Transcript [00:01] Hello and good evening uh from Israel uh [00:06] for another [00:08] um Israel insider with me Ashley Perry [00:10] advisor to M East forum Israel office. [00:14] Uh as usual I will speak for about 15 to [00:17] 20 minutes and then leave the rest of [00:19] time for your questions. As ever uh [00:22] please put your questions in the Q&A box [00:25] at the bottom. Please do not put them in [00:26] the chat. Every week someone puts a [00:29] question in the chat. I will not see it. [00:31] I will only go to the Q&A. So, please [00:33] ensure you put your questions in the [00:35] Q&A. You can put them in any time [00:38] um throughout my remarks during the Q&A [00:42] um at any point. Um, we're going to [00:46] start uh a little bit differently this [00:48] week with the uh controversy over a [00:52] newly I wouldn't even say released [00:53] because it hasn't been widespread [00:55] released. A documentary that won an [00:59] award wasn't even the best uh [01:01] documentary at a film festival, but it [01:04] did get a record round of applause and [01:07] that's probably which gave it a little [01:09] bit of pro prominence. Um, it was a [01:14] documentary for those who haven't heard [01:15] of it. Um, uh, NAZA is the acronym that [01:19] Israel uses for collateral damage and [01:22] strikes and potential, you know, [01:24] civilian harm and all that sort of [01:26] thing. They probably chose it also [01:29] because it sounds like Gaza. Probably [01:32] also because it's one letter away from [01:34] Nazi. I wouldn't be surprised. Some [01:36] people have alluded to that. But um [01:39] basically the documentary is uh [01:42] apparently filmed on a rooftop somewhere [01:44] in Tel Aviv where they interview about [01:46] 24 [01:47] um people in the army or were in the [01:51] army during um the war against Hamas. Uh [01:55] all of their names, their titles, their [01:57] divisions, everything has has been [02:00] concealed. It's anonymous. And basically [02:02] they go through and you know I don't [02:04] know how long the documentary is. It's [02:06] not on mass release and I haven't seen [02:08] it, but basically goes through all these [02:11] sort of accusations that Israel has a [02:14] policy of targeting civilians. It uses [02:17] AI rather than human [02:19] um to determine whether a target can be [02:22] targeted. And even the the the the worst [02:26] assertion is at one point they thought [02:28] that there'd be 500 civilian casualties. [02:31] Um and that didn't seem to deter uh [02:34] anyone in the IDF. I mean, it's it's [02:36] really a a a liel and that's what it's [02:39] been uh defined as by many in Israel and [02:42] the uh anyone who knows anything about [02:44] the IDF can easily dismiss most of the [02:46] central claims because they're simply [02:48] not true. Um but rather than the film [02:52] itself, it did cause a lot of [02:53] controversy here. One can imagine in [02:55] election campaign time, the far-left [02:58] took a position that these are issues [03:00] which should be discussed and defended. [03:02] uh this documentary I should say for [03:04] those who don't know the producers the [03:06] directors whatever were Israelis uh [03:09] these are far-left [03:11] even anti-ionist Israelis um who are [03:16] well known they work for uh [03:18] organizations they have ties to radical [03:20] anti-ionist groups um the film was made [03:24] in conjunction with a Guardian newspaper [03:27] a far-left newspaper in the UK which is [03:31] raidly anti-Israel [03:33] Um, interestingly they used that uh, you [03:36] know, they said, well, there's been a [03:37] newspaper which has checked uh, up on [03:40] these allegations when actually the [03:42] newspaper is one of the people who made [03:44] it. So, they kind of, you know, kept [03:46] certain things in the dark to try and [03:47] justify and give it credibility. But the [03:50] point is that it became immediately a [03:52] campaign issue in Israel. The far left [03:54] defended it. The far right, well, not [03:56] even the far right, the right attacked [03:58] it. uh somebody could ministers called [04:02] for the revocation of their citizenship [04:04] and in fact prime minister Netanyahu [04:06] said one of the things he's going to do [04:08] in the next government is revoke [04:09] citizenship of those who liel uh Israel [04:13] or