The October 7 Hamas led-terrorist attacks on Israel and the subsequent siege of Gaza by the Israeli military upended the Middle East. Can the conflict be contained or will the tensions between Israel and its antagonists Hezbollah and Iran escalate and engulf the Middle East in a regional war?
EVENT CHANGED – Updated Sunday 20.10.24
Unfortunately, due to the unfolding events in the Middle East, Jeremy Bowen is no longer available to speak at this event.
The event is still going ahead, with a screening of a specially recorded interview between Jeremy and Matt McAllester, CEO of Intelligence and former Middle East correspondent, followed by a Q&A with a panel of experts, including:
Jonny Dymond – Former BBC Middle East correspondent and host of ‘The Conflict’ the BBC’s Middle East podcast
Sanam Vakil – Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House
If you have booked tickets for this event and have not received an email from Sinfonia Smith Square, please contact the Box Office by email or by calling 0208 222 1061
On Monday October 21 Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, who has been covering the Middle East since 1989, comes to Intelligence Squared to reflect and make sense of what is happening in the region. Bowen has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region’s recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the rise of Mohammed bin Salman and most recently the Israel/Hamas war. His deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present.
Bowen will seek to explain the historical context and political motivations behind today’s conflicts. He will draw from his book The Making of the Modern Middle East and discuss his experiences reporting from countries as diverse as Netanyahu’s Israel, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Erdoğan’s Türkiye, recounting his meetings with ordinary people on the frontlines as well as their politicians and leaders.
He will also discuss the possible future scenarios facing the region and the ethical and practical challenges journalists face in reporting in conflict zones. Join us at Smith Square in Westminster for a conversation that will not only shed light on the political and social dynamics that shape the Middle East but also humanise the conflicts that unfold within its borders.
