Podcasts about near east policy

Iranian attacks on commercial shipping have been on the increase in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region. There was a lull in attacks in June during the short-lived US – Iran MoU, but numbers have risen significantly since then through July, August and into September.Marcus Hand, Editor of Seatrade Maritime News discusses trends in Iranian attack on shipping with Noam Rayden a Senior Research Fellow at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy.In this Maritime Crossroads episode, we try to answer a central question: Around six months into the Iran war, how have Iranian attacks against commercial shipping evolved, where are they concentrated now, and what could lie ahead?The conversation covers:Overview of Attacks (June - August)Detailed analysis of attacks in AugustIran's shift in targeting strategyThe impact of US Naval presence and blockadeFuture implications for maritime security in the Middle EastListen to the full episode hear about all these topics and much more

The war against Iran is putting new strains on U.S. military readiness by consuming munitions and missile defense interceptors, as well as through extended deployments, sustained operational demands, and the diversion of forces and attention from other theaters. Mark Cancian (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Stacie Pettyjohn (Center for a New American Security), and Michael Eisenstadt (Washington Institute for Near East Policy) join Ryan to unpack what readiness actually means, how the war is affecting it, what vulnerabilities have been exposed, and what it all means for deterrence and the U.S. military's ability to respond to a crisis with China.

Michael is joined by Holly Dagres, the Libitzky Family Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and editor of The Iranist, for a unique look at the internal dynamics shaping Iran amid ongoing war and economic strangulation. Holly rewinds to the December and January anti-regime uprisings that preceded the conflict, detailing the unprecedented state-led massacre of protesters and the ensuing collapse of the Iranian rial. She explains why the clerical regime's survival has radicalized a new generation of IRGC hardliners, the psychological blow dealt to ordinary Iranians by strikes on energy infrastructure, and the growing sense of abandonment felt across the country after unfulfilled promises of Western support. Holly also assesses the sustainability of Washington's naval blockade, Tehran's escalatory brinkmanship in the Persian Gulf, and what it will actually take for the Iranian public to risk returning to the streets. Additional Resources:Abdorrahman Boroumand Center Center for Human Rights in Iran

Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East Iran has sought to exert control of the Strait of Hormuz and establish a new navigational order.In a new monthly series on the Seatrade Maritime News Podcast entitled Maritime Crossroads we will be exploring the critical issues of maritime and energy risks in the Middle East region.The series features Noam Raydan, a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy discussing issues with Marcus Hand, Editor of Seatrade Maritime News.The first episode explores how Iran is changing the navigational order in one of world's most key waterways – the Strait of Hormuz.The internationally recognised routes in the Strait of Hormuz were adopted by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1968 but these are no longer being used by commercial shipping.“Instead, we have a completely new navigational order, and this is what Iran right now wants to shape according to its own terms. So, in this new navigational order which we are seeing emerging in the region, we have completely new lanes that are being used by commercial shipping,” she says.The conversation covers: Changes in navigation in the Strait of Hormuz Iranian threats and shipping risksTrends in energy transport in the regionThe role of pipelines in energy securityHumanitarian issues for seafarersFuture challenges in the regionListen to the full episode now

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Holly Dagres on the United States' stop-and-go / stick-and-carrot impasse with Iran. What started 2026 with grand talk of regime change has lately turned into a staredown over the flow of crude oil through Hormuz. Dagres curates The Iranist, a newsletter widely followed by Iranians and the diaspora.

How Iran uses proxies, shadow banking and criminal cut-outs to fund external operations and evade sanctions. Iranian-linked plots, surveillance activity and intimidation operations are drawing growing concern across Europe. But behind these activities sits a wider financial and logistical architecture that allows Tehran and its proxies to move money, evade sanctions and support operations abroad. In this episode of the Suspicious Transaction Report, Kinga Redlowska is joined by Matthew Levitt, Director of the Reinhard Programme on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, to examine how Iran's external operations are evolving and what this means for Europe. They discuss the use of criminal intermediaries, online recruitment and low-cost 'gig economy' tasking; the role of oil revenues, front companies and shadow banking in financing Iran's proxies; and the connections between sanctions evasion, procurement networks and operational activity. The conversation also considers Europe's response, the need to close gaps between counterterrorism, counterintelligence and organised crime investigations, and why stronger political will, enforcement capacity and cross-border cooperation will be essential as Iran's networks become more global, flexible and difficult to disrupt.