the IDF abroad but it basically just [04:15] became [04:17] an issue here for a while it's something [04:19] that everyone was talking about uh as [04:21] one can imagine even the left in Israel [04:24] the the leftwing media didn't find [04:26] common cause with it they also attacked [04:28] it they said sloppy journalism. Um uh [04:32] one left-wing well-known left-wing um [04:36] news presenter Ravi Juka, he said, "I've [04:40] heard these allegations multiple times. [04:43] I've never found any of them credible. [04:45] I've looked into them. Usually they're [04:47] second or third hand or even the ones [04:49] that aren't, there's no there's nothing [04:51] to back them up." Um, so no one really [04:54] in Israel, no, no serious person who [04:56] understands anything about the IDF, uh, [04:59] knows that these are credible, but they, [05:02] you know, whether it made a splash [05:04] internationally or not is is definitely [05:06] up for debate. There seems to be a [05:08] difference of opinion between the [05:09] political and the professional level. [05:11] the political level as I've said it [05:13] being in a campaign they lose no [05:15] opportunity to find something to uh you [05:19] know to to assert an agenda on or to [05:21] attack the their opposition on but the [05:24] professional levels whether in the IDF [05:26] or the foreign ministry [05:28] basically came to the conclusion it [05:30] didn't actually make that much of a [05:31] splash internationally and what's [05:33] actually giving it a second wind is the [05:36] attacks uh by prominent Israeli [05:38] officials uh and they're making it more [05:41] about um an issue of stifling uh descent [05:45] than actually any any content within the [05:48] video. Israel, the foreign ministry [05:49] hasn't heard or had received any [05:52] complaints about it or called for any [05:55] clarifications on it. So it actually [05:57] hasn't made that much of a splash where [05:58] it matters and the professional levels [06:01] are really recommending that uh you know [06:05] it not really be dealt with it left to [06:07] die as much as possible but obviously in [06:10] this political environment a few weeks [06:12] before election day it's become a little [06:15] bit of a political uh football. Um, [06:19] another major event which could have a [06:22] uh significant ramifications is um the [06:26] Houthi attack attacks I should say on [06:30] Saudi Arabia this week and their [06:32] continuing um move towards um the Baba [06:37] Alamand strait which would be extremely [06:41] significant for shipping for uh natural [06:43] resources around the world. Uh but the [06:46] fact that they attacked several Saudi uh [06:49] cities and towns and injured scores of [06:52] people, I'm not sure if there were any [06:54] fatalities, but certainly many injured. [06:57] They attacked refineries, etc. The most [07:00] significant thing that's come out of [07:01] this is that around a month ago, Saudi [07:05] Arabia signed what was called the Mecca [07:07] Joint Defense Agreement with Turkey and [07:09] Pakistan. Um and that was supposed to [07:12] basically uh say that if one of the [07:15] countries is attacked something similar [07:17] to NATO then the other countries have to [07:20] come to their defense. Well what we've [07:22] basically seen is like unfortunately [07:24] many of these types of um agreements in [07:28] the Arab world in the Muslim world um [07:31] basically they're not worth the paper [07:33] they're written on. We've seen many [07:35] defense packs uh in the Middle East or [07:37] as I said in the Arab or Muslim world [07:39] and usually they don't come you know [07:41] with any real significance uh and really [07:44] Saudi Arabia learned that um to its own [07:47] detriment this week when it called on [07:50] Turkey and Pakistan to live up to the uh [07:53] letter of the agreement and neither of [07:55] them did anything except send [07:57] communicates and condemn the attacks etc [08:00] etc. Um and basically what happened this [08:04] week was actually I wouldn't say [08:06] unprecedented but certainly for a long [08:08] while there was as a result of this [08:10] there was a meeting Sentcom basically [08:12] had a meeting uh in Germany this week um [08:16] and the list of attendees at the [08:18] military level was quite significant [08:20] there was