Israel

As a strong ally in the Middle East, Israel’s domestic politics and geopolitical role are of primary concern for the United States. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has confounded one administration after the other, with various attempts at brokering a peace process falling short of success. As Israel inches closer to the east with increased economic cooperation with India and China, as well as semi-discreet displays of engagement with Gulf neighbors, Israel’s independent foreign policy and controversial domestic policies continue to shape its relationship with the United States.

Marc Polymeropoulos joins AEI’s WTH Is Going On Podcast on Lebanon pager attacks

MENASource Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from the Gulf: Finding middle ground amid Israel-Iran war

By Allison Minor

Congressional delegation visit coincided with Israel and Iran squaring off in a direct military confrontation.
Iran Israel
Marc Polymeropoulos joins AEI’s WTH Is Going On Podcast on Lebanon pager attacks

MENASource Jun 18, 2025

Dispatch from Jerusalem: Inside Israel’s bunkers as Iran war erupts

By Sarah Zaaimi

The stakes are higher as two opposing rhetorics about the region’s future are at play: Pan-Abrahamism and Revolutionary Islamism.
Civil Society Iran
Marc Polymeropoulos joins AEI’s WTH Is Going On Podcast on Lebanon pager attacks

Inflection Points Jun 14, 2025

Israel’s Iran strike provides a historic chance for Middle East realignment

By Frederick Kempe

History will remember this moment less for the Israeli strikes themselves and more for what follows.
Iran Israel

Israel-Hamas war

Experts from across the Atlantic Council are providing insight and analysis at speed and in depth on the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Israel’s response, and how the emerging conflict is upending the Middle East and the world.

Programs

The N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, seeks to broaden and deepen normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. It works with governments to produce actionable recommendations to deliver tangible benefits to their people.

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Content

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos joins AEI’s WTH Is Going On Podcast on Lebanon pager attacks

On September 23, Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, joined Danielle Pletka and Marc A. Thiessen on The American Enterprise Institute’s What The Hell Is Going On podcast to talk about the pager attacks Israel carried out against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Intelligence Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos mentioned in YNET News about Hezbollah pager attacks

On September 21, YNET News, an Israeli media outlet, mentioned comments from Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, calling Hezbollah pager attacks as ” the most impressive kinetic operation I can recall in my career. Israeli intelligence is living in [Hasan] Nasrallah’s brain.” These comments were inserted in an article detailing reactions from […]

Intelligence Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos’ tweet about Hezbollah pager attacks mentioned in SpyTalk

On September 21, SpyTalk’s weekly roundabout on the latest news about intelligence, foreign policy, and military operations mentioned Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, for his tweet calling Hezbollah pager attacks “most impressive denied area kinetic op I have witnessed in my career.” 

Intelligence Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos mentioned in the Washington Post about Hezbollah pager attacks

On September 21, Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was mentioned in “Israel’s pager attack an intelligence triumph, with uncertain ends” by Shane Harris in the Washington Post. The article mentioned Polymeropoulos’ comment describing the attacks as “the most impressive denied area kinetic op I have witnessed in my career.”

Intelligence Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos on South China Morning Post about possible Israeli intentions behind Hezbollah pager attacks

On September 20, Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, spoke with the South China Morning Post about possible Israeli intentions behind the pager attacks against Hezbollah. In his remarks, Polymeropoulos explored the possibility that the Hezbollah pager attacks may be part of a wider Israeli strategy of “escalate to deescalate.”

Intelligence Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos joins MSNBC to weigh in on Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon

On September 19, Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, joined NBC News’ Raf Sanchez and retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey to discuss Israel’s military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon after the waves of walkie-talkies and pagers explosions.

Intelligence Israel

IranSource

Oct 11, 2024

The Nasrallah killing is upending Iran’s security strategy. Here’s what to expect next.

By Danny Citrinowicz  

Tehran needs to decide whether it is ready to change its policy since October 7, 2023.

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Oct 9, 2024

The countdown to Nasrallah’s assassination began with Majdal Shams

By David Daoud

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah signed his death warrant on July 27.

Conflict Israel

Inflection Points

Oct 9, 2024

Israel’s dramatic gains on Iran present a historic chance—and enormous risks

By Frederick Kempe

Israel may now have “escalation dominance” over Iran and its proxies, but a new bipartisan Atlantic Council report underscores why both Israel and the United States need a strong and long-term strategy for dealing with Tehran.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Oct 8, 2024

Elliot Ackerman in the Atlantic on the death of Nasrallah

On September 28, Elliot Ackerman, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the Atlantic on the current conflict between Israel and Iran and the broader conflict between the US and its adversaries.

Conflict Iran
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Experts

Staff

Jonathan Rosenstein

Assistant Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Israel

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Daniel B. Shapiro

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Conflict English

Fellow

Samantha Sutton

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Israel

Staff

William F. Wechsler

Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security Middle East

Fellow

Rachel Whitlark

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense

Defense Policy Israel