Det er etterhvert velkjent at HL-Senteret motarbeider og ødelegger for jøder i Norge, men det nylige eventet med Omer Bartov var et et nytt lavmål. Bartov ble invitert til å holde foredrag, og til panelsamtale om temaet "Gaza after Holocaust", mer info her: https://www.uio.no/english/research/domus-bibliotheca/events/2026/holocaust-memorialHL-senteret og Universitetet i Oslo inviterte den 3. juni 2026 til samtale ved Scene Domus Bibliotheca med Bartov, om fremtiden for Holocaust-minnet. Samtalen ble ledet av Peder Nustad, leder for Dembra (HL-senteret). Nikolai Melamed Kleivan, journalist i Morgenbladet deltok i panelet.Nina Grünfeld, filmskaper, forfatter og professor ved Universitetet i Innlandet deltok i panelet.Arrangementet var en del av serien «I krigens skygge – veien videre», et samarbeid mellom HL-senteret og Universitetet i Oslo, og fikk støtte fra Fritt Ord.Om arrangementet skriver HL-Senteret selv følgende:"Minnekulturen rundt Holocaust har blitt et referansepunkt i arbeidet mot rasisme, menneskerettighetsbrudd og massevold. Med krigen i Gaza har Holocaust-minnet i økende grad blitt trukket inn i samtidens politiske debatter. Vi spør hvordan dette påvirker fagfeltets troverdighet og brede offentlige oppslutning."Kritikk av opplegget:- Bare det å sammenligne Gaza med Holocaust er forkastelig.- HL-senterets opplegg var både irrelevant for norsk kontekst og tendensiøst. - Paneldesignet var ensidig og testet ikke engang Bartovs hovedpåstand. - Folkemordspåstanden bygges ikke juridisk. - Ødeleggelse leses direkte som intensjon. - Hamas' rolle og Israels handlingsrom underbehandles.- “Nowhere to go”-argumentet forenkler Egypt/Rafah og årsaksskjeden.- Tittelen gjør Holocaust-minne til forklaringsramme før spørsmålet er prøvd.- Fallback-logikken gjør forbrytelseskategorier til forhandlingsnivåer; diskursen glir ofte slik: hvis ikke folkemord, så forbrytelser mot menneskeheten. Hvis ikke forbrytelser mot menneskeheten, så krigsforbrytelser. Hvis ikke krigsforbrytelser, så etnisk rensing. Hvis ikke det, så kollektiv avstraffelse. Dette er metodisk svakt.- Bartov glir mellom rettsanvendelse og begrepspolitikk.Referanser:Bartov, Omer. “I'm a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.” New York Times, 15. juli 2025.Waxman, Dov. “On ‘A Textbook Case of Genocide.'” Jewish Currents, 2023.Goda, Norman J.W. “The Genocide Libel: How the World Has Charged Israel with Genocide.” Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, Indiana University, 2025.Goda, Norman J.W. og Jeffrey Herf. “Why It's Wrong to Call Israel's War in Gaza a ‘Genocide.'” Washington Post, 3. juni 2025.Satloff, Robert. “A Charade in Academic Garb.” Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2. september 2025.Moses, A. Dirk. The Problems of Genocide: Permanent Security and the Language of Transgression. Cambridge University Press, 2021.Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, artikkel II.Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, artikkel 7.ICRC Customary International Humanitarian Law, Rule 97: Human Shields.► Skaff deg boken min: Frykt og Stillhet - jødiske stemmer i Norge etter 7. oktober. Bestill her:  https://bok.norli.no/frykt-og-stillhet► STØTT ARBEIDET PÅ VIPPSOm du ønsker å støtte arbeidet med denne podcasten, kan du bidra med et stort eller lite beløp, etter eget ønske. All støtte settes pris på, og du bidrar til arbeidet med å lage flere episoder. Bruk Vippsnummer: #823278►  ⁠BLI ⁠⁠⁠⁠MEDLEM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Fremover vil de som er støttemedlemmer få tilgang til episodene først. Da støtter du podcasten med det samme som prisen av en kaffe hver måned. Setter stor pris på om du blir støttemedlem. Tusen takk.► Annonsere på Henrik Beckheim Podcast?Send en mail til post@henrikbeckheim.no ► MERCH: Kjøp klær, kopper, capser og mer: https://henrikbeckheim.com/store► Linker:⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Nettside⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | Podimo | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Apple

