Monday, July 17, 7:00 PM EDT

This past year has seen a number of major developments in the Middle East which are hard to follow and interpret — and some even appear to be contradictory: We have witnessed a China-facilitated rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The U.S. on the other hand is making a major push for the Abraham Accords initiated during the Trump administration. The most reactionary government in Israel’s history has been elected, leading to internal crisis, stepped up murder of Palestinians, expansion of settlements, and continued Israeli intervention in the area. In Yemen the Houthis and Saudis are attempting to negotiate an end to that devastating war. Despite U.S. pressure against it, Syria has been welcomed back into the Arab League — even as the U.S. occupation continues. The Iran nuclear deal appears to be dead. Does this situation open the door to an Israeli military intervention or do other developments noted above lessen that danger?

These and other events are upending the status quo. What is the meaning of these developments? What do they mean for the region?

Speakers are Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and Joshua M. Landis a Sandra Mackey Chair in Middle East Studies, Professor of Middle East History, and Director of the Center of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

For more info and to register: Why is the US Losing the Middle East? – Massachusetts Peace Action (masspeaceaction.org)