Ruth Wasserman Lande:The drone threat far outweighed security issues posed by anti-Israel radicalization in Egypt and the release of Palestinian terrorists into the neighboring territory.

If it [the drone smuggling] were reversed, if our Bedouins were simply allowed or not stopped [from] passing weapons to the Egyptians, an uproar would arise, and rightfully so. I mean, it’s unimaginable that this could even happen.

Terrorists released into Egypt as part of the final ceasefire-hostage deal would create new cells on Israel’s border, similar to those seen in Lebanon.

Published in The Jerusalem Post, February 23 2026.

Ruth Wasserman Lande argues that the Iranian regime is fundamentally unwilling to negotiate in good faith, as its existence depends on destabilizing the region through proxies like Hamas and the Houthis. She emphasizes that any action to topple the regime must be a decisive strike followed by a strategic plan for stability to prevent a power vacuum that could be exploited by actors like Turkey and Qatar.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on February 19, 2026.

Ruth Wasserman Lande expresses deep skepticism regarding the “board of peace” and the reliability of a Palestinian security force, arguing that Hamas remains a persistent threat that has failed to disarm,. She stresses that a further withdrawal of Israeli forces would leave civilians vulnerable to future attacks, as Hamas openly declares its intent to maintain its violent ideology.

The full interview took place on BBC World Radio on February 19, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The Iranians are under huge pressure with the regime at its lowest point, and this is good because it may push them to make substantial concessions through negotiation, which is preferable for President Trump.

Israel must be ready for a scenario in which diplomacy collapses but Washington hesitates. If negotiations fail and the Americans decide not to strike, Israel will have to attack on its own. But Israel will need both international and domestic legitimacy.

If diplomacy fails, it will not be only a kinetic strike. It will be a combination of kinetic strike, cyber strike, cognitive warfare, and special operations.

Published in The Media Line, February 17, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: I believe an offensive is likely with no other forces willing or able to disarm Hamas, a key component of Trump’s 20-point plan, albeit one tied to further negotiations.
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This would not seek to disarm every gunman in Gaza, but aim for “full destruction of Hamas’ tunnel network, all of their heavy weapons, rockets and missiles, all of their manufacturing and weapons industry”, as well as the expulsion of Hamas commanders.

Published in inews, February 12, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael discusses the strategic challenges regarding Iran’s nuclear and ballistic threats, suggesting that the U.S. and Israel may need to employ military, cyber, and cognitive operations if negotiations fail. He also emphasizes that dismantling Hamas in Gaza may require a full IDF mission if President Trump’s diplomatic plans are undermined by the “creative” disarmament proposals of regional actors like Turkey and Qatar.

The full interview took place on ILTV on February 15, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael discusses how Hamas continues to reconstitute itself by using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and UNRWA facilities for military purposes, indicating a complete lack of intent to disarm. He further argues that Hamas’s disarmament will not occur quickly through diplomatic pressure alone and maintains that the IDF must be allowed to complete its mission to dismantle the organization by force.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on February 15, 2026.

Ruth Wasserman Lande warns of a worrying situation in the Gaza Strip involving the continued presence of armed groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, alongside Egyptian-trained Fatah security forces. She highlights a “disturbing” emerging coalition between Sunni extremist forces and countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, which she believes poses a significant threat to regional stability.

The full interview took place on Channel I24 on February 12, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Under the current constraints, the reopening of the crossing is unlikely to have a major impact on Gaza.

There are many layers of control between the various security oversight mechanisms, and as of now, only pedestrians are crossing, and even that at very small numbers. In the beginning, this process will proceed very slowly and very cautiously, and won’t significantly influence the internal politics of Gaza.

Even without a significant practical impact, the reopening of the crossing is likely to be used for political messaging. This is Gaza’s exit to the world. From their perspective, it symbolizes sovereignty and Independence.

Published in JNS, February 09, 2026.

Dr. Raphael BenLevi: I believe Israel should end its dependence on US aid, moving from a relationship based on patronage to a true partnership. It is eminently possible to move munitions production onshore; unfortunately, successive MoUs caused our domestic defense industrial base to wither because it was simply easier to buy from ‘Uncle Sam.

The added cost to our military budget of forgoing this aid would be manageable. By some calculations, it would add around 10 percent. However, it is better to calculate the cost of doing without American aid as a percentage of Israel’s GDP—currently 0.7 percent—a proportion that will only get smaller as our economy grows as forecast.

Published in The Telegraph, February 11, 2026.