neutrality on one of the issues that has prevented a settlement of the conflict between israelis and palestinians. could breaking out of positions adopted more than a lifetime ago he a catalyst for change? team dateline this week are: ned temko, political commentator and former editor of the jewish chronicle. agnes poirier of marianne, the french magazine. nesrine malik, who analyses arab affairs. and michael goldfarb, the america journalist and podcaster welcome to you all. in the year since he was elected us president, donald trump's supporters have explained his sometimes contradictory positions by advising, watch what he does, not what he says. well, this week words and actions were as one. during the election campaign, mr trump said he would recognise jerusalem as israel's capital, and on wednesday he did just that. on friday, palestinian protestors responded with what they called a day of rage — an appropriate description that captures both their anger and their impotence. ned temko, he has broken out of this

position that has been established policy, whether democrats or republicans have been in the white house, for decades now. could he encourage others to do the same? know, in a word. i would be astonished. words and actions where the same, but it is trump musical theatre. despite this statement, he also signed the six—month waiver, as did his predecessors to avoid actually having to move the american embassy any time soon tojerusalem. his argument is they would have to establish a new building and all the rest of it. and the real problem, like so much in the trump administration, it has nothing to do with foreign policy. it was a petulant, superficial decision, ticking a box, driven by domestic,

political considerations. it is almost an act of diplomatic arson. you can argue how great will the damage be? there is some reason to feel happy, that is the wrong word, a little bit relieved more people haven't died as a result of the inevitable violence that followed this. it is also true, if you are looking for silver linings, there wasn't much of a peace process to destroy wasn't much of a peace process to d estroy a ny wasn't much of a peace process to destroy any more. but here is what matters. in orderfor destroy any more. but here is what matters. in order for short—term political gain and particularly with evangelical voters in southern united states, who will vote next week on whether to elect a credibly accused paedophile to the united states senate. that is the world we live in now. but he has put america's fingers on the political scales inside the middle east, in a

way, quite rightly, both parties we re wary way, quite rightly, both parties were wary of doing. what he has done, he has weakened the shrinking number of credible arab leaders who still wanted and believed in a two state negotiated solution. people like king abdullah ofjordan, and the palestinians. he has an bold and people like hamas, iran, arguably isis, al-qaeda spin offs. so whatever gradually reducing prospects there were four a negotiated two state solution, seem much worse. michael, that is the case for the prosecution, is there any case for the defence? know. i don't know if there is a case for the defence. after a year we can say that decision—making is not... it means nothing. a decision was made.

is it possible that decision changes the game? if you look at the players, it is the same people. 50 years since the occupation began or the victory in the 1967 war. i don't wa nt the victory in the 1967 war. i don't want to get too many angry e—mails. it has been half a century and if you look at the names of the people who have been negotiating out of this, the only way you get out of it is to die. arial sharon is dead, yasser arafat is dead, yitzhak rabin was murdered. if you look at the roll call of names, maybe it does change the game. the immediate response amongst the younger generation of palestinian negotiators, there is no two state solution, we want to be citizens, let's play the demographic game. that could be a game changer. iran was mentioned. it is important to

remember that over the last two months, there have been changes afoot negotiated by, not the state department book by jared afoot negotiated by, not the state department book byjared kushner, son—in—law. he went to riyadh, saudi arabia. he has been three times, has built a relationship with the crowned prince. iwould be built a relationship with the crowned prince. i would be very surprised if this hadn't been discussed in those overnight meetings. just picking up on that point, you can see this as a concession to israel's position, but others have suggested that it is not so others have suggested that it is not so much as a punishment to mohammed bass, the palestinian leader, because he went to riyadh and he was given instructions by the saudi arabian government, get this thing going. he effectively said to trump, not on these terms. is it possible to see it this way? less in terms of a particular interest and more in

terms of the overlapping golf powers in israel, definitely. what has been really clear is the shifting calculus of the middle east in the arab world. when the last gaza assault happened, it was outraged. both on the government side and also on the street. it is very different now. what has happened is two fold. interests have begun to overlap with israel in terms of saudi arabia and the national arabian emirates who are aligned because of the emboldening of iran and the trump administration and jared kushner played that angle very well. the second thing is, the arab street, i hate that term, but it is inept after the arab spring because you have three states that have been taken have three states that have been ta ken out of have three states that have been taken out of the equation, yemen, libya and syria. the remaining states have become so paralysed by

