James discusses this week’s latest Middle East developments on Radio Islam. Transcript [Anchor] Good morning, James. Always a pleasure to talk to you. Good morning. [James M. Dorsey] It’s always wonderful to be with you. [Anchor] Israel’s US support base is narrowing, coming at Israel from different directions. You’ve got US President Donald Trump, then you’ve got the increasingly critical evangelicals, which until recently was a rock-solid Israeli support base. You’ve got the influential Make America Great Again torchbearers, who are all chipping away at Israel’s standing. [James M. Dorsey] Indeed, Trump signalled his changing attitude towards Israel with his intended sale to of F-35 fighter jets, the world’s most advanced fighter. The sale, and Mr. Trump’s remarks when announcing it with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his side, puts the kingdom on par with Israel. Potentially, the sale could alter the military balance in the Middle East and violate US law that obliges the United States to ensure that Israel maintains a qualitative military edge in the region. At the same time, Trump’s move came also as Israel loses support among young American evangelicals, a traditionally pro-Israel support base, and criticism of Israel mounting among the President’s Make America Great Again supporters. [Anchor] American-born Rabbi Mir Kahani is back with a vengeance. His racist Jewish supremacist ideology looms large 35 years after he was assassinated in New York and 41 years after Israel banned his Kash party as a terrorist organisation. Tell us about that, James. [James M. Dorsey] The pervasive influence of Kahani’s ideology is evident across Israeli politics and society, as well as in segments of the country’s military. His disciples, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichai Ben-Eliyahu, occupy prominent government positions and propagate his precepts. Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party are calling for the rehabilitation of Kahani. Kahani’s revival is hardly a uniquely Israeli phenomenon. It is one of the most militant, supremacist, and racist fixtures of the worldwide mainstreaming of far-right racial, ethnic, and religious prejudice and bigotry, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. [Anchor] So coming back to Mohammed bin Salman, right, in an increasingly multilateral world, the Saudi Crown Prince Washington message was that the kingdom is claiming what it feels is its rightful place at the table as a geopolitical and geoeconomic powerhouse. [James M. Dorsey] Absolutely. When the Crown Prince visited Washington this week, he shifted multiple paradigms. In an increasing multilateral world, bin Salman suggested in deed rather than word that the kingdom and other Gulf states are claiming their rightful place at the table as geopolitical and geoeconomic powerhouses. Trump catered to bin Salman’s ambitions by defining the U.S.-Saudi relationship as one of the most consequential in the world. Saudi Arabia brings more than geography, money, and Mecca to the table. It is rich in globally sought-after minerals that allow it to position itself as a hub at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and as a competitor with China, the dominant minerals power in an equation that could impact the structure of a 21st century world order. [Anchor] So, Trump’s acceptance then of bin Salman’s suggestion that he mediate an end to Sudan’s civil war would prove to be a minefield because Saudi Arabia and the UAE are supporting opposing sides. [James M. Dorsey] Yep. Casting himself as the world’s foremost peacemaker, Trump announced this week that he would seek to mediate an end to the war in Sudan at the request of the Saudi crown prince. Although hard to believe, the United Nations describes the humanitarian fallout of the war in Sudan as worse than even Gaza. Unlike many of the other conflicts which Trump has intervened, such as Rwanda and the Congo, or Azerbaijan and Armenia, Sudan could put the president in a delicate position. U.S. allies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt support opposing sides in Sudan, with the UAE backing the rapid support forces that stand accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UAE denies that it backs the forces. Nevertheless, mediation may require the kind of subtlety and delicacy which are hardly qualities one would associate with Trump. Indeed. [Anchor] James, as always, thank you for your time and have a great week. [James M. Dorsey] Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure. 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