Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program Seminars

The Role of Mediation Diplomacy and Media in the Middle East

From the perspectives of Al Jazeera Centre for Studies through the Gaza Crisis

Hosted by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to intense Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. Despite intermittent ceasefires, the number of casualties continues to rise daily, and there is still no clear path to resolution.

Amid this situation, Al Jazeera, the Middle Eastern satellite news network headquartered in Qatar, has been continuously delivering up-to-date reports from the field to a global audience. Qatar, which has long played a key role as a mediator to resolve conflicts across the Middle East, is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to mediate the current crisis in Gaza.

Against this backdrop, SPF will host a public seminar titled "The Role of Mediation Diplomacy and Media in the Middle East: from the perspectives of Al Jazeera Centre for Studies through the Gaza Crisis," aiming to introduce to Japanese audiences the role of Al Jazeera and Qatar—both of which hold considerable influence over the region—and to share the current situation in the Middle East from the perspective of Al Jazeera. Through this, we hope to deepen understanding of the region and broaden interest in Middle Eastern affairs within Japan.

We will welcome two researchers from the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, the think tank arm of Al Jazeera, to speak about the current situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East. They will share insights into both Qatar’s mediation diplomacy and Al Jazeera’s journalistic approach.

This will be a valuable opportunity to hear directly from experts well-versed in Middle Eastern affairs and to gain a deeper understanding of the frontline of media and diplomacy. We warmly invite your participation.

NOTE: The views presented in this seminar are solely those of the speakers and do not represent the official position of SPF.

Registration

If you would like to participate, please apply from this page by 23:59 on Sunday, June 22. For those who wish to participate online, we will inform you of the URL in the application reception email.

*After applying, you will receive a temporary registration confirmation email, so please click the registration completion URL in the email to complete your registration. Due to the large number of inquiries due to incomplete registration, we ask that you proceed with the registration procedure to the end.

*If you do not receive the temporary registration confirmation email, the email from spfpr@spf.or.jp may be in your spam folder.

* Personal information received from everyone at the time of application will be used to guide you to seminars, lectures, etc. sponsored or supported by our foundation.

Contact: Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program
E-mail: middleeast-islam@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5160

For media inquiries:
E-mail: spfpr@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5395

Description

15:00-15:30 JST	Reception
15:30-15:35 JST	Opening Remark Itsu Adachi (Executive Director, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
15:35-15:55 JST	"The Ongoing Middle East Dynamics Around Gaza" Mr. Haoues Taguia (Head of Gulf and International Research, Al Jazeera Centre for Studies)
15:55-16:15 JST	"Qatar’s Role in Mediation Diplomacy and the Reporting Orientation of Al Jazeera" Dr. Ezzeddine Abdelmoula (Manager of Research, Al Jazeera Centre for Studies)
16:15-16:45 JST	Panel "How to Convey the Realities of the Middle East: Differences in Perspective and Common Issues" Mr. Nobuhisa Degawa (Executive Commentator, NHK) Dr. Ezzeddine Abdelmoula Mr. Haoues Taguia
16:45-17:00 JST	Q&A *Q&A will be limited to in-person participants only
17:00 JST	Closing

*The event program and speakers are subject to change.

Speakers

Profile

Mr. Itsu Adachi is an Executive Director at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF). He joined SPF in June 2020 to oversee departments and its projects related to conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Asia, labour migration, social integration, Japan-China relations, promoting understanding of the Middle East and Islam, and advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment by supporting development of ecosystems for impact investing and inclusive entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining SPF, he spent 35 years leading international cooperation programs in developing countries at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). His portfolio covered a wide range of official development assistance projects in Southeast Asia, including post-conflict peace building and reconstruction projects in Cambodia as Chief Representative of JICA, Cambodia office. He also led cross-sectoral initiatives leveraging technological innovation and digital transformation in development projects. Mr. Adachi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Sophia University, Japan.

Profile

Mr. Haoues Taguia is Head of Gulf and International Research at the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies. He co-edited a number of books including: “The Salafi Phenomenon: Organizational Diversity and Policies”, “The Resilience of Qatar: A Model of Blockade Resistance and Small State Power”, and “The Qatar Blockade: Contexts and Consequences of the Gulf Crisis.” He has authored numerous analyses and research papers on geopolitics, geoeconomics, and strategic affairs. Previously, he served as editor-in-chief of several political publications in Algeria and produced a variety of geopolitical and forecasting programs for the Algerian national radio.

Profile

Dr. Ezzeddine Abdelmoula is Manager of Research at Al Jazeera Centre for Studies. He holds a PhD in politics and international relations from Exeter University, a Master of International politics from SOAS University of London and a Master of political philosophy from La Sorbonne, Paris. He authored several books, including: “Al Jazeera and Democratization: “The Rise of the Arab Public Sphere” (2015), “Arabs and Democracy in the Multiple Screen Age” (2016) “Al Jazeera in 1000 Academic Studies” (2022), “Tunisia’s Democratic Transition 2011-2021” (2025). He contributed research papers and book chapters covering media, politics, international relations, Arab and Middle East affairs, the Arab Spring, democratization, political Islam etc.

Profile

Born in Tokyo in 1962, Mr. Degawa graduated from the University of Tokyo’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1985 and joined NHK. Since 1990, he has focused on international reporting, particularly in the Middle East and the Islamic world, serving as bureau chief in Tehran, Jerusalem, and Cairo. He has covered the Israel-Palestine conflict for over 30 years since the 1993 Oslo Accords, conducting numerous interviews with leaders on both sides. He also reported on the Afghanistan situation and the Iraq War from the field. Since 2006, he has served as a commentator, and in 2018 became Chief Commentator. As a planning committee member of the Japan National Press Club, he organizes and moderates press conferences. He provided frequent commentary during the Gaza conflict in 2023 and visited the region again in August 2024.