For analysis on how the latest escalation in the Middle East will affect a host of issues in the region, Amna Nawaz speaks with Miad Maleki at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and David Makovsky at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iran has accused the U.S. of a “grave violations” of the fragile ceasefire after U.S. defensive strikes in southern Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said diplomacy remains possible, but Tehran continues to signal distrust over key issues. And Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that its forces are “lying in wait” if the President Trump orders the resumption of combat operations, with the outlook for a potential deal remaining uncertain. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with David Schenker, Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, who says there are multiple signs Iran's economy is faltering, but also hints that could suggest the regime is still in control of its population. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran has accused the U.S. of a “grave violations” of the fragile ceasefire after U.S. defensive strikes in southern Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said diplomacy remains possible, but Tehran continues to signal distrust over key issues. And Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that its forces are “lying in wait” if the President Trump orders the resumption of combat operations, with the outlook for a potential deal remaining uncertain. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with David Schenker, Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, who says there are multiple signs Iran's economy is faltering, but also hints that could suggest the regime is still in control of its population. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran has accused the U.S. of a “grave violations” of the fragile ceasefire after U.S. defensive strikes in southern Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said diplomacy remains possible, but Tehran continues to signal distrust over key issues. And Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that its forces are “lying in wait” if the President Trump orders the resumption of combat operations, with the outlook for a potential deal remaining uncertain. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with David Schenker, Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, who says there are multiple signs Iran's economy is faltering, but also hints that could suggest the regime is still in control of its population. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The third round of peace talks between Israel and Lebanon opens in Washington on Thursday and for the first time military representatives will also participate. The talks, which will take place at the State Department, come just before the expiration of the three-week ceasefire announced by US president Donald Trump. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke about the Israel-Lebanon peace talks with Assaf Orion, an International Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. (Photo: Reuters)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts IDF Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion, international fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and senior researcher at INSS. They discuss the latest developments at sea and the negotiating table between the U.S. and Iran, before turning to Israel's ongoing military front in Lebanon. They analyzed this latest offensive against Hezbollah, how it differs from the previous war in 2023-2024, what objectives Israel hopes to accomplish, the dangers of a renewed IDF "security zone" in southern Lebanon, the impact of the Trump-imposed ceasefire last month, a practical path forward to disarm Hezbollah, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Gideon discusses why the Iran conflict is proving so difficult to end with Michael Singh and Dana Stroul of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. What are the options on the table for both sides and can America's allies play a useful role? Clip: New York PostFree links to read more on this topic:The Iran crisis has not yet peakedIranian tankers bypass US blockadeMacron and Starmer to hold summit on plan to secure Strait of HormuzLufthansa cuts 20,000 flights to save fuel as prices soarSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.Follow Gideon on Bluesky or X @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States and Israel have devastated Iran's military capabilities—crippling its air defenses, missile systems, and leadership ranks.But the bigger picture tells a different story.In this episode, Dana Stroul, Research Director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explains how Iran is using asymmetric tactics to disrupt global energy flows, pressure the economy, and hold strategic leverage—even after major battlefield losses.The result: tactical success for the U.S., but no clear strategic win.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, host Ilan Berman talks to Jonathan Schanzer, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about how the war with Iran is reshaping the Middle East - and what it means for “great power competition” writ large. MATERIALS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:-- "Regime Change Without Nation Building," Commentary, April 2026, https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-schanzer/regime-change-iran-america-trump/BIO:Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is the executive director at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars.Jonathan previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he followed and froze the funding of Hamas and al-Qaeda. Jonathan has held previous think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum. He has written hundreds of articles on the Middle East and U.S. national security.His most recent book is Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War (FDD Press 2021). His other books are State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State (Palgrave Macmillan 2013), Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine (Palgrave Macmillan 2008), and Al-Qaeda's Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror (Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2004).

In an exclusive conversation, Michael talks to former National Security Council Director for Iran Richard Nephew about the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the regime's response. Richard, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explores how a collapse of the Islamic Republic could unfold and the last-ditch retaliation measures the regime could take against its Middle East neighbors and U.S. forces in the region. He also evaluates leadership succession possibilities and growing concerns regarding nuclear proliferation.

President of Near East Policy Research & Member and National Council of Resistance of Iran Ali Safavi joins "Bloomberg Surveillance Radio" to discuss the impending transition of power in Tehran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more perspective on war in Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre, Joel Rayburn and Holly Dagres. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. Rayburn is a retired Army colonel and is now at the Hudson Institute. Dagres spent her teenage years in Tehran and is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For more perspective on war in Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre, Joel Rayburn and Holly Dagres. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. Rayburn is a retired Army colonel and is now at the Hudson Institute. Dagres spent her teenage years in Tehran and is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to fire at any ship passing through it. The narrow waterway is a vital chokepoint for global oil and gas, but also for other commodities such as fertiliser. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Noam Raydan, a maritime risk expert at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the potential impact of the Strait's closure and how Iran could further escalate the situation. 