the US there was Saudi Arabia [08:22] Bahrain Q8 Qatar UAE Jordan and Egypt [08:26] and Israel and uh chief of staff uh [08:30] Zamir briefed uh his Arab interlocators. [08:34] So it was very significant event the [08:36] fact that Israel was there discussing uh [08:39] its uh conflict uh with Arab uh military [08:43] uh leaders. Um but what came out of it [08:46] most significantly whereas you know [08:49] maybe others commis commiserated and and [08:52] uh said that you know they're not happy [08:54] about the situation because it will [08:55] certainly affect them especially Egypt [08:57] if the Houthis do get to the Babal [08:59] Mandab straight. Um the only one really [09:03] who stepped forward and said that they [09:04] would act and help the Saudis pretty [09:08] much was Israel. Obviously the US the US [09:11] were asked um uh NBS asked uh President [09:16] Trump uh to help to maybe strike the [09:19] Houthis. Um but President Trump at this [09:21] point has said no. uh but significantly [09:24] the the ones who stepped up was Israel [09:27] once again and it really just shows [09:29] again uh to the region that when it [09:31] comes to it there's really only one [09:33] dependable partner in the region against [09:36] the extremists against the Iranian le [09:39] proxies uh across the region and that's [09:42] Israel. Uh the the other interesting [09:45] thing is uh the Israelis didn't come to [09:48] the when the Saudis uh asked for help, [09:50] the Israelis didn't come and try and uh [09:53] you know make it um you know dependent [09:56] on something normalization, some sort of [09:59] understanding or agreement. Israel made [10:02] a decision that if Saudis are coming and [10:04] asking for its help, it will help them [10:07] without any uh ties or any conditions. [10:11] Um, so that's a a very significant uh [10:15] event this week and we'll have to see [10:17] what ramifications it could have because [10:19] certainly the fact that a they were [10:21] sitting around the table with all these [10:22] Arab nations and b the fact that they [10:24] the ones who um stood up and helped [10:28] Saudi Arabia when everybody else just [10:30] talked and sat around and condemned um [10:33] could be significant uh going forward [10:36] and we could see uh ramifications far [10:39] beyond because while before October 7th. [10:42] Certainly, Israel had that position as a [10:44] trusted partner as someone that they [10:46] want to ally with and and they're not [10:49] even ashamed with like the UAE and some [10:51] of the other Abraham Accords nations and [10:54] we were moving towards normalization [10:56] with Saudi Arabia. Certainly since [10:59] October 7, we haven't seen that. Uh but [11:01] perhaps these recent events could once [11:04] again uh change the paradigm back to [11:06] Israel as a dependable partner, as a [11:09] partner that you need uh to work with [11:13] and to uh and and and is there you know [11:16] not just in in word but also indeed. Um [11:21] on a domestic level, lots of interesting [11:24] things happening. um the gaps between [11:27] the two blocks, the opposition block and [11:29] the current coalition block are [11:30] narrowing. Some even have them as equal [11:33] with um you know sometimes uh Hendle [11:37] passing the threshold as a sort of third [11:39] block. But either way, it does seem with [11:42] the entrance of Winter into the race uh [11:46] by taking at least a couple of his seats [11:48] from the opposition that there's greater [11:50] parity between the two blocks. But most [11:52] importantly, at this point in time, [11:54] there does not seem to be um any real [11:58] meaningful way for either block to get [12:01] that important 61 uh seat majority. I [12:04] think both um are are polling in the [12:08] 52s, 53s, 54s. Um usually if there is [12:12] one leading then it is the opposition [12:14] block. Um but the um some I see [12:18] someone's already writing the chat. [12:20] Please uh delete your commenting chat [12:22] and put it in the Q&A. Um but basically [12:27] it's significant because at the moment [12:29] it seems that we might be going towards [12:31] deadlock again a lot will depend on will [12:34] off win to pass the threshold will us [12:37] hendle pass the threshold but at the [12:39] moment there doesn't seem to be on [12:41] either side a path uh to government