post arab spring political status... places like egypt? yes, people would come out onto the street, they were corralled the arab league members. now, the palestinian cause has become less useful to arab leaders, who would use it as a valve to release tension and stress and make the right noises. the second thing is, nobody wants people on the street any more, it is too risky, a tinderbox. agnes, we had president macron saying it isn't helpful, which is a bit of an understatement, but it gets to the point. everybody seems to have said it isn't helpful, yet president trump has done it. what happens next? can i be the devil ‘s advocate for one minute. because, the lines are shifting in that region. imagine for 90 seconds

it isa that region. imagine for 90 seconds it is a plan to restart the peace talks, which are dead, as you said. and to bring israel into some concessions. now, israel and and to bring israel into some concessions. now, israeland saudi arabia... are almost on the same page, yes. trump is pro-saudi arabia, anti—israel and it creates a new thing. it adds pressure on abass to do something. i don't believe it isa to do something. i don't believe it is a plan to restart the peace talks! what it shows, because jerusalem is so many different things to so many different people. it isa things to so many different people. it is a symbol and it should remain a symbol rather than become a concrete territory that you start dividing. again, it is the lack of,

a complete ignorance of history from trump. jerusalem is the capital city of the world's imagination, it is imaginary. it is where cain killed abel imaginary. it is where cain killed abel. where abraham almost killed his son. you should stay away. jerusalem is their city anyway. his son. you should stay away. jerusalem is their city anywaym you look the kind of threads of reassurance , one of you look the kind of threads of reassurance, one of the great things and michael is right, we have got to get used to a new approach to decision—making, but even in trump's statements, there was this kind of post modern moment after he had said, i have given everything to the israelis. in which he says, i will not prejudge, even the kind of boundaries and sovereignties in

jerusalem. he knows. perhaps agnes is right, even if she doesn't believe it has health, this is a clever ruse to get the israelis talking again. stop! i am trying. there is no cleverness involved. evenif there is no cleverness involved. even if it is a happy accident? this was a pledge made, notjust to the evangelicals, but the people who bankrolled him, the hard right inside the american jewish bankrolled him, the hard right inside the americanjewish community which is extremely active. it is the minority. but because it is a very active minority it wags the dog a bit. i don't think there is any cleverness, except in the typical way as ned pointed out at the beginning. it doesn't change the calculus much. he didn't say and we are moving the embassy any time

soon. one other thing to pick even though there is this potential communality between the gulf states, moderate sunni regimes and israel because of iran and because of hezbollah and the kind of shifting sands and region, for political cove r, sands and region, for political cover, and for that to be made overt, this complicates that relationship. it doesn't ease it. the common interests are true, you are right, but even if you are the brightest, new crown prince in saudi arabia, you need to be cognisant of the limits of what you can say or do against the background.” the limits of what you can say or do against the background. i think those limits are shifting. have they shifted sufficiently?” those limits are shifting. have they

shifted sufficiently? i think we are in the process of seeing something extraordinary in the middle east which is no longer a red line issue. some people would say some of the arab governments have paid lip service to it anyway. yes, you have diplomatic representation. in israel and jordan. there is flights between these places every day. nobody is underany these places every day. nobody is under any illusions. i would like to pick up on one thing michael said that this doesn't change the calculus. i think trump is beginning to do some real damage here. i think people make this understandable distinction, under obama, things look a certain way but underneath it all, bad things are happening. all trump is doing is removing the mask and showing things as they are. but

there is some merit, some benefit to at least the appearance of symbolism, the respectful symbolism and the respect for appearances. i think trump with the muslim ban and a jewish recognition, he needs to talk to his base and say, see all these buttons we weren't allowed to push, i these buttons we weren't allowed to push, lam these buttons we weren't allowed to push, i am going to press every single one of them. i think you are right, but different example because where trump is hurting, is next week where trump is hurting, is next week where there will be further discussions on peace in syria, right! where is the united states of america, in less than a year? he was only sworn in onjanuary the america, in less than a year? he was only sworn in on january the 20th. the idea the united states is so pulled back from the conflict. from the world. i am ok with the us being removed, but i am not ok with is

during this has put its finger on the scales in the middle east and emboldened these calculations in the gulf states. yesterday at the un, a few european countries came up with probably another good intention, but you know, to sort of lead on future restarting of peace talks. the leadership role is up for grabs. the final irony is, we were saying, what did he get in return? this is a guy who had a book ghostwritten for him called the art of the deal. both here and perhaps even more brazenly on the withdrawal from the pacific

