Gaza War Update
with Alex Selsky and Benjamin Baird
360,000 IDF reservists mobilized, Israeli forces gathered at the Gaza border: a ground operation to occupy Gaza and destroy Hamas’ 16-year rule is expected any moment. We look at two aspects of the situation.
Monday, October 23, 2023
1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
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Alex Selsky addresses the Israel Defense Forces’ preparations, the mood, and the expectations. A major in the IDF, he is one of the reservists who has been called up. In civilian life, he is a senior adviser to MEF's Israel Victory Project, and lecturer at Hadassah Academic College. Formerly, he served as advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu and as CEO of the International Israel Beytenu Movement. He holds a BA in Business and Executive MA in Public Policy from Hebrew University.
Benjamin Baird assesses the obstacles the IDF can expect to encounter as it moves into Gaza? Mr. Baird served over 1,000 days in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army infantryman, leading hundreds of urban combat missions as a platoon sergeant. He is currently the director of MEF Action. Mr. Baird holds a BA from the American Military University.
Israel Insider
with Ashley Perry
Lebanon’s Hizballah is carrying out near-daily missile attacks against Israel. Yemen’s Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel, several of which the U.S. Navy shot down. How close are Israel and Iran to a regional war? How might a ground war in Gaza affect this prospect? What might be the American role?
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
3:00pm - 3:30pm ET
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US: +17193594580,,89844190834#,,380658
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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 UK, he moved to Israel in 2001. He holds a BA from University College London and an MA from Reichman University (IDC Herzliya).
Turkey Supports Hamas: How to Respond?
with Endy Zemenides and Jordan Cope
Turkey, a NATO ally, vocally and materially supports Hamas. What is the nature of its ties? What constraints does Ankara face? What should the U.S. government do in response?
Friday, October 27, 2023
1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
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Endy Zemenides is the executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council. He served as Senior Advisor for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. He is as a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He holds a BA from DePaul University, an MA from the University of Essex (UK), and a JD from Georgetown University.
Jordan Cope is director of policy education at StandWithUs. As Qatari finance fellow at the Middle East Forum, he studies Qatar’s soft-power efforts via charity and media organizations. He has a BA and JD from the University of Texas at Austin.
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