Middle East Forum Podcast

Episodet

• July 1, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 01.07.2026 30min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the new Israel-Lebanon-U.S. trilateral framework and its implications for Hezbollah and Iranian influence.Perry explains why the agreement gives Israel control over the pace of withdrawal and could create a path toward normalization with Lebanon.The episode also covers UNRWA’s possible exclusion from Gaza and the political battles preceding Israel’s expected October election.
• "Why You should Stop Fighting Antisemitism" with Joel Finkelstein 29.06.2026 27min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Michael Rubin speaks with Joel Finkelstein about how hostile foreign networks exploit antisemitism, social media, and political unrest.Finkelstein explains how funding networks, coordinated protests, and manipulated algorithms spread anti-American narratives while disguising their origins.The discussion also examines TikTok, foreign influence investigations, government failures, and why exposing the truth may work better than conventional campaigns against hate.
• June 24, 2026 | Israel Insider with Alex Selsky 24.06.2026 31min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Alex Selsky examines Israel’s reaction to the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, its failure to address ballistic missiles and proxies, and whether President Trump may be pursuing a broader strategy involving China, Russia, energy routes, and the Strait of Hormuz.Selsky examines Israel’s determination to preserve its freedom of action in Lebanon, the possibility of Syrian involvement against Hezbollah, and why remaining outside the agreement may provide Israel greater room to defend its interests.The episode also covers Netanyahu’s negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Gadi Eisenkot’s rise in the polls, Naftali Bennett’s decline, concerns about Turkey, and prospects for regime change in Tehran.
• June 22, 2026 | The Limits of the Red-Green Alliance with Asra Nomani 22.06.2026 35min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, Dexter Van Zile speaks with Asra Nomani about the limits of the alliance between Islamists and the political left.Nomani explains how small, organized networks create a “myth of the marching millions” through coordinated protests, media imagery, and political alliances.The discussion also covers foreign funding, Islamist institutions, political candidates, and the need for transparency, law enforcement, and assimilation.
• June 19, 2026 | The Forum Roundtable: From Revolution to Iran War—The Islamic Republic’s Regional Impact 19.06.2026 59min

  Recorded days after Washington and Tehran announced a new agreement, host Lauri Regan joins Middle East Forum experts Gregg Roman, Michael Rubin, and Jonathan Spyer to assess whether the deal secures victory—or gives Iran time to recover.The panel examines the immediate consequences for Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Iran’s proxy network, the Kurds, Turkey, and the Abraham Accords.The discussion asks whether Israel can still achieve a strategic victory, whether Tehran will rebuild its regional forces, and whether this ceasefire is ending the war—or merely setting the stage for the next one.
• June 17, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 17.06.2026 29min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the newly released U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and why Israel views its sanctions relief, oil provisions, Strait of Hormuz framework, and lack of restrictions on missiles and proxies as deeply troubling.Perry examines the risks to Israel’s position in Lebanon, including possible pressure to reduce operations against Hezbollah, withdraw from territory, and accept a prolonged negotiation period while Iran rebuilds its nuclear and economic strength.The episode also covers Netanyahu’s political vulnerability, Trump’s comments on Syria and Hezbollah, Israel’s ties with Gulf states, prospects for covert action against Iran, and whether Netanyahu can resist U.S. pressure ahead of the elections.
• June 15, 2026 | Is Middle East Peace Possible? With Aryeh Green 15.06.2026 30min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Aryeh Green about his new book, Finding Peace in the Promised Land.Green outlines five principles he believes can move the Arab-Israeli conflict from hatred toward coexistence.The discussion also examines October 7, the Abraham Accords, Palestinian rejectionism, and the need to support moderate Arab and Muslim voices.
• June 10, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 10.06.2026 29min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the latest round of controlled escalation between Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and the United States, including Israel’s strike on Dahiya, Iran’s attempt to set new deterrence rules, and President Trump’s push to halt the fighting before it widened further.Perry examines how the confrontation moved from Lebanon to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, including Iran’s attack on a U.S. Apache helicopter, the American response against Iranian infrastructure, and whether Israel may still seek another opportunity to resume broader operations against Iran.The episode also covers Netanyahu’s political bind as elections approach, the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption fight, the growing drone threat, Hezbollah’s ability to rearm, tensions with Turkey, and whether Israel can act against Iran without full U.S. backing.
• June 8, 2026 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain on Lebanon’s Road to Peace with Israel 08.06.2026 30min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and author of The Arab Case for Israel, about Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran, and the prospects for peace with Israel.Abdul-Hussain explains why Hezbollah remains the main obstacle to Lebanon-Israel peace, how Iran uses its proxies to pressure Israel and Washington, and why Arab states have a strategic interest in normalization.The episode also covers the Abraham Accords, the Palestinian veto over Arab-Israeli peace, and the economic benefits of relations with Israel.
• June 3, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 03.06.2026 28min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines President Trump’s reported clash with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s military options against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the pressure surrounding U.S. ceasefire diplomacy, Iran, and the Dahiya front.Perry examines Netanyahu’s political vulnerability, the Knesset vote to disperse parliament, the controversial state comptroller appointment, and the latest signs of shifting Israeli domestic politics as elections approach.The episode also covers audience questions on Israeli emigration and high-tech layoffs, regime change in Iran, Israeli views of Trump, whether the U.S. is being outplayed by Tehran, and why familiar political leaders keep returning in Israel.
• June 1, 2026 | Islamophobia and Free Speech with Steven Greer 02.06.2026 30min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Steven Greer, Emeritus Professor at the University of Bristol Law School and Research Director at the Oxford Institute for British Islam, about Islamophobia, free speech, and the growing pressure to treat criticism of Islam as prejudice against Muslims.Drawing from his book Islamophobia and Free Speech, Greer argues that anti-Muslim prejudice and discrimination must be opposed, but that accusations of “Islamophobia” are increasingly used to suppress lawful criticism of religious beliefs, practices, and conduct.The conversation covers Greer’s experience at the University of Bristol, Britain’s new non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility, the distinction between anti-Muslim prejudice and criticism of Islam, antisemitism in the United Kingdom, grooming-gang scandals, and broader free-speech controversies across the West.
• May 27, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 02.06.2026 27min

