James M. Dorsey and Tahei Institute Senior Fellow Einar Tangin discuss on CGTN Israel's retaliatory strikes against Iran.

James M. Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, tells CNA why he believes the Middle East conflict won’t escalate into a regional war and why Iran doesn’t want an all-out war with Israel.

James talks to CGTN as Israel strikes Iran

In his weekly radio show, Middle East Report, on Radio Islam International James M. Dorsey discusses US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's tour of the region, prospects for Israeli resettlement of Gaza, and planned joint Saudi-Iranian naval exercises.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is jumping through hoops on his 11th Middle East tour in the past year.

As he attempts to revive the stalled Gaza ceasefire talks and secure agreement on post-war arrangements in the Strip, Mr. Blinken is discovering that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may not be the only party pooper.

So is Mahmoud Abbas, the internationally recognised, West Bank-based Palestinian president.

Mr. Blinken is touting a United Arab Emirates proposal for the administration of Gaza once a ceasefire has been achieved. The proposal was crafted with input from Israel but not the Palestinians.

That’s where the rub starts.

In some respects, Israel and Iran have traded places when it comes to Lebanon.

Iran sees a ceasefire as a way to shield Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim militia, against US and Israeli efforts to degrade the group not only militarily but also politically and secure continued Iranian support for the militia.

That is what Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu believes he can prevent by continuing to wage war.

Speaking to Los Angeles Jews for Peace, James M. Dorsey discusses Israel’s Gaza and Lebanon wars, the risk of an all-out Israeli-Iranian war, the drivers of Israeli militarism, and the role of the United States.

More important than shining a light on apparent Israeli dis-and misinformation, the impact of the contrast in images of assassinated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar suggests that Israel’s management of its information war is backfiring, much like its targeted assassinations that have failed to spark the collapse of groups like Hamas or Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia.

The opportunity to pull the Middle East back from the brink came and went within hours of Israel’s confirmation that it had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Instead of capitalizing on Israel’s tactical success to declare victory in Gaza, push for a ceasefire that could also end hostilities in Lebanon, and negotiate a prisoner exchange that would secure the release of the 101 remaining Hamas-held hostages, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insisted the war would continue until the Israeli military liberated the captives.

More than a year into Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza in response to last year’s Hamas brutal October 7 attack on Israel, Netanyahu’s problem is that he is pursuing two long-tested strategies that have failed to produce results.

Israel's killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar changes little as fighting in Gaza and Lebanon goes on with no end in sight