Misgav Mideast Horizons Podcast

Following Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, the world is asking: What really happens when the cameras turn off and the doors close? In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, hosts Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman are joined by Ari Harow, former Chief of Staff and diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Drawing on his years of experience in the room where it happens, Harow takes us inside the dynamics of the Trump–Netanyahu relationship and explains how their ties and interests will shape what comes next in Gaza, Iran, and beyond. In the first part of the episode, Lahav and Asher discuss the strategic implications of the ongoing anti-regime protests in Iran, the growing tensions between Israel and Turkey, and Israel’s bold diplomatic recognition of Somaliland. Topics Discussed: • The “Three Ps”: Harow reveals the formula that defines foreign policy success—policy, politics, and personal—and how Trump and Netanyahu are currently aligned on all three. • What Comes Next: The American and Israeli positions on the “day after” in Gaza, the realities of disarmament, and the threats from Iran. • The Florida Strategy: Why Netanyahu’s extended stay in Palm Beach is about more than just winter weather—it’s a strategic move to solidify ties with evangelicals and the Jewish community. • The Public Diplomacy Crisis: Harow offers a candid critique of Israel’s public diplomacy, arguing for a total overhaul of how the Jewish state communicates with the American public. • Politics vs. Security: A look at the accusation that Netanyahu’s war decisions are politically motivated—and the complex reality of governing during an existential conflict. Don’t miss this insider’s guide to Israeli decision-making and the future of U.S.–Israel relations. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

Is a new war between Israel and Iran approaching—and what could trigger it? In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, Asher Fredman speaks with Dr. Yossi Mansharof, one of Israel’s leading experts on Iran and an advisor to senior Israeli decision-makers, about the growing risk of an Iran–Israel war and the possibility of wider regional conflict. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, Dr. Mansharof argues that the key question is no longer if Israel and Iran will clash again - but when. He analyzes Iran’s efforts to rebuild its military capabilities, the regime’s deepening internal crises, and whether regime change in Iran is a realistic strategic objective for Israel and the United States. The discussion also explores Iran’s evolving tactics, including cyber operations, recruitment of Israeli citizens, and threats to Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide—along with what Washington and Jerusalem must do now to avoid being strategically surprised. The conversation then turns to Hezbollah and Lebanon: whether the Lebanese state has the will or capacity to disarm Hezbollah, how Iran is working to rebuild its most important terror proxy, and a strategy for weakening Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanese society. A clear-eyed and urgent conversation about Iran, Israel, Hezbollah, and the most dangerous security challenges facing the Middle East today. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In the wake of the horrific antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney—and amid a global surge in anti-Jewish violence— Lahav and Asher speak this week with former Israeli Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism Michal Cotler-Wunsh about the “eighth front” of the war that Israel and the Jewish People are facing. Cotler-Wunsh—now CEO of the International Legal Forum—delivers a bracing, no-holds-barred assessment of how antisemitism has been normalized, why anti-Zionism is today’s most dangerous strain of this ancient hatred, and how governments, universities, and social media platforms are failing to enforce their own laws and policies. Cotler-Wunsh lays out the concrete legal, policy, and law-enforcement measures democracies must adopt now—starting with the full implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism—and explains how international law has been hijacked and weaponized against Israel and other democracies fighting terror. Cotler-Wunsh also warns about the malign role of state actors such as Qatar and Turkey, whose Islamist propaganda and funding fuel extremism. In the episode’s opening segment, Lahav and Asher reflect on how the Bondi attack hit close to home, including the injury of Misgav Senior Fellow Arsen Ostrovsky. Asher also shares firsthand insights from recent reserve duty in Gaza, recounting the discovery of Hamas uniforms, training manuals, and stolen pillows from an Israeli hospital inside the home of a Hamas terrorist. This is a sobering but urgent conversation about courage, effective action, and why antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem—but a warning sign for every democracy. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode of Mideast Horizons, Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman speak with Dr. Yuval Steinitz, former cabinet minister and now chairman of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, about how Israeli technology has shaped the multi-front war of the past two years. Steinitz discusses how Iron Dome, developed by Rafael, has prevented mass casualties and national paralysis by maintaining an exceptionally high interception rate. He describes the recent 12-day war with Iran as “the most technological conflict ever in human history,” highlighting Israel’s surprise strikes and rapid achievement of air superiority over Tehran. Steinitz presents Rafael’s next breakthrough: the Iron Beam, the first system capable of downing rockets, missiles, mortars and drones with lasers. He outlines how the technology will push interception rates toward 100 percent while reducing the cost of each shot to only a few dollars. He also discusses deepening U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. In the opening segment, Lahav and Asher examine instability along both the Gaza and Lebanon borders. They describe the realities on both sides of the “yellow line” inside Gaza, note Hezbollah’s increased activity a year after the Lebanon ceasefire, and address Iran’s economic and water crises. Domestically, they analyze Prime Minister Netanyahu’s unprecedented request for a presidential pardon and the political questions surrounding upcoming elections. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode of Mideast Horizons, Lahav Harkov speaks with Haras Rafiq, Vice President of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, about ISGAP’s new report on the Muslim Brotherhood’s strategic expansion into the West. Rafiq traces the Brotherhood’s evolution from Hassan al-Banna to Yusuf al-Qaradawi and outlines Tamkeen, its long-term doctrine for gaining institutional influence in liberal democracies. He explains how the movement pursues political entry, narrative control, and the reshaping of Muslim communities, and further discusses how groups such as CAIR emerged from this ecosystem. He warns that antisemitism framed as anti-Zionism has become a key recruitment tool and that Islamist ideas have spread in part because Western societies hesitate to confront them. Rafiq highlights Qatar’s central role as the Brotherhood’s remaining state patron, from Al Jazeera’s dual-track messaging to extensive funding of U.S. universities and describes how ISGAP investigations have begun exposing these soft-power networks. He addresses President Trump's directive to explore designating Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations and discusses methods for effectively pushing back against Islamist influence. In the introductory segment, Lahav maps the history of the Muslim Brotherhood in Israel, tracing its early influence under the Grand Mufti, the emergence of Hamas from its Gaza branch, and the later split between the Northern Branch and the Southern Branch (Ra’am) inside Israel. She explains how the Southern Branch positioned itself as a pragmatic political actor while the Northern Branch was banned for its ties to Hamas and discusses the recent uproar over Islamic Movement charities accused of funneling funds to Hamas-linked entities. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

Former Israeli Chief of Staff, Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz joins Mideast Horizons for one of his most candid and comprehensive interviews since October 7. In this wide-ranging conversation with Asher Fredman, Gantz lays out his new security doctrine, insists that Hamas will be disarmed, and discusses Israel’s evolving strategy toward Iran, the Palestinian Authority, and the Abraham Accords. Gantz breaks down: Direct, thoughtful, and at times blunt, Gantz offers a rare inside look into his thinking about the next five years, the risks ahead, and what it will take to secure Israel’s future. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode of Mideast Horizons, Lahav Harkov speaks with Dr. David Wurmser, who served as senior advisor to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and special assistant to Under Secretary of State John Bolton. Wurmser offers a rare, behind-the-scenes portrait of Cheney during the Iraq War, recalling his frustration with policymakers who distanced themselves from the conflict when it became politically difficult, and his enduring sense of duty toward the soldiers serving there. Wurmser reflects on divisions within the Bush administration that shaped the Iraq War strategy. The conflict between advocates of overwhelming force and those favoring a lighter footprint, which relied on supporting a local or exile Iraqi army to take the lead, left the United States caught between conflicting approaches, ultimately harming the war effort. He critiques the broader American impulse to pursue rapid social transformation in the Middle East, arguing that genuine reform must be gradual and organic. Addressing claims that Israel encouraged the invasion, he stresses that Israeli officials “vehemently opposed” it and repeatedly warned Washington that Iran, not Iraq, was the true danger. Exploring the intellectual roots of neoconservatism, Wurmser traces its evolution from the moral clarity of the Reagan era to its post–Cold War misapplication, suggesting that one of the Iraq War’s central flaws was “overconfidence in the Iraqi people.” Finally, he revisits the much-debated “Clean Break” paper he co-authored for Benjamin Netanyahu in 1996, clarifying that it did not advocate an American war but called for Israel to assume greater strategic self-reliance and act as a confident, integrated Western ally. “It was the inversion of what people say it was,” he concludes, arguing that Israel had matured from a state in need of protection to a strategic pillar of the West. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode of Mideast Horizons, Lahav Harkov speaks with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League about the rise of antisemitism and political extremism in the U.S. following Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York. Greenblatt calls Mamdani’s victory historic but troubling, highlighting his record as an anti-Zionist activist who has celebrated convicted terrorists and promoted boycotts of Israel. Greenblatt details the ADL’s response: a public tip line for antisemitic incidents, expanded research tracking hate in New York, and a “Mamdani Monitor” to follow municipal policies and appointments affecting Jewish residents. He warns that antisemitic incidents are at record highs, and that Jewish and Israeli New Yorkers increasingly fear expressing their identity in public. He stresses the ADL’s nonpartisan mission, noting its work with and criticism of both Republican and Democratic administrations, and highlights the challenges of combating online hate amplified by social media algorithms. In the first segment, Lahav recounts the saga of Israel’s Military Advocate General, who is accused of ordering the leak of a video showing alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman detention camp. The 2024 release sparked global outrage and debate over Hamas prisoners. Lahav explains how police found she had orchestrated the leak, leading to her suspension, disappearance, and arrest, and how the scandal has shaken confidence in Israel’s legal system. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this powerful episode of Mideast Horizons, Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman speak with Josh Hammer, senior editor-at-large at Newsweek, syndicated columnist, and author of Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. Hammer dissects the growing ideological rift inside the MAGA movement—between conservatives who see America and Israel as joint pillars of Judeo-Christian civilization, and a “woke Right” drifting toward isolationism, conspiracy theories, and even antisemitism. He discusses how voices such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have turned their platforms into vehicles for anti-Israel narratives, and why their attacks on Christian Zionists reveal a deeper cultural struggle over faith, truth, and the moral foundations of the West. Hammer argues that defending the U.S.–Israel alliance today means defending the very biblical inheritance that underpins Western civilization, and suggests a new path forward for Jewish-Christian solidarity and combatting antisemitism. In a moving reflection, Hammer speaks about his late friend Charlie Kirk, describing his courage, loyalty, and deep biblical faith, and the importance of carrying forward his legacy of building bridges between Jews and Christians. He also discusses Candace Owens’ libelous claim that he had foreknowledge of Kirk’s assassination. In the first segment, Lahav and Asher discuss the ceasefire breakdown in Gaza, Jordanian King Abdullah’s remarks about the limits of a proposed Muslim-led stabilization force, and the realities of Hamas’s continuing control over much of the population. They analyze the Qatari regime’s deep ideological support for terrorism as evidenced by the recently surfaced posts of Qatari spokesman Majed al-Ansari, and explore the risks that Gaza could become a new front in a wider Middle East conflict. Finally, they turn to Israeli politics, assessing the Netanyahu government’s fragile coalition, the looming Haredi draft crisis, and the early maneuvering ahead of possible elections. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

In this gripping episode of Mideast Horizons, Asher Fredman speaks with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gazan analyst and reform advocate now based in Washington, DC, whose family has lived through every stage of Gaza’s tragedy. Ahmed shares his deeply personal story of loss, survival, and determination to speak truth about Hamas’s rule and the grim reality facing ordinary Gazans after the ceasefire. He describes how Hamas has reasserted its control through brutal retribution and violence, even as Gaza lies in ruins. Al-Khatib offers a sobering assessment of the group’s enduring power and the challenge of bringing about its disarmament, despite growing opposition to its rule. He outlines his plan for an effective international stabilization force — with real authority, extensive capabilities, and broad international backing — as the most realistic path toward restoring order. Looking ahead, he argues that Gaza’s future depends not on slogans but on a new mindset of radical pragmatism: a turn from resistance to rebuilding, from victimhood to responsibility, and from endless conflict toward a vision of coexistence and renewal. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.