Why the Mecca Agreement is a necessary show of force | The David Hearst Podcast

David Hearst, editor in chief of Middle East Eye, says that after nearly three years of watching Israel wage war across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran, Turkey and the Arab world are finally beginning to build an alternative security order. Hearst says the turning point came with the new defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. He argues that Donald Trump’s failed war on Iran exposed the limits of the US security umbrella and forced Gulf states to confront a reality they had long avoided, that America could no longer reliably protect them or restrain Israel. Hearst says that Israel has repeatedly undermined agreements backed by Washington, from Lebanon to Gaza and Iran. He argues that Netanyahu does not want these wars to end, and that neither Biden nor Trump has been willing or able to enforce their own terms on Israel. For Hearst, the new alliance could eventually strengthen regional negotiators, reduce Israel’s freedom of action and help break what he describes as a century of external domination. He concludes that the real issue is sovereignty, and whether the region’s biggest powers are finally prepared to defend their own land and people together. Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @middleeasteye   Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at MEELive@middleeasteye.org Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok:   / middleeasteye   Follow us on Instagram:   / middleeasteye   Like us on Facebook:   / middleeasteye   Follow us on Twitter:   / middleeasteye