Israel Program
About
America’s most valuable and vulnerable ally in the Middle East, Israel, faces an onslaught of threats. Syria’s civil war continues to rage with Sunni and Shiite radicals sitting on or near Israel’s border. Lebanon is a failing state where Hezbollah is stockpiling precision-guided munitions (PGMs) that may be able to evade Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Tehran-backed terrorists, including Hamas, launched more than 4,000 rockets into Israel during the May 2021 escalation, and continue to stockpile weapons for future conflict. And the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to inch forward with its nuclear weapons program. As these threats loom large, Israel’s adversaries also seek to delegitimize Israel through lawfare and boycotts.
FDD’s Israel Program leverages FDD’s regional and subject matter expertise and its centers on American power to produce actionable research and develop policy options to address the threats facing Israel while encouraging the expansion of the historic normalization agreements between Israel and the Arab world.
FDD’s Israel Program team includes fellows and analysts with a wide range of backgrounds, including Middle East and regional subject matter experts, language skills, lawfare experts, and experience in government, military, intelligence, finance and technology. FDD’s Israel Program involves a range of efforts, including developing the U.S.-Israel Operations Technology Working Group, identifying illicit networks behind the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) efforts, supporting the new Eastern Mediterranean energy alliance, addressing the China-Israel relationship and protecting U.S. interests, supporting a pressure campaign to counter the Islamic Republic in Iran, combatting terrorist use of human shields, maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge, and exploring ways to advance the historic normalization agreements.
Experts
Jonathan Schanzer
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Turkey
- Jihadism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
Enia Krivine
Jacob Nagel
Keren Hajioff
In the News
FDD's Israel Program features U.S.- and Israel-based analysts and experts who are available to comment in the media on foreign policy and national security issues related to Israel.
Program on Middle East Peace and Normalization
FDD’s program on Middle East peace and normalization builds on the historic Abraham Accords peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Products
Terrorists Attack U.S. Pier Under Construction Off Gaza Coast
Flash Brief
The Road From Riyadh to Jerusalem
Foreign Podicy
What the World Central Kitchen Strike Tells Us About Israel — And Its Enemies
Insight
Washington Should Clip Qatar’s Media Wing
Townhall
Hamas Releases Video of American-Israeli Hostage
Flash Brief
Events
Iran’s Historic Aerial Assault on Israel: SITREP and Policy Options
April 14, 2024 | 3:00 pm
Iran Attacks Israel with Drones and Missiles | FDD SITREP with Jonathan Schanzer and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus
April 13, 2024 | 7:15 pm