In this week’s episode, Ellie Cohanim, former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. State Department, joins Erielle to discuss her prior work at the State Department, as well as the recent rise in antisemitism in the United States. How have the Abraham Accords played a role in tackling antisemitism abroad? Conversely, what did the recent Gaza war between Israel and Hamas have to do with violence against U.S. Jews domestically? Is the Democratic Party mirroring the U.K. Labour Party when it comes to addressing antisemitism? What can we do in the United States to better confront antisemitism? Ellie discusses these questions and much more.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

What role does the Middle East play in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s quest for Russia to be recognized once again as a superpower? Does Putin care about stability in the region? Is President Joe Biden confronting the growing Moscow-Damascus-Tehran axis effectively? Anna Borschevksaya of the Washington Institute joins Erielle to discuss the growing Middle East great power competition in which Russia has assumed center stage—and at the potential peril of U.S. interests.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

One of the more bizarre political coalitions has formed in the wake of Israel’s fourth election in recent years. Lahav Harkov, Senior Contributing Editor at The Jerusalem Post, joins Erielle to discuss the presumptively incoming government, the likelihood of Netanyahu being able to undercut the new coalition, and what the new government might mean for Israel’s relationship with the United States and others.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

The international community continues to erroneously accuse Israel of war crimes in the recent conflict with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, evincing a serious misunderstanding of international law in both the media and policy realm. Despite Israel’s demonstrated and historical compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)—and Hamas’ repeated and flagrant violations—the accusations persist. Professor Geoffrey Corn, formerly the U.S. Army’s Senior Law of War expert and current Distinguished Fellow at JINSA, and IDF Colonel (ret.) Eli Bar-On, former Deputy Military Advocate General of the IDF, discuss the legal parameters of the latest conflict between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces, offering insight into the purpose of LOAC and the importance of respecting it, rather than misconstruing it.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) continues to run a “pay for slay” program, where terrorism against Israelis is incentivized and funded by the governing faction of the Fatah. This episode discusses the importance of the Taylor Force Act, passed by Congress in 2018, in thwarting the use of U.S. aid until the PA ceases its support for terror. Stuart Force, the father of U.S. Army Capt. Taylor Force, as well as JINSA Distinguished Fellow Sander Gerber, join Erielle to unpack the particulars of the legislation and how the Biden Administration can continue to push for meaningful reforms within the PA.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

As Iranian-backed Hezbollah increases its hold on Lebanon, questions are emerging as to what an effective U.S. policy towards Lebanon might look like (or if a policy is truly needed, at all). Is there a substantive difference in actuality between state institutions in Lebanon and Iranian-backed Hezbollah? What role do the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) play in enabling Hezbollah’s control? Are the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) effective at cabining Hezbollah in southern Lebanon? These questions and more are answered by IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish, JINSA Senior Vice President for Israeli Affairs and former head of IDF Operations, and Tony Badran, Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.For more, please visit jinsa.org.

JINSA’s newest Senior Fellow John Hannah joins host Erielle Davidson to break down an eventful week in the Middle East, from a potential coup to oust the Jordanian king to the latest Iran deal negotiations in Vienna. Mr. Hannah discusses why recent events in Jordan should remain on the U.S. radar and what internal dynamics within Jordan might have contributed to the alleged coup. He then unpacks some of the concerns facing the United States as it begins talks to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal. John and Erielle also review Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s timely visit to Israel, as well as the conclusion of the Iraq Strategic Dialogue.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, please visit jinsa.org.

Seth Frantzman, Senior Middle East Correspondent and Middle East affairs analyst at The Jerusalem Post, joins host Erielle Davidson, Senior Policy Analyst at JINSA, to discuss the latest escalations by the Iranian regime—including a series of recent proxy attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq—and how such attacks might impact the Biden Administration’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Seth also explores in depth his upcoming book Drone Wars and the security implications of this rapidly changing military technology.

International organizations are becoming popular again under the Biden Administration. Since assuming office in January, President Biden has rejoined the WHO and has signaled interest in rejoining the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO. When it comes to UN initiatives, what should the United States be wary of? What does the UN’s treatment of Israel signal about the organization’s priorities and approach? Is the UN Human Rights Council the best mechanism for achieving positive outcomes in the realm of human rights? What can the United States do to prevent the politicization of international organizations more broadly? Anne Herzberg, legal advisor for the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, joins host Erielle Davidson to discuss these matters and more.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently made several controversial decisions regarding investigations into alleged Israeli and U.S. war crimes. • How does a case land in the ICC? • What are the bases of jurisdiction? • What is the relationship between the authorization to investigate Israel and the authorization to investigate the United States? • What is the potential impact of the ICC’s ruling on jurisdiction over Israel, a non-member state, on the national security of the U.S. and Israel?• What does the potential politicization of the ICC mean for the realm of international law (including law of armed conflict)? Professor Geoffrey Corn of South Texas College of Law Houston joins host Erielle Davidson in an effort to answer these questions.