The Iranian regime has crushed the latest wave of protests through brute force, but the regime's survival comes at a cost. It now confronts a volatile mix of domestic opposition, weakened regional proxies, and years of economic decay. Ryan is joined by co-host Kerry Anderson in a conversation with Alex Vatanka (Middle East Institute), Holly Dagres (Washington Institute for Near East Policy), and Naysan Rafati (International Crisis Group) about the pressures bearing down on Tehran and what might come next.   This episode is brought to you by Victus Technologies. To learn more about Victus, check out: https://warontherocks.com/victus

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Dana Stroul of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy about the changing shape of the new Syria, and what we can expect in terms of the looming showdown between the United States and Iran.BIO:Dana Stroul is Director of Research and Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, positions she assumed in February, 2024. She rejoined the Institute after serving from 2021-2023 as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, the Pentagon's top civilian official with responsibility for the region. Prior to first joining the Institute in 2018, she served for five years as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she covered the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Before working on Capitol Hill, Stroul served in the Middle East policy office of the Secretary of Defense.

In this special podcast we go deep into the darkness that has descended upon the Kurdish ethnic minority in northern Syria. The massacre of civilians and brutality is reminiscent of ISIS. In fact, the Syrian state army is comprised of many former jihadists - some still openly wearing ISIS patches on their uniforms. The Kurds, of course, led the military force that led the assault on ISIS and its eventual retreat and defeat. But with the anointment of former al Qaeda man, Ahmed al Sharaa, as President of Syria…..violent Islamism has enjoyed something of a resurgence.Absolute hell has been visited upon the Syrian Kurds while the west and the world are distracted by chaos in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But the massacre of Syrian Kurds has barely been noticed. We feature interviews with four experts on the Syrian Kurds. (Their photos and bios are set out below in the Podcast Notes.) Each one brings a very deep understanding of the complexity of this situation. In order to assist as you work your way through this we have provided time stamps so that you may skip to particular bits that interest you more.In addition to the experts featured here we spoke to many others. I am grateful to all for their time and generosity in sharing their expertise and insight. I would like to draw particular attention to Noor Dahri, a devout Muslim living in the UK and originally from Pakistan. I learned so much from Noor and hope to share part of our interview in the near future. Editing such rich material is not easy. So thanks, Noor, for helping me to better understand the forces that are driving fanatical Islamism in the Middle East and the west.And to our loyal listeners, this episode is being made available to all subscribers in full. Consider it our contribution to doing whatever is possible to amplify awareness of the Kurdish plight.There are some graphic videos included in this podcast. If you prefer not to view them we provide advance notice so that you may skip over them.Timestamps:Introduction with video clips: 00:00Interview with Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed: 05:53Al Jazeera report on the release of ISIS prisoners in Al Hol Detention Camp in northern Syria: 36:41Interview with Ateret Shmuel: 39:22Interview with Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan: 51:54Interview with Ahmad Sharawi: 01:02:15Conclusion: 1:19:08Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:* Maps referred to and shown in the podcast introduction:* X post of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, on January 20, 2026:Full text of this post: The greatest opportunity for the Kurds in Syria right now lies in the post-Assad transition under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This moment offers a pathway to full integration into a unified Syrian state with citizenship rights, cultural protections, and political participation— long denied under Bashar al-Assad's regime, where many Kurds faced statelessness, language restrictions, and systemic discrimination.Historically, the US military presence in northeastern Syria was justified primarily as a counter-ISIS partnership. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS's territorial caliphate by 2019, detaining thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi. At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with—the Assad regime was weakened, contested, and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia.Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the US on counterterrorism. This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.Recent developments show the US actively facilitating this transition, rather than prolonging a separate SDF role:• We have engaged extensively with the Syrian Government and SDF leadership to secure an integration agreement, signed on January 18, and to set a clear pathway for timely and peaceful implementation.• The deal integrates SDF fighters into the national military (as individuals, which remains among the most contentious issues), hand over key infrastructure (oil fields, dams, border crossings), and cede control of ISIS prisons and camps to Damascus.• The US has no interest in long-term military presence; it prioritizes defeating ISIS remnants, supporting reconciliation, and advancing national unity without endorsing separatism or federalism.This creates a unique window for the Kurds: integration into the new Syrian state offers full citizenship rights (including for those previously stateless), recognition as an integral part of Syria, constitutional protections for Kurdish language and culture (e.g., teaching in Kurdish, celebrating Nawruz as a national holiday), and participation in governance—far beyond the semi-autonomy the SDF held amid civil war chaos.While risks remain (e.g., fragile ceasefires, occasional clashes, concerns over hardliners, or the desire of some actors to relitigate past grievances), the United States is pushing for safeguards on Kurdish rights and counter-ISIS cooperation. The alternative—prolonged separation—could invite instability or ISIS resurgence. This integration, backed by US diplomacy, represents the strongest chance yet for Kurds to secure enduring rights and security within a recognized Syrian nation-state.In Syria, the United States is focused on: 1) ensuring the security of prison facilities holding ISIS prisoners, currently guarded by the SDF; and 2) facilitating talks between the SDF and the Syrian Government to allow for the peaceful integration of the SDF and the political inclusion of Syria's Kurdish population into a historic full Syrian citizenship.* Dr. Qanta A. AhmedDr. Ahmed is a physician, non-fiction author and broadcast media commentator. Her first book, In the Land of Invisible Women (Sourcebooks 2008) details her experience of living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been published internationally in 14 countries. She is also a prolific opinion journalist and contributor to the American, British, Australian, Pakistani and Israeli media. Dr.Ahmad has been recognized for her work as a physician, researcher, journalist and advocate. She lives and works in New York City.* Ateret Shmuel Ateret Shmuel lives with her two children in Jerusalem and is the founder of the not-for profit organization Indigenous Bridges and has worked with Kurdish communities and organizations in the Middle East for more than 20 years. https://www.indigenousbridges.com/* Jan Ilhan KizilhanDr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan is a psychologist, psychotherapist, trauma expert, orientalist, author and publisher. He is also the Director of the Institute for Health Science the State University in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the chief psychologist of the Special-Quota Project, a programme funded by the State Government of Baden Württemberg. The project brought 1,100 women and children who were in IS captivity to Germany for medical treatment. He is the Founding Dean of the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok/Northern Iraq.* Ahmad SharawiAhmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Previously, Sharawi worked at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he focused mainly on Hezbollah. He created a map visualizing the border clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese frontier and authored articles on Jordan and Morocco. Ahmad previously worked at the International Finance Corporation and S&P Global. He holds a B.A. in international relations from King's College London and an M.A. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Jian is joined by Farzin Nadimi, senior Iran and defense analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Shayan Samii, a U.S. national security analyst specializing in strategic communications. The panel examines why Western intervention in Iran is no longer optional, how the regime's escalating violence signals strategic weakness rather than strength, and what tools the United States and its allies actually have at their disposal as mass killing unfolds inside Iran. The episode opens with a forceful in-studio essay arguing that Western media atrocity denial - driven by hesitation, ideological discomfort, and an obsession with disputing numbers - is delaying truth and enabling the continued killing of Iranian civilians. This episode is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law