  In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the fragile post-Iran war ceasefire, the uncertain U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, and the pressure surrounding sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz, and possible Abraham Accords diplomacy.He also analyzes Israel’s northern front with Hezbollah, Hamas’s refusal to disarm in Gaza, and the latest signs of shifting Israeli domestic politics as elections approach.The episode concludes with audience questions on Iran’s strategy of delay, prospects for regime change, Arab parties in Israeli politics, and whether economic pressure could realistically threaten the Iranian regime.
• May 11, 2026 | The Big Lie: Information Warfare in the Israel–Gaza War with Joel Fishman 27.05.2026 29min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Dr. Joel Fishman, historian and fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, about information warfare in the Israel-Gaza war and the campaign to delegitimize Israel.Fishman examines how anti-Israel narratives have spread through media coverage, academia, demonstrations, and international institutions since October 7. He argues that these claims are part of a broader propaganda effort aimed at undermining Israel’s legitimacy, sovereignty, and right of self-defense.The conversation also explores the history of political propaganda, the link between incitement and violence, and the role of education, intellectual leadership, and moral clarity in countering falsehoods that gain power through repetition.
• May 8, 2026 | Forum Roundtable: How the Iran War Is Reshaping China’s Middle East Strategy 27.05.2026 1h 2min

  In this month’s Forum Roundtable, host Lauri Regan speaks with Zineb Riboua of the Hudson Institute and Brigadier General (Res.) Assaf Orion of the Washington Institute and Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies about how the Iran war has affected China’s ambitions in the Middle East and beyond.The panel examines Beijing’s relationship with Tehran, Iran’s weakened regional position, and the limits of China’s effort to balance ties with both Iran and the Gulf states. They also discuss how energy security, sanctions evasion, proxy warfare, and regional infrastructure have shaped China’s Middle East strategy.The conversation expands to Israel-China relations, the Belt and Road Initiative, U.S.-China competition, and the stakes surrounding Taiwan, trade, and global power. Together, the panelists assess whether the war has strengthened American leverage, disrupted China’s assumptions, and opened a new phase in the contest between Washington and Beijing.
• May 4, 2026 | Why Hezbollah Makes Israel–Lebanon Peace Impossible with Michael Rubin 27.05.2026 23min

