Dr. Yossi Mansharof: Israel is thinking long term, Trump thinks short term. Following the trauma of October 7 Israelis are more aware of the existential threat Iran represents. Meanwhile, I don’t remember any time that Iran has been as vulnerable as it is now. I don’t think Trump is using it well.
Published in The New York Sun, May 29, 2025.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: The situation in Gaza as well as in Israel is very dire. It is very tragic and very dire and it can be stopped. The way in which it can be stopped is international pressure.
it’s much easier to pressure Israel because Israel actually listens. It has some kind of a mechanism that responds and so on. What we’re terrible in is explaining what on earth we’re doing. And I absolutely recognize that and it’s very unfortunate.
What happens is that the Hames send the bullies literally bullies they come and they break the legs and shoot the legs and feet not of Jews not of Israelis of their own people so that they are [afraid to take aid]… It’s all over the internet everywhere and it’s in Arabic.
The interview took place on LBC on May 22, 2025.
Joseph Rozen: The relationship between Israel and India is anchored in a robust and resilient strategic partnership. India supported Israel’s war against terrorism following the October 7 attacks and supplied arms despite international criticism. Therefore, it was natural for Israel to stand in support of India’s right to self-defense in its fight against terrorism.
This alignment is far from new, citing Israeli assistance to India during India-Pakistan conflicts in 1965, 1971, and most notably during the 1999 Kargil War.
Published in JNS, May 18, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: A significant military dynamic has been created. The killing of many Hamas operatives had brought the group back to the negotiating table.
Published in The New York Times, May 18, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: However, Mr Trump’s trip leaves a confused picture behind in Israel. There is a sort of confusion because on the one hand, politicians in Israel feel that they were thrown aside, but on the other hand, there is no doubt that some things that have been said or done by Mr Trump are deeply and well co-ordinated with Israel.
Published in The National News, May 16, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: If the military pressure that Israel now increases in the Gaza Strip will bring Hamas to comply to Whitcoff’s proposal, then Israel will stop the military pressure. If not, and Israel is not intends to wait too long for that, it is a matter of days, Israel will intensify the military operation until the full occupation of the Gaza Strip in order to assure… Hamas will not remain and will not be there in the Gaza Strip, and the hostages will be released.
The full interview took place on ILTV on May 13, 2025.
Lahav Harkov: Israel and Greece have had especially close ties for the past decade, but ties have only improved as Israel’s relations with Turkey have been on the rocks. Still this is more than ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ The countries [Greece and Israel] have done military exercises together and share intelligence.
Published in Breaking Defense, May 12, 2025.
Asher Fredman discusses on I24 the dilemma Israel now faces as to whether to proceed with the operation to dismantle Hamas, and argues that Saudi-Israel normalization is still on the table.
12 May, 2025.
Dr. Raphael BenLevi: Since the 1970s, many Israeli territorial concessions were indirectly facilitated by aid packages — aid that was meant to ‘sweeten’ politically risky moves. We called it ‘land for peace,’ but it was often ‘land for aid.
We became addicted to Washington’s credits. Then came the war on October 7, and suddenly we needed ammunition we couldn’t manufacture fast enough at home.
Published in TPS, May 05, 2025.
Meir Ben Shabbat: Any agreement must include the following components — elimination of enriched uranium stockpiles and destruction of Iran’s centrifuges and conversion and enrichment facilities. In the context of weapon systems, Iran must cease all planning and development activities related to the weapons system [nuclear warheads], fully expose past activities, and dismantle research centers engaged in warhead technologies, which operate under academic and civilian cover.
Iran must stop its ballistic missile program, intended for nuclear warheads.
The full interview was published on Alma, 5 May, 2025.
