourages us to consider the realities facing Arab Christians. Close your eyes - you might find yourself in Manger Square. This four minute Christmas reflection ends our audio for 2018. Podcasts resume in 2019.

Whatever the turmoil in the Middle East North Africa region, the tension in the lands where three of the world's major religions meet - the Holy Land - often paints hard brush strokes on the wider regional landscape. So where do we turn now with Israel / Palestine? With the US so heavily involved and a 'Deal of the Century' about as feasible as every other so-called solution proposed in the last half-century, what are the options? Two State Solution? Deceased or, at best, being cared for palliatively. One State Solution? Unpalatable to the big players. Management of an Occupation? Surely unacceptable to the global community. Deal of the Century? No deal. This makes Brexit negotiations look easy. The man in the hotseat to discuss this is our resident guest on Middle East Analysis - Dr Harry Hagopian. Harry is an international lawyer, analyst and commentator.

Middle East Analysis returns from a four month hiatus to tackle the subject that's front and centre as far as current regional analysis goes - the alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Dr Harry Hagopian joins us to look at the impact on Saudi Arabia, the region and the international players.

To Be or Not to Be! Or in this case, To Deal or Not to Deal! As the US Administration reportedly gets ready to announce the "Deal of the Century" that addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, International lawyer & MENA observer Dr Harry Hagopian - who often reminds listeners that he is Armenian but not a prophet! - discusses with James Abbott the possible parameters of this deal.

In this, the concluding episode of our four-part series on the tough realities facing Christians in the Middle East North Africa region and the Gulf States, we turn our attention to the heart-breaking humanitarian disaster that Syria has become. How do the Christians cope living between a rock and a hard place? Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and analyst on the Middle East North Africa region and the Gulf States, provides the commentary.

Next it's off to the Gulf states - those small, oil-rich countries bordering the Persian Gulf that have become popular tourist destinations in recent years. Christians have designated places of worship but is there an apparent gulf between faiths? Are Christians embraced or tolerated? Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and analyst on the Middle East North Africa region and the Gulf States, provides the commentary.

Part Two sees us take a closer look at the 'majority minorities' - the large Christian communities in countries like Lebanon and Egypt. It's not just the Maronites in the former and the Copts in the latter. Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and analyst on the Middle East North Africa region and the Gulf States, provides the commentary.

With tensions in Israel and Palestine rising alarmingly, we ask how Christians would deal with a third Palestinian Intifada. Will it even happen? Are the Christians the pacifists on the periphery? How do the Arab Christians live with the ongoing conflict? Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and analyst on the Middle East North Africa and the Gulf States, provides the commentary.