Can the Middle East Ever Cool Down, with Simon Sebag Montefiore | UNscripted with Jonathan Harounoff

Episode 1: Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Jonathan Harounoff on UNscripted to discuss his new book, "The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East." In this hour-long conversation, they explore: • How the modern Middle East emerged from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire • Whether there is a better term than "the Middle East" to describe the region • Why Montefiore believes Iran's Islamic Republic will fall • Why the West fixates on Israel-Palestine while ignoring Yemen, Syria and Sudan • Russia’s forgotten history in the Middle East • Whether lasting peace in the region is possible Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:56 Can the Middle East ever cool down? 2:56 What is the Middle East, and is there a better term to describe the region? 6:41 Inside Montefiore's "chaotic" and “insane” process of writing sweeping histories 10:35 Why the West is obsessed with Israel-Palestine but ignores Yemen, Syria and Sudan 16:24 The myth of Israel as a "new nation" among ancient ones 24:00 The biggest roads not taken in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 31:17 Russia's forgotten role in the Middle East 40:09 Why the Islamic Republic of Iran will fall 47:20 What history can teach us, and what we keep failing to learn 56:40 Which figure from "The Cauldron" Montefiore would be reincarnated as 59:10 Closing remarks *** Produced in collaboration with the Center for Jewish History, American Sephardi Federation, Noff Media and Odd One Out Studios. Enjoying the show? Follow us on social media: Follow “UNscripted with Jonathan Harounoff” on Instagram:   / harounoffunscripted   Follow host Jonathan Harounoff on Instagram:   / jharounoff   Follow host Jonathan Harounoff on X: https://x.com/JonathanHaroun1