President Trump threatened to intervene in Iran if the regime kills peaceful protesters, which it has already done. Over the past six days, demonstrations that started in Tehran have spread throughout the country. Amna Nawaz discussed the protests and the regime's response with Roya Boroumand of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump threatened to intervene in Iran if the regime kills peaceful protesters, which it has already done. Over the past six days, demonstrations that started in Tehran have spread throughout the country. Amna Nawaz discussed the protests and the regime's response with Roya Boroumand of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As work continues on finalizing a peace deal in Gaza, Nick Schifrin discussed the latest with two News Hour regulars, David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As work continues on finalizing a peace deal in Gaza, Nick Schifrin discussed the latest with two News Hour regulars, David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As work continues on finalizing a peace deal in Gaza, Nick Schifrin discussed the latest with two News Hour regulars, David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Join Mr. Zohar Palti, former director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Israel's security posture after the October 7 attacks, strategic lessons of the war in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and beyond, and the implications of the Trump-brokered peace agreement for Israel, the broader Middle East, and global security. Drawing on decades of experience within Israel's security and intelligence community, Palti assesses the prospects for regional stability, the future of Hamas in Gaza, emerging opportunities and risks in Lebanon and Syria, and the critical role of U.S.–Israel cooperation in countering Iranian aggression. Palti reflects on the necessity of sustained American engagement in the Middle East and the shared responsibility of democratic nations to confront terrorist and proxy threats while upholding the democratic principles they seek to protect. For more conversations from world leaders from key countries, subscribe to receive instant notification of the next episode.  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Zohar Palti is the former Director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense. He previously led the Mossad Intelligence Directorate and served as the agency's Chief of Counterterrorism, following twenty-five years in the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Corps. Mr. Palti has also been a senior research fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center and is currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Public Service for strengthening U.S.–Israel strategic defense cooperation. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Hate researcher Matteo Vergani and orthodox Rabbi Nomi Kaltmann examine the rise of antisemitism in Australia, as police continue to investigate the deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the father and son suspects were motivated by Islamic State ideology.And, in Syria over the weekend, a gunman ambushed a U.S.-Syrian joint patrol, killing two members of the Iowa National Guard and their American interpreter. President Trump has vowed to retaliate. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Andrew Tabler explains what this shows about Islamic extremism.Then, for many immigrants, oath ceremonies mark the final step in becoming a U.S. citizen. But across the U.S., those ceremonies have been postponed or canceled. Gail Breslow from the nonprofit Project Citizenship details what this means for hopeful Americans.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Dana Stroul, who serves as Director of Research and Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday ordered the country’s military to confront any future Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon, following an overnight raid by Israeli forces in the border village of Blida that left a local municipal worker dead. The incident comes amid growing debate within Lebanon over whether the situation along the Israeli border is heading toward renewed conflict. The pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack has postponed a visit to Lebanon, citing a lack of progress and indicating Washington is unlikely to pressure Israel or intervene at this stage. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Res Brig Gen Assaf Orion, an International Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a member of Israel's INSS, the Institute for National Security Studies. (Photo: AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Robert Satloff, the Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ghaith Al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who previously held various positions within the Palestinian Authority.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--HEADLINE 1: Hamas's base of operations in Turkey is reportedly growing.HEADLINE 2: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani slammed Israel for committing genocide and violating the ceasefire in Gaza. Did he mention Hamas's October 7 massacre? Nope.HEADLINE 3: The new Syrian regime seized a massive haul of captagon pills.BONUS HEADLINE 4: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad yesterday.--Featured FDD Pieces:"5 Ways the United States and Europe Must Help Ukraine Now" - RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD Insight"How the Muslim Brotherhood Built a Media Empire" - Mariam Wahba, The Free Press"The New Middle East and the Challenges to Israel" - Jonathan Schanzer, Commentary

To discuss President Trump's and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposal to end the war in Gaza, Amna Nawaz spoke with David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss President Trump's and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposal to end the war in Gaza, Amna Nawaz spoke with David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nearly a year after Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus, Syria is struggling to chart a path forward. This week, Matt is joined by Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who has just returned from a rare trip inside the country where he met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. They unpack Sharaa's unlikely rise from jihadist commander to head of state, the sectarian bloodshed testing his grip on power, Israel's relentless strikes and regional pressure, and the uneasy standoff with Kurdish forces in the northeast. From shattered infrastructure to fragile diplomacy, Aaron offers a first-hand look at a nation caught between rebuilding and relapse—and what the world should watch as Syria faces its most uncertain crossroads in decades. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. More of Aaron's work: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/aaron-y-zelin Read Aaron's Substack, Jihadology+: https://www.jihadologyplus.com Read Aaron's past work for Jihadology: https://jihadology.net Follow Aaron on Twitter/X: https://x.com/azelin Follow Aaron on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/azelin.bsky.social Aaron's analysis for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy "Sharaa Goes to the United Nations" by Aaron Zelin | Policy Watch 4108: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/sharaa-goes-united-nations "Delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: Implications for US Counterterrorism and Syria Policy" by Aaron Zelin | Policy Watch 4077: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/delisting-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-implications-us-counterterrorism-and-syria-policy "Trump Meets Sharaa: Writing a New Chapter in US-Syria Relations" | Policy Watch 4039: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/trump-meets-sharaa-writing-new-chapter-us-syria-relations Further reporting for this episode "For the first time in nearly six decades, a Syrian president steps up to speak at the UN" by Jennifer Peltz & Bassem Mroue | AP: https://apnews.com/article/syria-united-nations-unga-c0471a2f7faece79fe15793fb0466501 "From al-Qaida to the Upper East Side: Syria's new leader makes his debut on the world stage" by Andrew Roth | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/24/ahmed-al-sharaa-united-nations-syria "Syria's President Says Border Deal With Israel Could Come 'Within Days'" by Ben Hubbard | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/world/middleeast/syria-israel.html "Syria risks rupturing as armed camps face off across the Euphrates" by John Davison, Orhan Qereman, Khalil Ashawi & Feras Dalatey | Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/investigations/syria-risks-rupturing-armed-camps-face-off-across-euphrates-2025-09-19/ Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/332708 YouTube: https://youtu.be/KDuPo7yiUIU Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by Richard Drew/AP & AFP Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

