UpFront
Season 2017
With the thrust and parry of rigorous debate, Mehdi Hasan cuts through the headlines to challenge conventional wisdom, highlight contradictions and uncover double standards.
Where to Watch UpFront • Season 2017
40 Episodes
- Is Israel winning?
E7Is Israel winning?In this week's UpFront, we speak to Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who cites the Bible as proof of Israel's claim over the occupied West Bank. And in a special interview, we speak to the "mother of South Sudan" and former adviser to President Salva Kiir, Rebecca Garang. - What is Iran's endgame in Syria?E14
What is Iran's endgame in Syria?Iranians took to the polls and overwhelmingly voted to re-elect incumbent and so-called moderate Hassan Rouhani in last week's presidential election. But can we expect his next four years on the international stage to be any different from the previous years? According to Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a close friend and ally of Rouhani, while the focus of the first term was on the nuclear issue, the second term will focus on regional diplomacy. "I think in the second term he would really like to focus on the regional issues to bring peace, cooperation, engagement, diplomacy with the neighbours," says Mousavian, who also headed the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. "The problem is whether Saudi Arabia would be ready … [they] now prefer to ally with Israel rather than Iran, to fight Iran." In this UpFront special, Mehdi Hasan challenges Iranian policymaker and former diplomat Hossein Mousavian to explain Iran's policies in the region and what some see as the double standards with regards to Yemen and Bahrain. For more on Iran's internal power dynamics and the extent of political reform, go to fb.com/ajupfront Editor's note: We covered human rights and the extent of democracy in Iran previously here: http://aje.io/pezl - Palestine and Israel: One state, or two?E15
Palestine and Israel: One state, or two?For Palestinians, June 5, 2017 marks the beginning of the “Six-Day War” - also called “al-Naksa” - and 50 years of Israeli occupation, as a peace deal remains elusive. While some continue to argue that a two-state solution is the only way for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, others are increasingly beginning to question whether two independent states are even possible. So, which is more realistic: A single state where Palestinians and Israelis live together, or two independent states? To debate this in this UpFront special, we’re joined by Gideon Levy, Hanan Ashrawi, Lara Friedman and Yousef Munayyer. - Is Kenya's democracy in crisis?E25
Is Kenya's democracy in crisis?In this week's UpFront, we speak to Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga about the annulled election. Will he present himself for the rerun? And could the recent Supreme Court ruling finally lead him to victory? And in the Arena, six years into the war in Syria, we debate whether it could be said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has won the conflict and ask if foreign backing of the rebels made the situation better or worse. - Was the Afghan government complicit in war crimes?E32
Was the Afghan government complicit in war crimes?In this week's UpFront, we speak to former Afghan President Hamid Karzai about alleged war crimes, the continuing US military presence in the country and plans to send even more troops. Also on the show, we debate the best way to spur people into action about climate change, and whether we should constantly highlight or give credence to possible doomsday scenarios. - Is Saudi Arabia becoming a danger to the region?E33
Is Saudi Arabia becoming a danger to the region?In this UpFront special, we ask US Congressman Ro Khanna why he believes the US government should stop supporting the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen. Also on the show, we debate with a panel of experts the rights and wrongs of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's domestic and regional policies. - Iran, nukes and Trump: Is war likely?E35
Iran, nukes and Trump: Is war likely?In this week's UpFront, we speak with the former president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, about aid, corruption and democracy in Africa. In Reality Check, we highlight the fact that there are no checks or balances when it comes to US President Donald Trump's sole power to launch nuclear weapons. And in the Arena, we debate the rights and wrongs of the Iran nuclear deal. - Jerusalem: Is the two-state solution dead?E36
Jerusalem: Is the two-state solution dead?In this week's UpFront, we speak with the head of the Palestinian General Delegation to the US, Husam Zomlot, about the announcement on Jerusalem by US President Donald Trump and its effect on the Palestinian Authority's ties with the US. In Reality Check, we look at the disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. And in the Arena, we debate how serious a threat the rise of the far right poses to liberal democracy in Europe. - Should free speech be protected, no matter what?E37
Should free speech be protected, no matter what?Should all speech, including hate speech, be protected? In back-to-back debates, an UpFront special on free speech. In part one, we delve into whether the right to free speech conflicts with protecting minorities, and if so, how democracies should respond. In part two, we debate whether minorities, especially Muslim communities have a particular problem with the principle of free expression, or if Islam has been unfairly targeted.
