Amidst regional military successes, Israel faces profound internal divisions as it enters 2025, grappling with unpopular political maneuvers and the ongoing impact of a tumultuous 2024. David Makovsky and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the potential influence of these domestic controversies on Israel's national unity and geopolitical strategies.

David Makovsky, Andrew Tabler, and Tamir Hayman examine the intricate aftermath of the Assad regime's fall in Syria and its implications for regional stability. They analyze the precarious power dynamics involving groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and discuss potential roles for international actors, including Israel and the U.S., in shaping Syria's future.

David Makovsky and Bernard Haykel analyze the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Middle East following military and diplomatic developments involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Saudi Arabia, amid the backdrop of President Trump's unpredictable influence on the region. They delve into Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's economic policies and potential normalization with Israel, exploring implications for regional stability and U.S. foreign policy.

With a delicate ceasefire announced between Israel and Hezbollah, military analyst Amos Harel discusses its implications, warning that while it presents a chance for regional stability, tensions and political complexities remain. Israel's strategic pause reflects a convergence of military readiness and political maneuvering, with both the Israeli government and Hezbollah calculating their next steps amid shifting regional dynamics influenced by Iran and the U.S.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have intensified, following significant Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and diminishing Iran’s proxy networks. The episode explores how these developments might affect Israel's strategy against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the potential escalation into a broader conflict.

The assassination of Yahya Sinwar, a key leader in Hamas, marks a significant change in the power dynamics within the organization and poses challenges for both Hamas's future leadership and ongoing hostage negotiations. As experts Ghaith Al-Omari and Dr. Michael Milshtein discuss, this shift could open opportunities for external powers to influence the region's outcomes and potentially contain Hamas's strength, but requires a strategic, multilateral approach.

Renowned experts Tom Nides and Victoria Coates dissect U.S. Middle East policy ahead of the pivotal presidential election, highlighting stark contrasts between the Trump and Harris approaches. They discuss future U.S.-Israel relations, the potential implications of a Saudi-Israel normalization, and the critical challenges related to Iran, Gaza, and the wider Middle East landscape.

Israel's tactical operations have significantly weakened Hezbollah's leadership, including the death of Hassan Nasrallah, presenting a pivotal moment in the conflict for Israel to secure its northern border. While Israel remains cautious of deepening involvement in southern Lebanon, the emphasis is on strengthening Lebanese institutions like the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to restore national sovereignty with international support.

Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel marks a new phase in their hostile relationship, highlighting the deep-seated ideological and strategic tensions between the two nations. Experts Ray Takeyh and Meir Litvak discuss the roots of Iran's enmity, its strategic calculations, and the potential implications for regional dynamics and internal Iranian politics.

The episode examines the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, 30 years later, highlighting its resilience despite recent tensions exacerbated by the Gaza War and Iranian influence in the region. Experts discuss the political and social challenges impacting the relationship, and emphasize the importance of addressing security threats collaboratively while navigating internal public discontent and external destabilization efforts.

Iran's use of proxy networks across the Middle East has created a complex security challenge for Israel, with influence extending from Lebanon to Yemen. Experts discuss how these proxies operate with Tehran's support and explore the strategic options available to the U.S. and Israel to mitigate their threats.

Karnit Flug discusses the complex challenges facing Israel's economy due to ongoing conflict, including increased military expenditures and impacts on critical sectors such as construction and tourism. She emphasizes the need for strategic adjustments, including potential policy changes to integrate underserved communities and more efficiently allocate resources.

Amidst escalating campus tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict, there is a significant increase in antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish students in the U.S. Leonard Saxe and Uriel Abulof provide insights into a Brandeis University survey which reveals varying degrees of hostility towards Israel, driven by contentious academic theories and historical narratives.

Experts Ghaith al-Omari and Ehud Yaari join David Makovsky to explore the evolution of Hamas, focusing on the organization's ideologies, leadership, and strategic objectives, especially under Yahya Sinwar. The discussion delves into recent developments, including Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the geopolitical dynamics involving regional actors like Iran and Egypt.

The episode delves into the current Middle East crisis, focusing on retaliatory strikes by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel and the potential regional implications of the U.S.-brokered hostage-for-ceasefire negotiations in Doha. It touches on the complexities of the U.S.-Israel security relationship amidst these tensions, highlighting the intricacies of military readiness, intelligence sharing, and geopolitical balancing acts.

The discussion explores the impact of the Gaza War on the Israeli military draft policy concerning the Haredi community, questioning if the crisis could become an opportunity for bridging entrenched social divides. Yoshua Pfeffer and Yohanan Plesner offer perspectives on the need for gradual integration of Haredim into the IDF with an emphasis on economic incentives and building trust rather than coercion.

Israeli society is grappling with profound division and trauma over 300 days after the initial Hamas assault, having experienced a brief period of unity and resilience immediately following October 7th. This unity has since fractured, highlighting tensions over military service and hostages, and raising questions about the future of Israeli political and social cohesion.

Amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah at the northern border, analysts Amos Harel and Hanin Ghaddar explore the potential for all-out war and the complexities involved in achieving lasting peace. Diplomatic efforts are considered crucial, but Hezbollah's powerful military and regional complexities make resolution challenging, placing border security and resident safety in question.

Dennis Ross and David Makovsky explore the impact of the ongoing Gaza conflict on U.S.-Israel relations, discussing whether recent tensions signify a temporary strain or a broader, more enduring divide. The conversation delves into historical and current political dynamics, emphasizing the importance of mutual trust between leaders and the strategic alignment on key issues such as the Iranian threat and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.