This week on Conflicted, host Thomas Small is joined by returning guest, Aaron Zelin - the Gloria and Ken Levy Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and founder of the acclaimed website Jihadology. Following up on their last conversation after the fall of the Assad regime, Aaron gives us an in-depth analysis of the current state of play in Syria as the new transitional government, led by Ahmad al-Shara, attempts to consolidate its power. Since the last time we spoke, Aaron has been on a trip to the new Syria, so he gives us a firsthand look at the complex realities on the ground. Thomas and Aaron discuss the narratives surrounding the new government, from claims of sectarian massacres to narratives of a burgeoning economic revival. Aaron explains how the violence in places like the coast and the Druze-majority city of Swaida reveals a country still wracked by internal tensions, where revenge, tribal dynamics, and foreign meddling from actors like Iran and Israel continue to complicate the path to stability. They also touch on the delicate dance between the new government and Syria's minorities, including the Kurds, and the implications of the ongoing sanctions waivers and international investment flowing into the country. You can find Aaron on X at @azelin and look for updates on his incredible website https://jihadology.net/  To listen to the full episode, you'll need to subscribe to the Conflicted Community. And don't forget, subscribers can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An episode discussing David Schenker's latest policy analysis titled "Lebanon's Moment of Truth" and the multiple variables needed to line up for Hezbollah's disarmament to succeed and for Israel's full withdrawal to take place. With David Schenker, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The article mentioned in this piece is available here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/lebanons-moment-truth The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:49 Slip-up 3:18 Moment of truth 5:42 Variables lining up a 9:01 Under immense pressure 12:06 Israeli obstacles to US position 14:17 Pending Lebanese army proposal 18:24 Iranian leverage today 21:42 Beirut's commitment & int'l attention 26:01 Vulnerability following war 29:53 Israel's reaction towards progress 33:25 Five hilltops

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with former US negotiator, adviser and ambassador Dennis Ross. Today, Ross, an author and the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, also teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Jewish Civilization. But for over a decade, he was the US point man on the arduous Israeli-Palestinian peace processes in both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. We close the program by hearing thoughts on the current talks to end the Gaza War from a negotiator who was in the room "when it happened" -- or didn't. However, we begin the episode by asking Ross, who has decades of experience in Soviet and Middle East policy, for his analysis of this week's Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and the subsequent meet-up between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders. We then spin the globe and focus on Israel and the region -- present and past, including the two milestones of the 2005 Disengagement and the 2000 Camp David Summit. And so this week, we ask Ambassador Dennis Ross, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Dennis Ross (Courtesy)/ Demonstrators march during a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and calling for the Israeli government to reverse its decision to take over Gaza City and other areas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Israeli cabinet is in a marathon session debating whether or not to completely reoccupy the Gaza Strip militarily. For two perspectives, Geoff Bennett spoke with David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Project on Arab-Israeli Relations and Yousef Munayyer of the Palestine-Israel Program and Senior Fellow at the Arab Center. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

October 7th exposed to everyone what many in and around the academy have known for years: American universities—not all, but many—are failing catastrophically to educate the next generation about the history, cultures, and politics of the Middle East. Instead of producing students versed in the region's complexities, these institutions have become factories for ideological activism. And nowhere is this truer than in the case of Israel and its history: Zionism in the modern university classroom is rarely examined as a movement of national liberation but instead as a caricature of colonialism, racism, repression, and occupation. And outside of the classroom, we've seen the most prestigious campuses in the United States transform into nodes of anti-Israel activism and Jew hatred. These are immense and long-standing problems. But instead of just diagnosing their sources and discussing their perils, today we're going to talk to someone who's actually done something about it. Robert Satloff saw this crisis clearly. Having published back in 2001 the eminent historian Martin Kramer's short volume on the corruption of Middle East Studies, Ivory Towers on Sand, Satloff has spent decades watching the field drift toward anti-Israel political advocacy. As the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he decided to stop complaining and found his own professional master's program. Working with Pepperdine University, the Washington Institute has established a completely new graduate program designed to train policy professionals with rigorous scholarship and historical accuracy, without anti-Israel bias. The program offers full scholarships, accepts no foreign funding, is fully accredited, and will convene its inaugural cohort in Washington, DC this fall.