trade partnership, he withdrew america from the game in return for nothing. it is puzzling. we believe that puzzle hanging in the air for another week. as we discussed here a week ago, it was a divided island rather than a divided city which could have scuppered theresa may's attempts to get other european union leaders to start talking about the terms on which the eu will trade with the uk after it leaves 15 months from now. on tuesday, the democratic unionists, from northern ireland, on whose ten mps the conservative government depends for its survival, objected. it took until breakfast time on friday for the british prime minister to provide the reassurances that allowed the dup to withdraw its objection — at least for now. agnes, is there a sense in brussels, do you think, it is good to get a deal with theresa may because if they don't, we might end up dealing with a different british prime minister, one who is considerably less willing to do a deal? it is

good to do a deal, i will rejoice, as the sun newspaper said this morning. the daily telegraph, which is also a brexit newspaper, says it is also a brexit newspaper, says it is capitulation. another person said it is fudge. on the irish border, definitely fudge. if it is victory for theresa may, i wouldn't want to see what defeat looks like. finally we have an agreement to go further. it took 18 months. that was the easy bit. 0k. there is less than a year, i repeat, less than a year to negotiate the transitional arrangement and to agree on a framework for the future relationship. because then you need a few months of ratification.

october, we need an agreement. brexit is happening. theresa may has a few weeks over christmas to actually come to a position and the tory party and the cabinet is split down the middle. you have one side, they want access to the single market, but no free movement. you have the other side, the loonie brexiteers. as you would characterise them, they wouldn't characterise them, they wouldn't characterise themselves like that. of course not. they want a canada style plus agreement. that is to say, free trade agreement. the problem is, when one solution, the norway style agreement, you can have no border, no hard irish border. but

with the hard brexit solution, you need a border in northern ireland. we have parked a dealfor the need a border in northern ireland. we have parked a deal for the other day. —— for another day. we have parked a deal for the other day. —— foranother day. even we have parked a deal for the other day. —— for another day. even if there was a bit of drama on the way, it isa there was a bit of drama on the way, it is a good sign, isn't it? a willingness on both sides to get something. no side wants no deal?” believe you cannot fast forward reality. but when reality arrives, you have to deal with it. there has been this extraordinary fantasy. one of the things britons, i am a british citizen now, they have to realise the information they have been given for decades, the reality of the eu and britain's relationship inside it has been filtered through some severe propaganda machines in

the daily press. every once and while there is a reality because they negotiating. it took them nine months, but they could have agreed that the week they walked in. we could be discussing the transitional arrangements, 58 papers and dealing with those relationships. that is done. what i think has happened this week. reality has hit. the inevitability of a significant sum of money to cover commitments made through our current membership has been agreed. yet, still you have the two guys vying to replace theresa may at some point, borisjohnson two guys vying to replace theresa may at some point, boris johnson and michael gove, two ex—journalist, one used to be irregular on this panel, giving all kinds of confusing noise. borisjohnson says we giving all kinds of confusing noise. boris johnson says we can get back the and get control of our borders.

you are not in the eu, you are not in schengen. what are you talking about, you are the foreign secretary. it is fair to say if you belong to any organisation, nato or the eu, you have pooled sovereignty. we are saying we want to take back. you can go to the city and to any bankerand you can go to the city and to any banker and say, we are not governed by any treaties that governs how you behave, that is why they get away with murder in london, and you have these expensive restaurants i cannot afford to eat in. you won't be able to get a cheap meal in paris if president macron has his way because he wants the bankers there. there has been little sign of this on the ground so far, this rush out of the eu by financial services. nurses and doctors are going to leave.

financial services? under the canada agreements, it will not cover us. they won't be able to trade in euros. if britain wants to get out of it with its head up... you are saying there could be a scenario where the eu would not permit trading in euros in the city of london as a kind of spite to britain because it is leaving? no, as a matter of fact. it is part of the negotiation. britain wants to go. the problem is, brexiteers want theircake and to the problem is, brexiteers want their cake and to eat it. they want something that doesn't exist. they are riddled with contradictions and demands, they live in fairyland. mutually exclusive demands.”

