In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Ambassador Amira Oron about Egypt’s role in the Middle East. Ambassador Oron outlines Egypt’s approach to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the Iranian issue. They also discuss Israel-Egypt relations and Turkey’s efforts to play a role in Gaza.  Ambassador Amira Oron served for three decades in Israel’s Foreign Ministry and dedicated her career to diplomatic activity in the Arab world. She was Israel’s Ambassador to Egypt from 2020 to 2024, having previously served in Cairo in the 1990s, later as Head of the Egypt Department at the Ministry. She was also the head of Israel’s diplomatic mission in Ankara.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Samer Sinijlawi about Palestinian politics. Sinijlawi outlines why he believes the recent Palestinian local elections were so significant and what the results reveal about public frustration with both Hamas and President Abbas. He outlines why reform is long overdue and must begin with a new democratic mandate. They also discuss Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the need to rebuild Israeli-Palestinian trust. Samer Sinijlawi is a Palestinian political activist and the founding chairman of the Jerusalem Development Fund. Born in the Old City of Jerusalem, he became politically active during the First Intifada and later emerged as a leading voice calling for Palestinian reform, democracy, and renewed engagement between Palestinian and Israeli moderates.

in this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Professor Chuck Freilich about the fragile ceasefires with Iran and Lebanon and the current negotiations. Prof Freilich outlines Iran’s perspective on the talks and the status of their nuclear programme. They also discuss Hezbollah’s remaining capabilities as well as wider implications for US-Israel relations. Prof. Chuck Freilich is a former deputy national security advisor in Israel and long-time senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, he now teaches at Columbia and Tel Aviv University. He is also the author of three books on Israeli national security affairs.  Prior to serving in the National Security Council, Freilich was a senior analyst in the Israel Ministry of Defence, a policy adviser to a cabinet minister and a delegate at the Israel Mission to the UN.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Dr Ilan Berman about the war with Iran, the ceasefire talks, and how Washington is thinking about what comes next. He examines the unresolved question of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, and the implications for Gulf allies, NATO, and the UK-US relationship. Dr Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, and an expert on regional security in the Middle East. In the past he has consulted for the CIA as well as the US Departments of State and Defence.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Koby Huberman, who reflects on how the war with Iran is influencing the thinking across the Gulf and wider region. He examines changing perceptions of Iran among Gulf leaders, the long-term challenges, and opportunities that could emerge. Koby Huberman is an Israeli high-tech veteran and business strategist. He is the co-author of the “Israeli Peace Initiative (IPI)”, and co-founded the Israeli Regional Initiative Group, which since 2006 promoted a new horizon for the Israeli-Arab conflict: a “Regional Package Deal” with a 2 states solution as part of a “Regional Framework”. He serves on the advisory board of MENA 2050 and also the co-author of the “Take off to 100” a vision and a strategic plan for the build-up of Israel following the crisis October 7, 2023, profiled in Fathom in May 2024  and a co-founder of the “Coalition for Regional Security”.

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Richard Pater speaks with Dr. Ahmed Al Khuzaie, who reflects on how the war with Iran is being experienced in Bahrain and across the Gulf. He examines shifting public attitudes towards Iran, the mounting concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure, the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz and the role of the IRGC within Iran’s decision-making. Dr Ahmed Al Khuzaie is a political consultant working predominantly with politicians in the United States and with diplomats based in Bahrain. His work focuses on Gulf affairs, regional security, and public diplomacy, with particular emphasis on Iranian influence, the GCC, and the Abraham Accords framework.

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Richard Pater speaks with Dr. Eran Lerman, who assesses the achievements so far of the War with Iran, while examining the unresolved challenges around Iran’s nuclear programme and the strategic contest over control of the Strait of Hormuz. He also explores the role of the United States as an operational partner, the risks of escalation involving Hezbollah and the Gulf states, and the internal dynamics within Iran.   Dr. Col. (res.) Eran Lerman was Deputy Director for foreign policy and international affairs at Israel’s National Security Council. Prior to this he held senior posts in IDF Military Intelligence for over 20 years. He currently teaches Middle East studies at Shalem College in Jerusalem, and in post-graduate programmes at Tel Aviv University and the National Defence College.

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Dr. Arash Azizi about the ongoing US–Israel campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Azizi examines the impact of leadership decapitation, including the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and why the regime has so far maintained cohesion. He also explores the limits of military pressure and the role of Iran’s security apparatus in sustaining internal control. Dr. Arash Azizi is an Iranian American historian, journalist, and author specialising in Iranian politics and society. He is the author of The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions and What Iranians Want, and is a frequent commentator on Iranian affairs across international media.

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Richard Pater speaks with Sima Shine about the trajectory of the war with Iran. Sima examines the Iranian threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the implications for Gulf states and regional alliances, and the internal dynamics inside Iran as the regime works to maintain control during the conflict.  Sima Shine is a former senior official in Israel’s intelligence community who served for many years in the Mossad, ultimately heading a research and evaluation division. She later served as Deputy Head of Strategic Affairs at Israel’s National Security Council and as Deputy Director General in the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, where she oversaw the Iranian portfolio. She is currently a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv.

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Jonathan Hackett about reported efforts to work with Kurdish forces against Iran. Jonathan examines the history and ambitions of different Kurdish groups and explains the mechanics of unconventional warfare. He also relates to the regional implications, and the possible outcomes of a new front opening in western Iran. Jonathan Hackett is a United States Marine Corps veteran who spent 20 years across special operations and intelligence, much of that time focused on unconventional warfare. He worked with more than three dozen partner forces, including Kurdish groups in the Middle East.