Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, has been covering the Middle East since 1989. He has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region’s recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Arab Spring and the conflict in Syria. His deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present.

On November 2 he comes to the Intelligence Squared stage to share his insights into this most combustible region. In conversation with Justin Webb, the Today presenter who joined the BBC on the same day as Bowen did in 1984, he will discuss his experiences reporting from countries as diverse as Erdogan’s Turkey, Assad’s Syria and Netanyahu’s Israel, recounting his meetings with ordinary people on the frontlines as well as their politicians and leaders. And he will explain the ethical and practical challenges journalists face in purveying the truth, the difficulty of staying impartial in a harsh world, as well as his own personal stories of dealing with cancer and the loss of a friend and BBC colleague in Lebanon.  

Join us at The Tabernacle for a conversation that will not only shed light on the political and social dynamics that shape the Middle East but also humanise the conflicts that unfold within its borders.