This Week in the Middle East

Apr 14 2025 13 ep. 19 mins 9
This Week in the Middle East Podcast artwork

William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, discusses the new political issues of the week, with a particular focus on developments in the Middle East.

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Syria descends into chaos and the vultures pick at the carcase

Apr 14 2025 17 mins  
Whilst killings continue on the coast, Türkiye and Israel squabble about the control of the T4 base. And Dera goes its own way as a separate fiefdom. Support the show Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation

Has Donald Trump lost the plot on Ukraine?

Apr 08 2025 12 mins  
It’s April, the Winter is over and fighting season is beginning. Donald Trump promised a solution within one day. But has he gone soft on Russia? Is he no longer capable of sorting Ukraine? By the way, the NCF submission to the UN on the Ukraine issue is on this link. Support the show Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundati

Syria becomes a Dictatorship again

Mar 24 2025 22 mins  
William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, talks to three voices from inside Syria: 1. Alawite 2. HTS 3. Secular And they all agree that President al-Sharaa a.k.a. Jolani is creating a monocracy, i.e. a dictatorship with absolutely no pretence at democracy but true one man rule. Support the show Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretar

More Blood Sweat and Tears for Gaza?

Mar 16 2025 20 mins  
William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, shares three perspectives. The first from a senior peacenik from Israel (nothing astonishing). The second from a senior advisor to US President Donald Trump (and that is astonishing). The third from a senior Gazan with a close relationship with Hamas (and that, in my view, is mind blowing). Support the show Ref

Why the Slaughter of the Alawites in the few days?

Mar 11 2025 26 mins  
Since around 1 pm on Friday, there have been ongoing mass killings of the Alawites in Latakia, village by village, by HTS. Systematically killing the men and kidnapping the women. They now have Kardaha surrounded. So why is this happening? Support the show Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation

Sudan: this grindingly brutal civil war

Mar 10 2025 19 mins  
The Sudanese civil war between two warlords heading the Rapid Support Services (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) grinds on. But now the main group backing civilian rule has also split into two factions, whilst both the RSF and the SAF are trying to form rival governments. When will this end? Never. The British, the former colonial power, do nothing. And the Americans simply

Damascus Gossip grows unbelievable

Feb 27 2025 12 mins  
The gossip doing the rounds in Damascus including, incredibly, the rumour that Syria may be taking Gazan refugees. I apologise for my habit of making minor errors. When I refer to the events of 17/18 December in my podcast I of course mean 7/8 December. Sorry about that - wm Support the show Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Fou

Lebanon comes out of the woods?

Feb 21 2025 17 mins  
A Lebanese cease fire was renewed on 18th February as part of the wedding gift from Donald Trump to his daughter who has married the son of a Lebanese-American businessman. What does this mean for Lebanon today? Does the country at last have a better future? An apology though: Just one small correction, Michel Aoun is the old president. The current one is called Joseph Aoun. Suppor

Syria: Kidnapping goes Ballistic

Feb 11 2025 33 mins  
The new Syrian government looks like it will throw democracy out of the window. Meanwhile, as stability remains shaky, kidnappings grow Endemic. That said, life is returning to normal in central Damascus. However the Israeli invasion of the South continues apace and they are digging in for the long term - and Türkiye remains the main autocratic power. Support the show Reflections

Inside Israel - Can Netanyahu Survive?

Feb 05 2025 21 mins  
William talks about what's going on in Israel today. And it's a complex mess. But to guide him through the maze he has relied on his friend Hillel Schenker, the co-editor of the Palestine-Israel Journal. For background supporting information on this and all William's podcasts check here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VazknY69hXFEBbJGn335 Support the show Reflections and observat