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Maxwell School News and Commentary

Filtered by: Middle East & North Africa

Khalil Weighs In on Biden’s Actions Towards Israel in Newsweek, Washington Examiner Articles

"The public hand-wringing versus the actual demonstrative support for Netanyahu's government, politically, diplomatically, militarily is going to be difficult for Biden," says Osamah Khalil, professor of history. "It would be very difficult for him to explain that to the base and energize the base to come out in November," he says.

April 23, 2024

Hostages of Credit: The Imprisonment of Debtors in the Khedival Period

Omar Cheta

Omar Cheta, assistant professor of history, contributed a chapter titled “Hostages of Credit: The Imprisonment of Debtors in the Khedival Period” to the book “The Oxford Handbook of Modern Egyptian History” (Oxford Academci, 2024).

April 16, 2024

McFate Discusses Tensions Between Iran and Israel with Business Insider, Global News

Iran's retaliation was a way to show the international stage that the country had a backbone after Israel's airstrike in Damascus, says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs. But, more broadly, Saturday's attack shows just how effective Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel was at stoking chaos in the Middle East, he says.

April 15, 2024

Peacebuilding Through Cooperation in Health Care and Public Health Between Israel and Palestine

Linda Young Landesman, Robert A. Rubinstein, Robert A., Brian S. Englander

“Peacebuilding Through Cooperation in Health Care and Public Health Between Israel and Palestine,” co-authored by Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Robert Rubinstein, was published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice.

April 12, 2024

Natalie Koch Speaks on ‘Arid Empire’ for Arizona State Library

The Maxwell School professor’s recent book is relevant as the state grapples with controversy over a Saudi dairy company’s farming.

April 11, 2024

Khalil Weighs In on Sen. Schumer’s Plea for Israel to Forge a Ceasefire, Mideast Crisis on WABC-TV

“It is unprecedented in part because of who Senator Schumer is. He’s not only the Senate majority leader, he’s a democrat, but he’s also the highest-ranking Jewish official, the first Jewish Senate majority leader. So there’s a number of aspects here that are really important to and that add weight to what he’s saying,” says Osamah Khalil, professor of history.

April 1, 2024

Koch Speaks With Freakonomics Radio About Why Arizona Grows Feed for Cows in Saudi Arabia

"What makes Arizona special is that when you have this desert land, you can grow alfalfa at an incredibly fast rate because of the amount of sunshine. So, as long as you have plentiful water, you can just grow," says Natalie Koch, professor of geography and the environment.

March 6, 2024

Koch Discusses Saudi Arabia’s Investment in Sports in El País Article

“These investments try to connect with as many young Arabs who have an interest in sports,” says Natalie Koch, professor of geography and the environment. “It is part of the construction of a new identity, one that goes beyond the concept of being the epicenter of the Sunni Muslim world.”

February 23, 2024

Murrett Discusses Tensions in the Middle East With Defense One, The Hill, Newsweek and VOA News

 “​​Difficult choices will be required in the days and weeks ahead as military operations continue a policy of strong deterrence without seeking widespread escalation that could harm our interests and those of our allies,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.

February 5, 2024

Sultana Discusses the Feedback Loops Between War and Fossil Fuels in Atmos Article

“The control of oil and gas resources has been a key factor in many conflicts and geopolitical imperialism, either by providing part of the motivation for an invasion or by helping countries fund their militaries,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment. “Conflict, in turn, feeds production by driving up oil and gas prices,” she adds.

January 26, 2024

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