um [12:46] which leads to an event which happened [12:49] last night which caused a a bit of a [12:52] storm more than perhaps a bit of a [12:54] storm. Uh Gaddy Eisenot, the leader of [12:57] the opposition block, not the official [12:59] opposition leader, that's Yidd, but [13:02] certainly the largest party in the [13:03] opposition block, met with some local [13:05] Bedawin leaders and uh depending who you [13:09] believe um he said that he will bring [13:12] Ram into coalition or he just said that [13:16] you know something far far less than [13:18] that. There were some Betterin leaders [13:20] who came out this morning in the media [13:22] and said that is exactly what he [13:23] promised. Yasha which is um Eisenot's [13:27] party denied it and in fact the Bedawin [13:30] leader who came out and made this claim [13:33] walked it back later in the afternoon. [13:35] Yasha um Eisenkot's party released the [13:38] recording of the event and it's clear [13:40] that no such commitment was made but [13:43] what it does do it gives uh wind uh to [13:46] the sales for liquid and those who [13:49] basically are uh you know leading the [13:53] argument that the opposition block has [13:56] no majority without Ram the Islamist [13:59] Arab party um within the coalition [14:03] that's something which they've tried to [14:05] deny. Um certainly Avid Leeman has said [14:08] that he will not sit with Ram. I'm [14:10] pretty sure Napali Bennett also made [14:12] that commitment. So the vast majority of [14:14] the opposition block or at least a large [14:17] part of the opposition block will not [14:18] sit with Ram. So again, it seems hard to [14:22] see how they would get to their 61. If [14:26] you bring Ram in, then you basically [14:29] potentially leave men out. and he has [14:32] made extremely strong comments like read [14:34] my lips Ram will not uh come into the [14:38] government and usually when Leman speaks [14:40] like that he means it as we've seen in [14:43] the past [14:45] um but again it just gives another [14:47] opportunity for liquid in the current um [14:50] coalition to basically make that [14:52] argument that the opposition has no path [14:55] to government except with Ram so you [14:57] can't trust them and you can't uh vote [15:00] uh for them. Uh on this issue, liquid is [15:03] also trying to embarrass Lieberman and [15:05] Bennett, the more right-wing elements in [15:07] the opposition by going to the uh [15:10] central elections committee to ban both [15:12] Arab parties, not just Ram, but also the [15:14] joint list. This is pretty much uh a [15:17] standard exercise for the right-wing [15:20] that before every election they try to [15:22] ban uh the Arab parties. Usually the far [15:25] left would also try to ban some of the [15:28] far right maybe Bengir and others. Um [15:31] but this is a long-standing issue and [15:33] usually the central elections committee [15:35] which has a political makeup will uh [15:38] will rule in favor of the coalition [15:40] because it's according to um power in [15:42] the Knesset but then it 100% of the time [15:46] gets overruled um by uh the Supreme [15:49] Court and they're allowed to run. that [15:51] basically this is a tactic to try and [15:53] embarrass um because if Lieberman and [15:56] Bennett do not join them in calling for [15:58] this for a ban they'll basically say [16:00] well look they don't even want to ban [16:02] them that means they're going to sit [16:03] with them so we'll have to see how that [16:05] works its way out finally and also very [16:07] interestingly in an interview today [16:10] President Herzog said that he will do [16:12] everything possible to avoid another [16:15] round of elections including a pardon or [16:19] a plea deal uh which have not been ruled [16:21] out. Now what that basic what he's [16:23] trying to say is again uh if we look at [16:26] the numbers it doesn't seem like either [16:27] side have a path to government but what [16:30] he's basically trying to say is that if [16:33] we can't make a path to government [16:35] perhaps some creative ideas will be put [16:39] out there involving a pardon or plea [16:41] deal and there's only one person who [16:43] requires a pardon or a plea deal and [16:44] that's Netanyao and basically the hint [16:47] there is that he could be the stumbling [16:49] block between creating [16:52] a government. In fact, Lieberman himself [16:56] has said that he has no problem sitting [16:58] with audit [17:02] or Eisenot, but they have much more of a [17:05] problem sitting with Netanyahu. They [17:07] blame for October 7th and and and [17:09] various other things. Um, so it's [17:12] interesting that the president should [17:13] mention that because it's clear if there [17:16] isn't a uh a a specific uh path to a [17:20] government that is something that will [17:21] be brought up, Netanyahu will fight it [17:24] with everything he has unless there is [17:26] an extremely good deal and he feels that [17:28] perhaps another round of elections won't [17:30] bring anything better. Um but certainly [17:33] these are extremely interesting [17:35] developments um as we push towards uh [17:39] around what is it uh 6 weeks before the [17:42] elections but we are well and truly into [17:45] the Jewish holiday period. Um so even [17:48] those six weeks will not get the [17:50] attention that they usually do because [17:52] we have Yon Kipur and Sukkot starting [17:55] next week. And with that I will go to [17:57] your questions. [17:59] Um, Rashelle Mand asks, "I think those [18:02] two filmmakers should be punished. How [18:04] about you?" Um, I think I I come down a [18:07] little bit with a professional level, I [18:09] think they should be ignored as much as [18:10] possible because uh it's not um if we [18:15] make if if we punish them, whatever that [18:18] means, basically uh what you're you're [18:21] you're making them into martyrs and this [18:23] will make Israel look like a North Korea [18:25] Iran trying to stifle descent. Of [18:28] course, it's a liel. It's a disgraceful [18:30] liel. It's it's they haven't been able [18:32] to prove anything. In fact, one of the [18:36] um soldiers who was uh filmed in in the [18:40] documentary apparently came forward and [18:41] said that he his testimony was [18:44] manipulated and they were offered money [18:46] depending how uh uh how how serious the [18:49] allegations were. But at the end of the [18:51] day, I think we have to look at the [18:52] bigger picture and we have to say that [18:55] if we don't want to make our reputation [18:57] even worse, it is at a bad level. Then I [19:00] think trying to punish what is [19:02] essentially free speech, it's a liel, [19:05] it's disgraceful, it's disgusting, but [19:07] it is free speech. And if we go down [19:10] that road, um I think it will rebound [19:14] worse for us. [19:17] Um [19:20] Ann Freeman asks has ship shipping [19:22] through the Babel Mandab straight being [19:25] significantly affected yet? I think it's [19:27] starting to be affected, but obviously [19:29] if the if the um if the uh the Houthis [19:33] do actually uh conquer it, then it will [19:37] be affected. And basically it means that [19:38] Iran will then be able to affect uh even [19:42] greater shipping routes because Houthis [19:44] are Iran at the end of the day. And what [19:46] this probably is is a play by Iran. Not [19:49] probably, it is a play by Iran to [19:52] basically put more and more pressure uh [19:54] on international shipping lanes, on [19:57] trade, um perhaps punish uh President [20:01] Trump at the midterms because they know [20:03] how much um the price of oil is going up [20:07] and that means the price of gas is going [20:09] up. Something that President Trump very [20:11] much tried to get under control and now [20:13] it's back over $100 a barrel. uh so [20:15] things are not looking good. So if they [20:17] do conquer uh the Baban Mandab strait [20:20] then certainly there can be no or it's [20:25] significantly less likely that President [20:28] Trump will be able to get the price of [20:29] gas down uh before the midterms and that [20:32] probably will have a significant effect [20:34] on those elections. [20:36] Excuse me. Jack Burkowitz asks, "Are you [20:38] aware of any significant impact on the [20:40] boycott on the settlers in Judea and [20:42] Samaran by the 11 European countries in [20:44] Canada? How is this boycott being [20:46] effectively managed? Whereby doesn't [20:48] hurt the Palestinians therein? Moreover, [20:50] it is my understanding that the major [20:52] shopping of the settlers is done in [20:53] Jerusalem." Okay, there's quite a few [20:55] questions. Uh at the moment uh the [20:58] impact [21:00] um at the moment as far as I'm aware [21:04] uh the countries haven't decided exactly [21:05] how they're going to enact this. They're [21:07] going to spend a few months uh [21:09] discussing it. But the fact that they [21:12] even uh they've even made these [21:14] announcements is obviously going to have [21:16] a direct effect because then there will [21:18] be uh certain companies that won't want [21:20] to deal with not just with uh any uh uh [21:24] shops or businesses in in Judea and [21:27] Samaria in the the West Bank but maybe [21:29] even with Israel because they don't want [21:31] to f uh fall foul of this new law and it [21:35] might be difficult to work with for [21:37] example bank law me the biggest banker [21:40] uh in Israel, you know, there's a lot of [21:42] concern that it could face sanctions and [21:45] not be able to trade or or work in any [21:48] of these countries because Bank, like I [21:50] think all banks in Israel does have [21:53] branches over the green line. So, will [21:56] they be caught up in this? That could be [21:57] a disaster if Israel's banking system is [22:00] effectively boycotted and no companies [22:02] from any of these countries will be able [22:04] to do business with, you know, reputable [22:07] Israeli banks because they might have [22:09] one or two branches uh over the green [22:11] line. So certainly there there are [22:13] different case scenarios um uh at the [22:17] moment, but it's certainly not going to [22:18] a a good place. You're right about the [22:21] fact that it's hurting Palestinians. The [22:23] majority of businesses in Judea and [22:25] Samaria employ Palestinians where they [22:27] get significantly [22:29] uh many times the wages that they will [22:32] get in Palestinian Authority businesses [22:35] and the the majority of businesses [22:37] especially factories are 80 90 even [22:40] close to 100% uh Palestinians. that they [22:43] will lose their jobs. And I think I even [22:45] saw a statistic that uh that I don't [22:48] know how many thousands or tens of [22:50] thousands of Palestinians were [22:51] effectively lose their livelihood uh [22:53] because of this. Um and by his [22:57] understanding that the major shop of the [22:58] settlers is done in Jerusalem. First of [23:00] all, there are many settlements which [23:02] are not that near Jerusalem. They're [23:04] closer to Tel Aviv, to Rano if you're in [23:06] the Shaman Samaria. So it's not not done [23:09] in Jerusalem. I don't think it will have [23:11] an effect on the small businesses um in [23:15] the settlements. The gushed has a a [23:17] supermarket chain um and I don't think [23:20] it will really affect uh that you know [23:23] the small um sort of corner shops [23:25] mallets. It it probably won't have too [23:28] much of an effect because it's not like [23:31] they get their products straight from [23:33] the UK or Canada. they come to a port [23:35] and you know they're they're not really [23:38] dis you know it's not like the the [23:40] countries probably know exactly where [23:41] the pan of pickles or whatever it is is [23:44] going to um so no the settlers do many [23:49] shopping or whatever it is within the [23:52] settlements and and uh and yes also some [23:55] outside [23:57] um Eric so Malcolm was kicked off his [24:00] tour for anti-Israel comments but why [24:02] doesn't Israel create an education group [24:03] to educate these performance about the [24:05] Israel genocide is hurting how Israel's [24:08] is vowed. Um first of all I think even [24:12] if you created a group like this and [24:14] there are plenty of NOS's they wouldn't [24:16] listen to it. I can't imagine someone [24:18] like Mmore who is rapidly anti-Israel [24:21] and even anti-Semitic if we see his [24:24] previous performances where he dressed [24:25] up as a Jew um as a greedy Jew. I don't [24:29] think if the Israeli government [24:30] approached him and said, "Let's let's [24:32] give you the facts about the so-called [24:34] genocide," I can't imagine he would say, [24:37] "Okay, I'm I'm prepared to listen. These [24:40] people are not prepared to listen." It's [24:41] become more and more basically just a [24:44] way to get attention. Um, and they [24:47] usually gain a lot more than they lose. [24:49] Yes, he has been kicked off the ed [24:52] Sheeran tour, but he's now going