Photo: Synagogue in Tblisi, Georgia.
 
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Co-host: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents.
 
Hour One
El Al Middle East Report, special edition from Tbilisi
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 1, Block A: Jonathan Schanzer, VP research, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in re:
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 1, Block B: Jonathan Schanzer, VP research, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in re:
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 1, Block C:  Eli Lake, Bloomberg View, in re: Middle Eastern politics, broad swath, esp the Palestinian Authority and the imminent visit of Pres Trump to Jerusalem.
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 1, Block D: Eli Lake, Bloomberg View, in re: Middle Eastern politics, broad swath.  Abbas doesn’t enjoy any control over Gaza, is at the end of his life. Plays to extremism because he’s lost popularity among his own people.   Netanyahyu has the most right-wing coalition in modern Israeli history but his policies are more moderate.  Trump probably would like to achieve some small acknowledgement that peace can be achieved (somehow).   Ron Lauder has a direct line to Pres Trump, has told the president that there’s a great opening for Palestinian-Israeli negotiations now; this runs counter to everything I know and has gummed up the policy. McMaster speaking of “self-determination”[an ideational leftover from Woodrow Wilson]: not to worry ‘ McMaster has a strained relationship with Pres Trump.
 
Hour Two
El Al Middle East Report, special edition from Tbilisi
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 2, Block A: Brenda Shaffer, energy & foreign policy, energy security policies, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Caspian energy, & Eastern Mediterranean specialist; Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES). on sabbatical from the University of Haifa; in re: Central Asia; Abkhazia. In all of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Only Georgia has direct access to the sea, which makes it attractive to other powers, certainly including Iran and Russia. l. 
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 2, Block B: Brenda Shaffer, energy & foreign policy, energy security policies, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Caspian energy, & Eastern Mediterranean specialist; Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES). on sabbatical from the University of Haifa; in re: Central Asia; Abkhazia.
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 2, Block C: Ephraim Hasenfeld, Hudson Equities; in re: Jewish schools being established in Georgia. Building a technology in Tbilisi.
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 2, Block D: Avi Schron; Presidium of the Vaad [Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel]; in re: Kinder dream school, with rose bushes and Noah’s Ark in the front yard. Totally adorable children. When Russians bombed Georgia, first they bombed the airfield.  In 1994 electricity was often off. Today, Tbilisi is resurgent. Beautiful hotels, shops, airport; many tourists.  Jews in Georgia are curious about their family history and traditions. 
 
Hour Three
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 3, Block A:   Timothy Snyder. Black Earth (part I of VI) (segment 1 of 12)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 3, Block B:   Timothy Snyder. Black Earth (part I of VI) (segment 2 of 12)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 3, Block C:   Fouad Ajami. The Syrian Rebellion (part I of I) (segment 1 of 2)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 3, Block D:   Fouad Ajami. The Syrian Rebellion  (part I of I) (segment 2 of 2)
 
Hour Four
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 4, Block A:  David Pietrusza, 1932  (Part I of VI) (segment 1 of 12)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 4, Block B:  David Pietrusza, 1932  (Part I of VI) (segment 2 of 12)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 4, Block C:  Shereen El Feki. Sex and the Citadel (segment 1 of 2)
Monday 15 May 2017 / Hour 4, Block D:  Shereen El Feki. Sex and the Citadel (segment 2 of 2)