FDD is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
FDD does not accept donations from any foreign governments.
Subscribe to FDD
Receive FDD's latest research and analysis
Trending Issues
Iran
Reacting to the ongoing negotiations with Iran
Chicago's Morning Answer AM 560
IRGC issues warning to vessels entering Hormuz Strait
Fox LiveNOW
China
HHS Proposes Clinical Trial Reform To Catch Chinese Biotech Sector
Policy Brief
China Targets the U.S. Rare Earth Comeback
Policy Brief
June 11, 2026
12:00 pm
EVENT: The Arab Case for Israel: History, Mythology, and Pathways to Peace
Before Israel's founding, Arab nationalism and Islamism rejected European-drawn borders, envisioning a unified Arab or Muslim nation rather than a distinct Palestinian state. As Lebanese-Iraqi scholar Hussain Abdul-Hussain argues in his new book, The Arab Case for Israel, Palestinian national identity as it exists today emerged only in 1964, shaped by inter-Arab rivalries rather than deep historical roots. The Palestinian narrative of a "lost state" reflects not a recoverable past but an aspiration for a Middle East without Israel — one that risks producing yet another failing state in a region already scarred by instability in Syria and Iraq.
Yet the current moment presents a rare opening for a more pragmatic regional order. U.S. pressure on Iran's nuclear program and Israel's campaign against Hezbollah have placed Tehran's axis of destabilization under unprecedented strain, forcing Arab states to reconsider long-held assumptions. The Abraham Accords have already demonstrated that normalization with Israel yields concrete economic and security dividends. As Iran's influence recedes, Arab leaders who privately favor coexistence must find the courage to say so publicly.
Featured Experts
Clifford D. May
Founder & President
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Jihadism
- The Long War
- Palestinian Politics
- North Korea
- Russia
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- International Organizations
Mark Dubowitz
Chief Executive
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Human Rights
- Syria
- Iran Missiles
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- Cyber
- Iran Nuclear
Jonathan Schanzer
Executive Director
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Turkey
- Jihadism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
Richard Goldberg
Senior Advisor
- Iran
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Gulf States
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- International Organizations
RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery
CCTI Senior Director and Senior Fellow
Behnam Ben Taleblu
Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Missiles
- Iran Human Rights
- Iran Politics and Economy
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
Craig Singleton
China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
Natalie Ecanow
Senior Research Analyst
What they're saying
"Mr. Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the Iran nuclear deal's flaws has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader."
New York Times
“The Foundation for Defense of Democracies understands as well as anyone that we are now in an era, once again, of Great Power Competition, primarily with the Chinese Communist Party.”
Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor
"I would like to express my appreciation to the FDD for its long-term focus on Taiwan and for continuing to increase the attention paid to Taiwan’s defense and social resilience."
Lai Ching-te
President of Taiwan
“FDD is highly influential in the area of public policy … I would like to thank FDD for publishing numerous articles advocating for international support of Taiwan.”
Tsai Ing-wen
Former President of Taiwan
“Thank you for all of FDD’s work… it is so critical to our fight in the United States against terror and against those who seek to do us harm” … “[FDD has always] held Iran accountable for their continued nuclear activity and for their continued terror activity….which is key to America’s national security and our fight globally against terror, against Iran and its proxies, and against Hezbollah and Hamas and Palestinian Jihad.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
“What FDD puts out [in] the national and international conversation, … you really are … a repository of knowledge on so many critical issues.”
Mike Waltz
"Thank you to FDD…for the many, many years of great work that you’ve done. I've known the organization and relied on its expertise long before this conversation today."
Jessica Lewis
Former Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State
"I will tell you that FDD has been such a partner. Whether it is dealing with the Iran deal and the flaws that were in it, all the way to human shields and all the things that we need to do to combat it, you've been a partner in a time where we need partners. And so I appreciate that very much."
Amb. Nikki R. Haley
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations
“Nobody makes the case better than FDD that the Islamic Republic is a threat to the region, its own people and the U.S., and that it needs to be dealt with, not wished away.”
Wall Street Journal
Weekend Interview
“I would add my own thanks to the FDD and the Center on Military and Political Power for … showing how important it is that we are talking, both on the military and the civilian side, about the importance of being prepared to protect and advance our national security objectives. That's exactly the kind of conversations that we're seeking to help our European allies and partners have with their citizenry. Thank you.”
Amb. Kate Marie Byrnes
Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. European Command
"A record low for the reach of petrodollars: CIA & FDD fake news w/ selective AlQaeda docs re: Iran can't whitewash role of US allies in 9/11"
Javad Zarif
Iran's Former Foreign Minister
FDD's Long War Journal [is] the best source of public information on terrorism.
Michael Morell
former Acting and Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
“The Foundation is making a difference across the world.”
George W. Bush
Former President
Overnight Brief: June 25, 2026
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- "Letter to Melania: Beyond the oil and nukes, you can fight for Iranian women," The Washington Times
- "Don’t Help Iran Prop Up Hezbollah," The Wall Street Journal
- "HHS Proposes Clinical Trial Reform To Catch Chinese Biotech Sector," FDD Policy Brief
- "To Police Any New Nuclear Deal, IAEA Access Is Needed — Urgently," FDD Policy Brief
- "China Targets the U.S. Rare Earth Comeback," FDD Policy Brief
- "The Deal With Tehran Comes at the Expense of Iranians," FDD Policy Brief
The Must-Reads
- Second day of Israel-Lebanon talks begin in Washington, US official tells 'Post'
- JPost Editorial: Israel's alliance with America is vital, but Jerusalem can't outsource its security
- Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli: Israel sees a grave strategic mistake unfolding in Iran
- IAEA chief says Iran inspections will go ahead, working on modalities
- Iran’s top diplomat speaks with Hamas official
- Ukraine to conduct preemptive attacks on facilities Russia uses for war, Zelenskiy says
- WSJ’s Jillian Kay Melchior: Ukraine’s new air-power paradigm
- A Turkish arms sale leads to a face-off between Trump and Congress
- Senior Islamic State leader killed by US airstrike on northwest Syria
- China’s assertions of authority over foreign ships near Taiwan draw U.S. rebuke
- Trump’s meeting with senators turns fiery over Iran war
- How a Crypto exchange became a major hub for illicit Iranian cash