Sebastian Usher

To a degree, yes. And I mean, the fact that it's been passed, despite the pressure, not just inside Iraq, but outside, shows that particularly the Shia religious authorities, I mean, they are the majority religious sect in Iraq. It shows that they have year by year gained more power, really, politically than as well as socially and religiously.

To a degree, yes. And I mean, the fact that it's been passed, despite the pressure, not just inside Iraq, but outside, shows that particularly the Shia religious authorities, I mean, they are the majority religious sect in Iraq. It shows that they have year by year gained more power, really, politically than as well as socially and religiously.

So I think it's a sign of that, and I think that's one of the main concerns. They themselves, the religious authorities, say this is simply according to Islamic law and that everything will be done responsibly and with justice as the key element. But certain elements of Islamic law do favour men in certain instances, particularly to do with the family.

So I think it's a sign of that, and I think that's one of the main concerns. They themselves, the religious authorities, say this is simply according to Islamic law and that everything will be done responsibly and with justice as the key element. But certain elements of Islamic law do favour men in certain instances, particularly to do with the family.

This is not just an issue in Iraq, this is an issue across much of the Arab world.

This is not just an issue in Iraq, this is an issue across much of the Arab world.

Well, we heard from the Israeli prime minister's office two or three hours ago now saying that Hamas was creating a last minute crisis. Now, the Israeli negotiating team is still in Qatar. This is where these talks have been taking place. This is despite the fact that the Qatari prime minister announced the deal had been accepted by both sides.

Well, we heard from the Israeli prime minister's office two or three hours ago now saying that Hamas was creating a last minute crisis. Now, the Israeli negotiating team is still in Qatar. This is where these talks have been taking place. This is despite the fact that the Qatari prime minister announced the deal had been accepted by both sides.

President Biden, the president elect Donald Trump have all announced that it's a done deal. From the Israeli side, there's a suggestion that this could still go off the rails and the blame being put on Hamas.

President Biden, the president elect Donald Trump have all announced that it's a done deal. From the Israeli side, there's a suggestion that this could still go off the rails and the blame being put on Hamas.

I mean, what seems to be the issue from what we've heard of it, this isn't 100% officially confirmed, is that Hamas with the prisoner list, the Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the Israeli hostages. They want one or two names, more prominent names than have been there so far. And Israel is saying, well, this is not what was agreed to. This was not in the list.

I mean, what seems to be the issue from what we've heard of it, this isn't 100% officially confirmed, is that Hamas with the prisoner list, the Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the Israeli hostages. They want one or two names, more prominent names than have been there so far. And Israel is saying, well, this is not what was agreed to. This was not in the list.

I mean, it seems to me that this could still be overcome. But what has happened, the direct result has been that a meeting of the Israeli cabinet and the security cabinet, which was supposed to vote on this again several hours ago, has been postponed. And we're not quite sure when that's going to happen.

I mean, it seems to me that this could still be overcome. But what has happened, the direct result has been that a meeting of the Israeli cabinet and the security cabinet, which was supposed to vote on this again several hours ago, has been postponed. And we're not quite sure when that's going to happen.

I think that's a good point. I think theatrics is probably being slightly too superficial about this. I think it's more serious than that, obviously, because the stakes are so high. But it's not something we haven't seen before. It's not something we haven't seen from Mr Netanyahu before. Very much, it has been a blame game.

I think that's a good point. I think theatrics is probably being slightly too superficial about this. I think it's more serious than that, obviously, because the stakes are so high. But it's not something we haven't seen before. It's not something we haven't seen from Mr Netanyahu before. Very much, it has been a blame game.

And I think that he is very mindful of the opposition within Israel from the hardliners who feel that this is a deal that allows Hamas too much, that this goal of eradicating Hamas which time and time again, Mr. Netanyahu said he was 100 percent, you know, this is the only end of the war in sight. That's not what's going to happen.

And I think that he is very mindful of the opposition within Israel from the hardliners who feel that this is a deal that allows Hamas too much, that this goal of eradicating Hamas which time and time again, Mr. Netanyahu said he was 100 percent, you know, this is the only end of the war in sight. That's not what's going to happen.

So what they want, essentially, is a ceasefire to take place for six weeks. But they want Israel essentially to be free to restart the war if necessary after that. So I think it's very much Netanyahu dealing with a domestic issue more than anything else.

So what they want, essentially, is a ceasefire to take place for six weeks. But they want Israel essentially to be free to restart the war if necessary after that. So I think it's very much Netanyahu dealing with a domestic issue more than anything else.