Prof. Kobi Michael: Israel expects Washington to lead any operation, while preparing for escalation if Iran responds with strikes on Israeli territory. I think that the Israeli perception is that the United States will remain in the lead. But Israel prepares itself to be involved if the Iranians retaliate by attacking Israel. Israel will not contain it and will for sure pursue the beginning of the end of the regime.

If Trump wants to keep deterrence vis-à-vis all American adversaries, then he has to do something. Otherwise, if it will be only empty words, it will be a very problematic situation and can escalate to something way bigger.

Published in The Media Line, January  14, 2026.

Col. (res.) Dr. Hanan Shai: The initiative addresses a fundamental reality: the IDF needs more people. The army must carefully manage the integration process to maximize benefits for all involved.

First of all, this confirms what we know… that we need every available person. From the perspective of the IDF, it is clear that this is a most important addition. One needs to see that they are not concentrated [in one place] but dispersed, so that there is a matching [to roles] as there should be.

The full interview was published in JNS on January 13, 2026.

Dr. Raphael BenLevi argues for transitioning the Israel-U.S. relationship from “patronage to partnership” by phasing out the military grant model that has existed since the 1970s. He contends that this shift would incentivize Israel to rebuild its independent munitions manufacturing base, thereby reducing strategic dependency and earning greater respect from Washington as a self-reliant ally. 

The full interview took place on Channel I24 on January 11, 2026.

https://youtu.be/ptw5k9R0B0U

Prof. Kobi Michael characterizes the events surrounding October 7 as a “clash of civilizations” and a global conflict, explaining that Iran utilizes a “fire ring” strategy of regional proxies to threaten the existence of the state of Israel. He argues that the war cannot conclude without the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing power, warning that a failure to achieve a decisive victory will allow radical Islam to eventually conquer Western democracies.

The briefing was held as part of Abraham Presentations on January 9, 2026.

Noa Lazimi details how the UAE-backed STC’s territorial gains in South Yemen provide a strategic opportunity to weaken the Houthis and disrupt Iranian smuggling, despite ongoing friction between Saudi and Emirati interests. Simultaneously, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland secures a critical vantage point for intelligence and UAV operations near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. She recommends pragmatic cooperation with these regional actors to counter Houthi threats while carefully safeguarding normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia.

The briefing was held as part of IDSF – Israel’s Defense and Security Forum on January 6, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The region is caught up in competition that is defining new power relationships, involving Israel, Turkey, Iran, and leading Gulf states, above all Saudi Arabia. So, it’s in a highly unstable transition.

Turkey that seeks to renew its Ottoman hegemony, backed, supported and admired by president Trump and broadly deployed in the broader Middle East and East Africa.

Published in Alhurra, January  05, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: What Trump eventually did was to flatter Netanyahu in a very grotesque manner—sometimes even embarrassing. But at the end of the day, this was camouflage. The real message was not the praise. The real message was about expectations. Those expectations, center on Turkey.

One of the main outcomes of this meeting is that Turkey, at the end of the day, will be part of the story. This is very important for President Trump. Netanyahu may be willing to make compromises in this regard, but not because Israel wants Turkey there—certainly not in Gaza.
Nobody in Israel believes that Turkey will dismantle Hamas or confront it militarily. On the contrary, there is deep concern that Turkish involvement could legitimize Hamas politically and allow it to survive in a different form.

Published in The Media Line, January  04, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The special relationship between Israel and the U.S. was built on two pillars: shared values and strategic interests. Today, the pillar of shared values is becoming increasingly shaky, especially amid rising antisemitism on both the left and the right.

Published in MBN, December 31, 2025.

Ruth Wasserman Lande explains the complex and dual nature of Egypt’s relations with Qatar and Israel, where strategic and economic cooperation often coexist with deep-seated hostility. She notes that while Egypt maintains a strong strategic alliance with Israel, it also pursues military expansion beyond peace agreement limits and balances its stance toward Hamas to manage internal security.

The interview took place on Channel I24, on December 29, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The pause in fighting has given Hamas breathing room to regroup. Everything that is happening will continue happening as long as Hamas continues to effectively control the western part of the Gaza Strip.Generally speaking, Hamas now has full freedom of movement.

Leadership race is unlikely to alter Hamas’s already dangerous course. Both leaders are problematic. Each one, in his own way, is considered to be more militant and more radical in his Gazan orientation and his support for armed resistance.Even Mashaal, often described as more politically oriented, is still in favor of the continuation of armed resistance.

Published in Fox News, December 28, 2025.