  In this episode of the MEF Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum, about why Hezbollah remains the central obstacle to stability between Israel and Lebanon.Rubin examines Hezbollah’s role as an Iranian proxy, its grip on Lebanese politics, and the limits of diplomacy while the group remains armed and entrenched. He also discusses the weaknesses of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the risks of international miscalculation, and what a realistic path toward Hezbollah’s disarmament would require.The conversation offers a clear-eyed look at Iran’s regional influence, Hezbollah’s evolving strategy, and why lasting peace depends on changing the conditions that allow the group to operate as a state within a state.
• April 27, 2026 | "Facts vs. Narratives: A Legal Lens on Israel" with Roy K. Altman 27.05.2026 40min

  In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman about his new book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.Judge Altman applies courtroom standards of evidence, burden of proof, and legal reasoning to accusations leveled against Israel, including claims of genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation. The conversation examines how law, history, and factual evidence can clarify one of the most contested debates in international politics.Regan and Altman also discuss modern antisemitism, the role of the United Nations and other international bodies, the challenge of separating fact from narrative, and why critical thinking matters in an age of information overload.
• April 20, 2026 | Iran’s Decentralized Military Doctrine with Alexander Grinberg 27.04.2026 29min

  Iran’s military isn’t built to win fast — it’s built to survive. Host Lauri Regan speaks with Iran analyst Alexander Grinberg of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security on Tehran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” doctrine — a system designed to function even if central command is destroyed.They examine how fragmented command, autonomous units, and proxy networks allow Iran to absorb strikes and continue operating, and why that resilience complicates U.S. and Israeli strategy.
• October 15, 2025 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry 15.10.2025 30min

  The return of Israeli hostages marked an emotional turning point—and the clearest sign of Donald Trump’s renewed influence in the Middle East. His intervention pushed Israel toward a fragile peace that trades withdrawal for relief, as Hamas reasserts control in Gaza and global leaders remain hesitant to condemn it. With Netanyahu absent from the talks, Israel’s strategy and Hamas’s future hang in the balance. Has Israel traded security for symbolism? Can Hamas be disarmed through diplomacy? What comes next for Gaza and the region?Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum’s Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Ministers of Intelligence, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy, Water and Infrastructure, Defense, Tourism, Internal Security, and Immigrant Absorption and as an advisor to The Negev Forum. Originally from the U.K., he moved to Israel in 2001. He holds a B.A. from University College London and an M.A. from Reichman University (IDC Herzliya).
• "How Can the Houthis Be Defeated in Yemen" with Summer Ahmed | MEF Podcast Ep. #379 08.10.2025 30min

  The Houthis (Ansar Allah), entrenched in Yemen’s highlands and backed by Iran, have resisted years of military campaigns and efforts to dislodge them through diplomacy. Controlling key territory, including the Yemeni capital and a large part of the coastline, and exploiting the humanitarian crisis, they wield growing power and regional influence. The Houthi campaign against shipping on the Gulf of Aden-Red Sea route has effectively shuttered a key global maritime artery. Can local resistance, regional unity, and international resolve finally defeat them, or is Yemen fated to remain an arena for endless conflict?Summer Ahmed is a researcher and analyst of the Middle East. Yemen-born, she is the Yemeni Southern Transition Council’s Foreign Affairs Representative to the United States. She holds a BBA from Northwood University.
• "Documenting Dhimmitude in Dearborn" with Dexter Van Zile | MEF Podcast Ep. #378 08.10.2025 30min

  Dearborn, Michigan, long celebrated for multicultural harmony, now faces scrutiny for suppressing dissent under claims of fighting Islamophobia. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s public attack on Christian critic Ted Barham coupled with the city council’s silence on Hamas and Hezbollah, raises alarms about radical Islamism’s influence. Dexter Van Zile, on a recent visit to Dearborn, observed further evidence of Islamism and support for terror in other forms. What future awaits non-Muslim voices in Dearborn, and what does this mean for religious freedom in America?Dexter Van Zile, the Middle East Forum’s Violin Family Research Fellow, serves as managing editor of Focus on Western Islamism. Prior to his current position, Van Zile worked at the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis for 16 years, where he played a major role in countering misinformation broadcast into Christian churches by Palestinian Christians and refuting antisemitic propaganda broadcast by white nationalists and their allies in the U.S. His articles have appeared in the Jerusalem Post, the Boston Globe, Jewish Political Studies Review, the Algemeiner and the Jewish News Syndicate. He has authored numerous academic studies and book chapters about Christian anti-Zionism.