Prof. Kobi Michael analyzes the geopolitical dynamics between the US, Israel, and Iran, explaining that US reluctance to resume military strikes stems from domestic constraints and diplomatic goals rather than ammunition shortages.

He also emphasizes that a vast majority of Israelis view Iran as their primary existential threat and are prepared to take independent military action to weaken its capabilities and regional proxies.

The full interview took place on NewsX World on August 6, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Israel’s strategy is clear. Iran remains close to achieving nuclear capacity and has shown it’s able to continue producing ballistic missiles and supplying its proxy forces in the region.

The war on Iran was currently a fiasco from Israel’s perspective, with both the US and Iran insisting that they had won.

Israel was prepared to fight alone if necessary. Israel can only have one strategy, to strike directly at the head of the octopus that threatens global civilisation and to do that alone, if necessary.

Published in Al Jazeera English, August 6, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael explains that the conflicts in South Lebanon and Gaza cannot be disconnected from Iran, which continues to support and empower its regional proxies like Hezbollah.

He warns that ceasefire efforts will ultimately fail unless the United States implements a different strategy to directly confront Iran—the “head of the octopus”—since the Lebanese army is currently incapable and unwilling to disarm Hezbollah on the ground.

The full interview took place at IBA English on August 6, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael argues that negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz represent a major strategic failure that undermines regional trust in the US, while leaving a highly determined Iranian regime and its proxies empowered.

To counter these threats, he asserts that Israel must take the initiative by completely occupying the Gaza Strip to dismantle Hamas’s military wing and ultimately pursuing regime change in Iran.

The full interview took place on ILTV on August 6, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

https://youtu.be/DmcH1er7Fyk

Asher Fredman discusses how Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia balance their desire for a less threatening Iranian regime with the need to protect their vulnerable economic infrastructure from retaliatory strikes.

He also explores the varying levels of influence these nations have over U.S. military decisions, noting that while they have different diplomatic approaches, they generally prefer de-escalation to avoid regional instability.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on August 3, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael argues that Iran is successfully deterring the United States because it perceives President Trump’s military threats as “empty words” and a sign of American weakness.

He explains that by leveraging strategic assets like the Strait of Hormuz, Iran believes it holds the upper hand and can influence the global economy without fear of a real American escalation.

The full interview took place on Channel I24 on August 2, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Meir Ben Shabbat: From Israel’s point of view, deepening relations with India has supreme strategic importance and the potential for significant impact on the state’s security, economic and political resilience.

India is the largest customer of the Israeli defense industries, which finances research and development essential for the IDF.

Strengthening ties in Asia reduces Israel’s exclusive dependence on the support of Western and European countries. Joint production of weapons systems with India helps secure Israel’s supply of raw materials and components during emergencies.

The partnership between Israel, India, the United States and the United Arab Emirates creates a powerful economic-strategic corridor connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with the potential to connect additional countries.

The full interview was published in JNS on July 28, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael emphasizes that the state must reclaim control in the West Bank to prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands, which he warns could lead to uncontrolled chaos.

He highlights the fragility of the current security situation, noting the necessity of coordinating all activities with the IDF and the danger of deliberate frictions created by certain groups.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on July 26, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Meir Ben Shabbat: To be frank, as long as the regime in Iran does not change, any achievement against it will be temporary. This is because the regime will never abandon its ambitions to realize its vision: establishing Iranian hegemony across the entire region, weakening American influence, and dealing with the “Little Satan.” It will funnel whatever resources it manages to secure—under the auspices of one diplomatic agreement or another—into obtaining nuclear military capability, a massive ballistic missile array, and proxy networks. The Iranian regime is not limited by terms in office, nor is it subject to electoral constraints. It views things through a long-term lens. If Trump is currently in its way, it will, at most, keep a low profile for a while, only to rush back to its plans once he is gone. The West struggles to grasp this mindset because it is accustomed to a democratic political culture.

The full interview was published in the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune on July 24, 2026.

*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The Kurds might play a role, but it depends on the developments. Many Kurds are interested in achieving increased autonomy. Broader internal front could eventually emerge even without a single, centrally coordinated military operation. But any attempt to introduce Kurdish armed groups into the confrontation would immediately affect relations with Turkey.

Turkish opposition would be substantial but Ankara would not necessarily be able to prevent Kurdish groups from acting if they believed the regional conflict had created a historic opportunity.

The full interview was published on The Media Line on July 23, 2026.