to, you [24:55] know, if we look at what was that Irish [24:57] band, there was an Irish band that [24:59] basically sung Death to the IDF or [25:02] whatever it was, and suddenly they [25:03] became an international sensation [25:05] playing out crowds all over the world. [25:08] So, a lot of the time it's not even [25:10] because they know about Israel, they [25:12] care about Israel. it's sometimes it [25:14] it's good for their career and it's also [25:16] it's uh you know it's just signaling [25:19] moral signaling to others. So I don't [25:21] think anything the Israeli government [25:23] could do uh would educate because there [25:25] are plenty of organizations like the ADL [25:28] and others who could educate why these [25:30] types of things are problematic. Um but [25:33] clearly they're not going to uh listen [25:36] at all. [25:40] Um, [25:45] Giorgio Pelios asks, "Is any possibility [25:47] Saudi Arabia will sign the Abraham uh [25:50] agreements or Abraham Accords?" Um, [25:54] I I think it's certainly a possibility [25:56] at some point. I think again with this [25:58] latest episode, Saudi Arabia will [26:00] understand that at the end of the day, [26:02] Israel is one of the more dependable [26:04] partners, certainly in the region. um [26:06] and it is going to obviously be helping [26:10] uh quite a lot in the coming days and [26:11] weeks um its battle against the Houthis [26:15] and I'm sure Israel as it's shown in [26:17] every battle that it's fought over the [26:19] last uh three years that it is very [26:21] effective um and it will have an impact [26:24] on on on that particular fight. It's not [26:27] putting boots on the ground necessarily [26:29] at this point. Um, but it will certainly [26:31] help with intelligence and I think the [26:33] Saudis will once again understand um, [26:36] you know, what Israel offers and it [26:39] could lead to uh, getting closer to the [26:42] uh, to agreeing on the Abraham Accords. [26:44] I think it's unlikely at the moment um [26:47] just because it you know it it's it's [26:49] it's difficult to see um that they will [26:52] join uh the Abraham Accords without [26:55] something moving on the Palestinian [26:57] issue that they they've they've made [26:59] that quite clear that they said that [27:01] they can't talk about normalization till [27:03] they see what what I think they used to [27:05] describe at least as an irreversible [27:07] step towards Palestinian statehood or [27:10] the two-state solution or whatever you [27:12] have. So I don't think that's [27:13] necessarily going to come uh anytime [27:16] immediately then who knows these things [27:18] could move pretty quickly. Um but I [27:21] think at some point in the future that [27:22] could happen. There is talk this week in [27:24] some I think it was even ambassadors [27:27] somewhere an ambassador somewhere [27:29] mentioned that Q8 could be the next one [27:31] to join in the very near future. I don't [27:33] really have much more to say about that. [27:36] That would be a very interesting [27:37] development. Q8 is not the most obvious [27:40] state, but it could be that maybe [27:43] President Trump has offered them [27:44] something as he did with the original [27:47] Abraham Accords. You know, if we look [27:48] back, UAE received um I think it was [27:52] military airplanes. Uh Morocco received [27:56] um support for its um territorial claims [28:00] to the Western Sahara. I think Bahrain [28:03] received something. So it could be that [28:04] Q8 uh been promised something by uh [28:07] President Trump and that's why they [28:09] could be joining soon. It'll be very [28:11] interesting development if Q8 uh do [28:13] join. Uh but we'll have to wait and see. [28:16] Uh but I don't think Saudis on the cusp [28:18] of joining anytime soon. But I I do [28:20] believe at some point in the future that [28:22] could certainly happen. But certainly [28:24] it's not going to happen before the [28:25] elections because the Saudis probably [28:28] well not probably don't want to give [28:30] Netanyao any sort of um boost uh coming [28:34] a few uh weeks before the elections. Um [28:37] and with that I'd like to wish you all a [28:40] good night or good morning wherever you [28:42] are and thank you for your questions and [28:44] thank you for your participation and [28:46] I'll see you next week.