demands, they live in fairyland. mutually exclusive demands. i feel sorry for theresa may because if she had come away and said, what the eu is proposing is ludicrous and i'm going to walk away, that would have beena going to walk away, that would have been a disaster. if she had agreed to what our reasonable demands, and the only type of brexit the eu can get, which is ensure european citizens and their families, 3 million of them, their rights are met and access in work and stuff, then she is accused of capitulation. and the problem is, and this is where michael gove and borisjohnson are mendacious creeps, there are people who are angry, foaming at the mouth. if you have heard people over the past 24 hours, absolutely livid at this agreement, talking about the eu as if it was their next—door neighbour who had done a land grab. michael has been here a long time.

you reported on northern ireland in the 90s, so you know the uk policies. to be fair to mr gove and mrjohnson, they are the present—day generation of something that started 30 years ago. it has destroyed successive tory prime ministers in government. to me, i can remember the maastricht negotiations and these 4am runs byjohn major. what did he do? he britain out of the euro and britain out of schengen. you would have thought he would be considered a great lion. two giveaways this last week, one, this splendidly, ridiculously, honest david davis, acknowledges to the committee, they haven't done the work to assess the potential impact

on the british economy of these various options of brexit. that is strange enough, you wonder what they have been doing for the last ten months. but even more bizarrely, the cabinet is yet to have a discussion on what britain wants brexit to be. they can't agree, it will be civil war. you know why david davis can say he doesn't believe in it, public opinion, if it goes wrong, it won't be his fault, it will be remain as false, the eu's fault. i think it is the french's faults. i get e-mails every day saying france is there. we should move it out from britain, britain, britain and get the framework wider. the german head of the social democratic party said

yes, it is time for france and germany to work together. if you wa nt to germany to work together. if you want to move the project forward, it'll be easier without britain and they will be happy to see the back of us. that is where we came in, the whole point was we were going to prevent germany and france doing deal. how is that working out for you. that's all we have time for this week. do join us again next week same time, same place. but for now thank you for watching and goodbye. hello there. central and southern parts of the british isles are looking at the potential of some disruption on sunday. initially, from heavy snow and then from gale force

winds across the south. but yesterday we saw some disruption from frequent and heavy snow showers across much of the north and the west of the uk. some pretty impressive snowfall totals in places and it's caused some disruption as we head in towards saturday morning as well. snow showers will continue across the north of scotland and on towards north—west england, around merseyside, cheshire, manchester and lancashire. the odd one elsewhere, but the emphasis will be on fine, dry, sunny weather today. in fact, a glorious day to be out and about. and it looks dry as well for the premier league football matches. plenty of sunshine by day, turning cold and frosty though, by the time the newcastle v leicester match takes place. now, it's going to be a really cold evening. first part of the night, widespread frost developing. a few wintry showers continue across the north of scotland but the main concern though is this area of low pressure, this active weather front pushing into this cold air. a band of heavy rain will bump into that cold air and turn readily to snow across parts of wales, certainly for the midlands and into northern england as well.

bit of uncertainty to the north and south extent of this snow, but the met office have issued an amber, be prepared warning, for this. we could see up to ten to 20 centimetres in places. now, that is disruptive amounts of snow for the british isles, so you will really need to check the forecast before heading out on sunday if you have too. on sunday if you have to. so initially, we see the snow risk through the morning which will cause some disruption and then gale force winds blowing across parts of south wales, through the bristol channel. southern counties of england could reach in excess of 60 miles an hour, so this could cause some disruption to roads, maybe bring down some branches off trees. seven to 9 degrees across the south, turning a little bit milder and turning that snow gradually to rain as the day wears on. there's that area of low pressure, troublesome low moves away. quieter for a time and then we look to this other area of low pressure, this storm which is going to batter parts of france. its northern edge just may clip southern parts of the uk on monday. so could bring some wet and windy weather to southern, south—eastern counties but away from here, a largely cold, dry and sunny day

with a few wintry showers. and then that area of low pressure moves away, on tuesday much quieter for all. cold, frosty start, bright and plenty of sunshine. this is bbc news. the headlines at midday. the foreign secretary arrives for talks in iran to press for release of the british—iranian woman nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. the environment secretary, michael gove says voters can use the next general election to have their say on the final brexit deal. weather warnings for large parts of the uk, amid concern that icy conditions could cause travel delays and "cut off" some rural areas. clashes continue between israeli security forces and palestinian protestors in the west bank over president trump's decision to recognise jerusalem as israel's capital. thousands gather on the streets of paris to pay tribute to the french rock star johnny hallyday, who died on wednesday aged 74.

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