The Middle East Institute-National University of Singapore’s ME 101 Lecture Series 2020
17 Sept 2020
Synopsis:
Israel’s regional geopolitical position has evolved dramatically over the decades. Where it once waged wars of survival against combined Arab armies, it now cooperates with many of them, and has in fact formed a de facto front of sorts with major Sunni governments, particularly in the Persian Gulf against a heavily-Shia “Axis of Resistance” fronted by Iran. What are the current axes of cooperation and competition, against the simmering backdrop of an elusive Israeli–Palestinian peace plan?
A key Israeli focus over much of the past decade has been in the context of the civil war across the northeastern border in Syria, where Iran seeks to entrench itself and Russia continues to acquire influence. How has Israel’s military and security doctrine changed to reflect its current kinetic engagement in Syria, or for that matter, against Lebanese Hezbollah, especially in Iraq, and potentially even farther afield? Where does Turkey stand, 10 years after the Mavi Marmara incident precipitated a decline in ties with Israel? How is Israel positioning itself in the relatively new context of Mediterranean gas politics, where it is aligned with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt against Turkey and its Cypriot subsidiary? Finally, how will the United States’ gradual abdication of responsibility in the region, combined with China’s increasing presence, influence the way Israel competes and cooperates with other regional states?
The lecture:
Link to the original page
Kevjn Lim 