In the Media
Prof. Kobi Michael expresses skepticism regarding Pakistan’s role as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, arguing that Pakistan is driven by its own domestic interests and regional commitments rather than a desire for peace or stability.
He further cautions that the United States should rethink its relationship with Pakistan, noting that the U.S. has failed to learn from past instances where Pakistan’s actions contradicted American interests, such as during the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
The full interview aired on NDTV on May 13, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobi Michael: There were clear strategic reasons for targeting Bint Jbeil.
But “humiliation” was also “part of the game, noting the town’s symbolic importance to Hezbollah. Practically, on the ground, there is no ceasefire.
Published in NBC NEWS, May 13, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobi Michael: The UAE’s alignment with Israel and the United States appears increasingly deliberate, though the full operational scope of that cooperation has not been officially confirmed.
There is very close intelligence, security, and strategic cooperation between both countries. They are also very close to the United States, creating a sort of triangle between the US, Israel, and the UAE. They understood that they had to make a strategic choice, and they did not hesitate. They chose to align with the Americans and with Israel.
They do not try to conceal their relations with Israel. On the contrary, they believe these relations strengthen their security and regional position.
The full interview was published on The Media Line on May 6, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Negotiations are set to begin this month for a new memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel that would phase out military aid grants. This outcome will ultimately strengthen Israel, and have a beneficial effect on Israel’s broader national security and its ability to defend itself.
Israel will increase its own defense spending. While it may come at the expense of other government ministries, it will not destabilize Israel’s budget. The amount of US military aid has been steady for decades and in earlier years accounted for a much higher proportion of Israel’s defense budget than it does today, as Israel’s GDP has grown significantly.
The full interview was published in Allisraelnews on May 6, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobו Michael argues that the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon are deeply interrelated, necessitating an expanded Israeli military campaign north of the Litani River to effectively disarm Hezbollah and secure northern border communities.
While acknowledging the United States’ overwhelming naval dominance in the Strait of Hormuz, Michael emphasizes that Israel remains skeptical of negotiations and may support a resumed military offensive if diplomacy fails to halt Iran’s nuclear program and proxy support.
The full interview took place on ILTV on May 4, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof Kobi Michael: This is not political – it’s a security strategy. Israel needs security buffer zones in order, firstly, to distance the threat and, secondly, to clean the area to ensure it will not be used to launch terror attacks against Israeli communities. Unfortunately there are no political agreements, no diplomatic measures that can prevent such terror attacks.
Israel is aiming for a strong Middle East, but upheld by a different regional architecture in which Israel will be deeply embedded. 10 years from now, perhaps a lot sooner, Israel will have withdrawn from the buffer zones and Lebanon and Syria will be signatories to the Abraham Accords.
The full interview was published in The Telegraph on May 4, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobi Michael discusses Israel’s strategic capacity to manage a multi-front war and its preference for coordination with the U.S. to address Iran as a global threat.
He expresses skepticism toward diplomatic negotiations due to unbridgeable gaps with the Iranian regime, maintaining that regional stability requires neutralizing Iran’s support for its proxies.
The full interview took place on NewsX World on May 01, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobi Michael explains that while Israel faces severe security challenges in the north, its response is currently limited by strategic coordination with the U.S. under President Trump.
He notes that Israel’s cooperation is the “price” for American support against Iran, a move Trump uses to signal American resolve not only to the Middle East but also to China.
Michael concludes that while a stalemate exists, the U.S. administration is unlikely to let it persist indefinitely without pursuing alternative options.
The full interview took place on Channel I24 on April 30, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.
Prof. Kobi Michael discusses the IDF’s investigation into the October 7th events at Kibbutz Be’eri, highlighting the severe failure where a handful of defenders faced dozens of terrorists while the military arrived only hours after the massacre.
He criticizes the initial military report as being inaccurate and emphasizes the necessity of a broader, state-level inquiry to provide a complete picture of the catastrophe beyond just the military’s perspective.
The full interview took place on Channel I24 on April 27, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