For two perspectives on Israel's conflict with Iran and U.S. involvement, Geoff Bennett spoke with Aaron David Miller and Holly Dagres. Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department official. Dagres is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and curates "The Iranist," a weekly newsletter on Iran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With Eliot still on the road, Eric welcomes Dennis Ross, Counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Director of Policy Planning under James Baker, Special Middle East Envoy under President Clinton among several other high level national security positions at State, Defense and the White House under Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Obama. Dennis is also a prolific author including his memoir of Middle East diplomacy, The Missing Peace, Doomed to Succeed - a history of U.S.-Israel relations, and most recently Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2025). They discuss why Dennis chose to update his 2005 book on Statecraft, his choice of case studies including German Reunification, the First Gulf War, Bosnia, the Iraq War and the Syria policy debacle under President Obama. He describes the contending schools of thought about America's role in the world, including America First, Restrainers, Realists, and Liberal Internationalists and their differences over the use of force, alliances, as well as the role of interests and values in American foreign policy. He outlines the habits of good statecraft, including proper assessments, use of leverage and coercion, Presidential leadership and empowering lower level officials while avoiding groupthink. Along the way they discuss Afghanistan, Libya, the war in Ukraine and Dennis's assessment of President Trump's trip to the Middle East and his policy approach to the war in Ukraine and changing Vladimir Putin's calculus about war termination. Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World: https://a.co/d/j8C7WcH Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

The Israeli government voted to expand military operations in Gaza and could end with the reoccupation of the strip. Humanitarian officials warn that an Israeli plan to take over aid distribution in Gaza is unworkable, and more Palestinians will suffer. Nick Schifrin discussed the implications with David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Project on Israel-Arab Relations. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

How did a small offshoot of Al Qaeda overthrow a major country in the Middle East and establish a diplomatic dialogue with the United States? Dr. Aaron Zelin is one of the foremost experts on jihadist movements past and present. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the rise of its vanquisher – the jihadist group known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Dr. Zelin analyzes the conditions that led to the shocking revolution in Syria, its geopolitical implications, and the “pragmatic” jihadism of HTS. A comprehensive overview of Sunni extremism, the complex motives of HTS leadership, and how it all fits on the global chessboard.   Dr. Aaron Zelin is the Gloria and Ken Levy Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he also directs the Islamic State Worldwide Activity Map project. He is the founder of jihadology.net, where you can find translations and analysis of jihadi source materials. Follow him on X at @azelin.

From November 3, 2023: Since Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the Israel-Hamas war has largely been fought in Gaza, a small strip of land along the border of the Mediterranean Sea. But farther inland, there has been an uptick in hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem says that at least 13 Palestinian herding communities in the West Bank have been forcibly displaced since the beginning of the war due to Israeli settler violence and intimidation, and nearly 100 Palestinians in the territory are reported to have been killed since the war began by both Israeli military strikes as well as settler violence. The fraught relationship between the Israeli government, Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and the Palestinian Authority are not new. But in part because of those existing issues, the West Bank has the potential to expand and complicate the bounds of the Israel-Hamas war—and some may argue that that is already underway. To understand how the West Bank fits into the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Lawfare Associate Editor Hyemin Han spoke to Dan Byman from the Center for Strategic & International Studies, who is also Lawfare's Foreign Policy Editor; Ghaith al-Omari of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Scott R. Anderson, Lawfare Senior Editor and Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. They talked about the international law that currently governs the rules of engagement in the West Bank, the political responses of the Israeli government and other Arab states, and how West Bank dynamics will impact the broader outcomes of the Israel-Hamas war. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From October 19, 2019: It's been a horrible week in northeastern Syria. The U.S. abandoned its Kurdish allies after the president had a conversation by phone with Turkish President Erdogan and pulled the plug on the stabilizing U.S. presence in the region. The Turkish government began a major incursion over the border, which has produced significant casualties and major questions about ISIS detainees in Kurdish custody.To talk through it all, we pulled together quite a group. In the first half of the podcast, Benjamin Wittes spoke with Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Scott R. Anderson and Dan Byman, both of Brookings and Lawfare. In the second half, Ben sat down with Oula A. Alrifai, a fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Leah West, a Lecturer of International Affairs at Carleton University in Canada.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.