Dhimmitude: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective
with Bat Ye'or

In a world facing a resurgence of jihadist ideologies, the concept of dhimmitude—rooted in Sharia law and tied to historical jihad—casts a long shadow over modern societies. From blasphemy laws stifling free speech to the erosion of Judeo-Christian cultural identities, dhimmitude’s mechanisms are increasingly visible in the West. Unexpected alliances between jihadist movements, the anti-Christian Left, and antisemitic factions further complicate this global ideological war. How do these historical patterns shape today’s conflicts? What’s at stake for the future of Western civilization and global stability?

Monday, May 12, 2025
1:00PM Eastern Time

Bat Ye’or, originally born in Cairo, found asylum in London as a stateless refugee in 1957 and became British on marriage, settling in Switzerland. Since 1971 she has written a number of books and scores of articles on non-Muslims under Islam, adopting a biblical pen name, Bat Ye’or, or 'Daughter of the Nile'. Her first essay, Les Juifs en Egypte (1971) was followed by a major study, The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam (English/1985). This is still an essential introduction to her second major work, The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude (English/1996) that confirmed her reputation as a pioneer thinker in this field. Then came Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide (2002) which examined the trend toward dhimmitude in the 20th century and facilitated a serious assessment of the traditional ideology of Jihad. Her book, Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis (2005) provided an understanding of the gradual transformation of Europe into Eurabia, a cultural and political appendage of the Arab/Muslim world. Niall Ferguson praises: “No writer has done more than Bat Ye'or to draw attention to the menacing character of Islamic extremism.” She studied at University College London and the University of Geneva. 

Israel Insider
with Ashley Perry

Is there a rift in goals and perceptions regarding the Middle East between the Trump administration and the Israeli government? If so, how is this likely to manifest in the coming days and weeks as President Trump visits the region?

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
3:00PM Eastern Time

Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum’s Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Ministers of Intelligence, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy, Water and Infrastructure, Defense, Tourism, Internal Security, and Immigrant Absorption and as an advisor to The Negev Forum. Originally from the U.K., he moved to Israel in 2001. He holds a B.A. from University College London and an M.A. from Reichman University (IDC Herzliya).

Israel and the Woke Right
with Karys Rhea

The Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza have exposed a fissure within the “America First” or MAGA movement. A new cadre of anti-Zionist voices, led by figures like Tucker Carlson and amplified on X and TikTok, has emerged, wielding leftist-style tactics—identity politics, cancel culture, conspiratorial antisemitism, and historical revisionism—under the guise of conservative values. Dubbed by many the “woke right,” they champion America’s adversaries, from Putin’s Russia to Iran and communist China, threatening to derail Trump’s presidency and U.S. strategic interests. How did this divisive trend infiltrate the MAGA camp? Can the “America First” movement reclaim its conservative soul? 

Friday, May 16, 2025
1:00PM Eastern Time

Karys Rhea is a producer of The Epoch Times’ flagship show, “American Thought Leaders” and past producer of “Kash’s Corner” with Kash Patel and “Fallout” with Dr. Robert Malone. She is also a writing fellow with the Middle East Forum, an ambassador for Israel365 Action, a Rising Leader at the Global Liberty Institute, and a recording artist on Baste Records. She has appeared on Newsmax, One America News, Real America’s Voice, Times of India, NTD News, Epoch TV, IL TV, JNS TV, and a variety of podcasts. Her articles can be found in Commentary, Tablet, NY Daily News, Newsweek, The Federalist, Washington Examiner, Israel Hayom, the Jerusalem Post, and the Times of Israel. She holds a B.A. from NYU in broadcast journalism and religious studies, and an M.A. in counterterrorism and homeland security from Reichman University in Israel.

The Middle East Forum, an activist think tank, deals with the Middle East, Islamism, U.S. foreign policy, and related topics, urging bold measures to protect Americans and their allies. Pursuing its goals via intellectual and operational means, the Forum recurrently has policy ideas adopted by the U.S. government.