East to West | Voices of the Middle East

Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Presented by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, "East to West" offers a fresh look at the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Israel. This podcast features diverse voices and perspectives rarely heard in mainstream media, bringing expert analysis from policymakers, scholars, and thought leaders. With in-depth discussions on the region's most pressing issues, "East to West" uncovers the complexities behind the headlines and provides unique insights for both seasoned observers and those new to the topic. Discover the untold stories shaping to

  1. I Lived in Beirut as an Israeli: The Man Who Tried to Build Ties with Lebanon

    May 26

    I Lived in Beirut as an Israeli: The Man Who Tried to Build Ties with Lebanon

    In this new episode, Dan Catarivas, Senior Advisor on International Relations at the Manufacturers Association of Israel, reflects on his extraordinary time living and working in Beirut during the early 1980s. Speaking with host Balig Sladeen at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, he shares memories of daily life inside Israel’s liaison office in Lebanon, the unexpected relationships he built with Lebanese businessmen, and the brief moment when peace and normal relations between the two countries seemed possible.

    28 min
  2. How a Moroccan Activist Changed His Perspective

    May 5

    How a Moroccan Activist Changed His Perspective

    Growing up in Morocco in the 90s, Mustapha Ezzarghani, a Moroccan American peace activist describes being "fed wrong propaganda" by media outlets that glorified suicide bømbers as heroes. He opens up about a time when he wished he could be one of those "heroes" defending his religion against an "evil enemy."Everything changed when he met a Berber mother in the mountains whose daughter’s life was saved by Israeli doctors. This encounter shattered his worldview and sent him on a journey to discover the deep, 3,000-year history of Moroccan Jews and the reality of modern Israeli society.

    20 min
  3. He Helped Shape the Abraham Accords. Here's What He Thinks of Iran's War

    Apr 28

    He Helped Shape the Abraham Accords. Here's What He Thinks of Iran's War

    In this episode of East to West, host Balig Sladeen sits down with Jason Greenblatt, JCFA Senior Researcher and Former Special Envoy for the Middle East under President Trump for an inside look at the recent war and what it means for the entire region. We explore how Trump's Iran strategy shifted from Maximum Pressure in the first administration to full military action today, and what drove that change. We also dig into the Strait of Hormuz crisis, was this a predictable escalation, or did it genuinely catch the US off guard? With the shadow of October 7th still looming, we ask whether a broader regional peace is even possible without resolving the Palestinian issue. And we look at how Arab countries are repositioning themselves in relation to Iran, Israel, and the United States in the aftermath of the war.

    23 min
  4. Why Military Defeat Isn't Enough for Tehran

    Apr 21

    Why Military Defeat Isn't Enough for Tehran

    The bombs are falling, the IRGC is "incapacitated," and 20,000 targets have been neutralized, so why hasn't the regime collapsed? In this high-stakes episode of East to West with Balig Sladeen, Mehrdad Youssefiani reveals the terrifying reality of Iran’s "autopilot" command centers. We move past the military stats to expose why the regime is actually using the war to fuel its survival narrative. If you think a few precision strikes will trigger a revolution, you’re missing the bigger picture.

    25 min
  5. Iran May Have Just Lost the Arab World

    Apr 15

    Iran May Have Just Lost the Arab World

    Did Iran make a strategic mistake by targeting the Gulf?In this episode of “East to West”, Balig Sladeen speaks with Zineb Riboua, a research fellow at the Hudson institute, about how the war could backfire on Tehran, pushing Gulf states closer to the U.S. and even Israel, and undermining years of Iranian influence in the region. We discuss why Gulf states may abandon attempts to balance or contain Iran, seek closer relation with the US, and what this could mean for the future regional power dynamics.

    26 min
  6. The Mistake That May Cost the Ayatollahs Everything

    Mar 25

    The Mistake That May Cost the Ayatollahs Everything

    In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen is joined by Prof. Danny Orbach, military historian and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to examine the war with Iran through a historical and strategic lens. Iran spent years building a network of proxies designed to surround Israel in what has been described as a “ring of fire.” But following the events of October 7, that strategy may have begun to unravel. Prof. Orbach explains how proxy warfare works, why such strategies can fail, and how Israel responded by targeting its adversaries sequentially. We also discuss the role of air power, the limits of military force against ideological regimes, and the broader historical parallels, from World War II to modern asymmetric conflicts.

    36 min
  7. Are the Kurds Iran’s Biggest Challenge?

    Mar 17

    Are the Kurds Iran’s Biggest Challenge?

    In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen sits down with Elyana Elyan, a Kurdish political analyst, to unpack the story of Iran’s Kurds, from decades of repression to the protests sparked by Jina Amini. They break down whether Kurdish groups could play a major role if the Iranian regime weakens, what Kurdish parties actually want, and why the region, and powers like the U.S., Israel, and Turkey, are watching closely.

    28 min
  8. Is This the Worst Military Move in History? Energy Wars Explained

    Mar 10

    Is This the Worst Military Move in History? Energy Wars Explained

    In this episode of East to West, JCFA expert, Ella Rosenberg, breaks down with Balig Sladeen how Tehran is making "every single mistake possible" by attacking GCC energy sources and closing maritime straits. They explore how the US and Sunni states are gaining total control over Middle Eastern energy and what a potential "Middle Eastern Union" could mean for the future.

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Presented by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, "East to West" offers a fresh look at the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Israel. This podcast features diverse voices and perspectives rarely heard in mainstream media, bringing expert analysis from policymakers, scholars, and thought leaders. With in-depth discussions on the region's most pressing issues, "East to West" uncovers the complexities behind the headlines and provides unique insights for both seasoned observers and those new to the topic. Discover the untold stories shaping to

Information

  • Creator
    Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
  • Show Website
    East to West | Voices of the Middle East

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