Misgav Mideast Horizons Podcast

Lahav Harkov & Asher Fredman
  • 4.9 (8)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
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“Misgav Mideast Horzions”, a podcast by the Misgav Institute for National Security, is designed for anyone who wants to understand the quickly-changing realities of the Middle East, beyond the headlines, slogans and noise. Hosts Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman speak with newsmakers, agenda-setters and top experts to not only explain the burning issues and critical developments in the region, but to highlight future opportunities and trends. The Misgav Institute is Israel’s leading national security policy center, dedicated to shaping a Middle East future of security, stability, prosperity and peace.

  1. 4D AGO

    Trump, Iran & Abraham Accords 2.0 | Robert Greenway

    In this episode of Mideast Horizons, Robert Greenway provides a rare insider’s perspective on President Trump’s decision-making on Iran, U.S.-Israel military cooperation, and the reshaping of the Middle East. Greenway, Director of the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation and former Senior Director for MENA at the U.S. National Security Council, discusses:  The "Epic Fury" Breakthrough: Why the level of operational integration between the U.S. and Israel has surpassed even the historic U.S.-UK partnership. Trump’s Decision-Making: A firsthand account of how President Trump uses provocative negotiations to achieve outcome-oriented national security goals. The "Zero Enrichment" Demand: Why Iran has no right-and no practical need-for domestic nuclear enrichment. The China Connection: Insights from "Project TIDALWAVE," an AI-enabled simulation revealing how the depletion of munitions impacts a potential 35-day culmination window in a conflict with China. Regional Security Architecture: The future of the Abraham Accords and a new regional security, economic, and energy architecture. Unfinished Business: Reflections on the 2020 elimination of Qasem Soleimani and the terrorists still waiting to face justice. In the first segment, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov reflect on recording during Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and how the vow of "Never Again" applies in the post-October 7th world. They also discuss: The U.S. Naval Blockade: The economic impact of cutting off 90% of Iran’s trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Historic Lebanon Talks: Analyzing the first high-level meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials in over 30 years, facilitated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The "Accordion" of French Diplomacy: A look at France’s role in the region and why Israel is moving forward with its security objectives regardless of European pressure. Stay up to date with Misgav: Subscribe to Mideast Horizons for fresh insights into regional security and international alliances. Sign up for "Israel in 10": Get “Israel in 10: Misgav Daily Brief” - all the headlines and key insights you need in just 10 minutes – straight to your inbox: https://izs.activetrail.biz/Israel-in-10-Sign-Up Suggestions? Email us: MideastHorizonsPodcast@gmail.com

    40 min
  2. Will the Iranian People Rise Up?

    MAR 25

    Will the Iranian People Rise Up?

    In this powerful and inspiring episode of Mideast Horizons, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov are joined by Sana Ebrahimi, a prominent Iranian activist and AI researcher, to discuss the current state of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian opposition, and the growing momentum for regime change. Sana shares her remarkable personal journey, from growing up in a religiously conservative family in Tehran and wearing the chador from age seven, to becoming an outspoken voice against the ayatollah regime. She explains why so many Iranians reject the regime, why she does not believe the war has produced a true “rally around the flag” phenomenon, and why public anger inside Iran remains intense. Sana also provides a masterclass on the landscape of the Iranian opposition, from the “reformists” and the MEK to the evolving movement around Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. She argues that if the American and Israeli operations in Iran succeed in truly weakening the regime’s “killing machine,” a large-scale internal uprising could be on the horizon. Sana also reveals how AI-generated propaganda, fake videos, and coordinated online campaigns are distorting global perceptions of Iran, and what social media platforms should do about it. In the opening segment, Asher and Lahav analyze the current state of Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, and the critical questions on the table regarding any potential deal to end the war. They also discuss the return of Hamas displays of power in Gaza and the new roadmap for disarming the terrorist group presented by U.S. and regional mediators. Key Topics Discussed: Life Inside the Regime: Sana’s journey from a restricted life under the ayatollah regime to a leading voice in the global opposition. The Uprising Timeline: Why the Iranian people are outraged and waiting for the right moment to reclaim their country. Decoding the Opposition: A breakdown of the different groups vying for Iran’s future and why the Pahlavi camp is gaining traction. The First AI War: How generative AI is being used as a weapon of war, and the need for “Responsible AI” in online discourse. Gaza & Lebanon: Insights into the ongoing efforts to disarm Hamas and drive Hezbollah back from Israel’s border. For critical insights on Iran and the changing Middle East, follow the Misgav Institute on X: @MisgavINSen. Please like and share this episode! Send your questions, comments, and suggestions to MideastHorizonsPodcast@gmail.com.

    1h 6m

  3. MAR 18

    Is the war really about Iran – or about China? | Zineb Riboua

    Is Operation Epic Fury a regional conflict, or a testing ground for a new global order? In this episode of Mideast Horizons, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov are joined by Zineb Riboua to discuss the hidden layers of Operation Epic Fury and its role in U.S.-China global competition. Zineb, a Research Fellow at the Hudson Institute, reveals how Beijing has helped build Iran’s missile arsenal and mass surveillance systems, and used the Islamic Republic as a "laboratory" to test financial channels designed to bypass Western sanctions. She also discusses how the Iran war can help shape an Abraham Accords 2.0, and the unique role that Morocco can play. In the first segment, Asher and Lahav break down the strategic significance of the strike on Ali Larijani, who served as a crucial bridge between Iran’s military and political leadership, discuss a potential ground operation in Lebanon, and address the bizarre wave of online conspiracy theories, including claims that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been replaced by AI. Key Topics Discussed: • The China Connection: Why China views Iran as a strategic partner and shield. • The Indo-Pacific Pivot: How a successful operation against Iran could finally allow the U.S. to focus its resources on Beijing. • "Third-Worldism" & Propaganda: Why anti-Western ideologies are becoming more attractive in the West than in the Middle East. • Abraham Accords 2.0: Deepening coordination between Israel and Arab states. • Regional Deradicalization: Utilizing the Moroccan model of deradicalization to reshape the future of Gaza. • Lebanon on the Brink: The potential for a broader ground invasion against Hezbollah. • The Sahel "Black Swan": The overlooked threat of Al-Qaeda’s expansion in West Africa and its implications for the West. For critical insights on Iran, follow the Misgav Institute on X: @MisgavINSen. Please like and share this episode! Send your questions and comments to MideastHorizonsPodcast@gmail.com.

    55 min
  4. Inside the Unprecedented US-Israel War Effort Against Iran | Jacob Nagel

    MAR 11

    Inside the Unprecedented US-Israel War Effort Against Iran | Jacob Nagel

    Former Israeli National Security Adviser and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Prof. Jacob Nagel, joins Mideast Horizons for a wide-ranging conversation on the war with Iran, unprecedented US-Israel cooperation, and the future of the Middle East. With Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov, he discusses how Israel and the United States are coordinating across intelligence, air power, logistics, and “science-fiction” technologies - and shares what victory against Iran could look like. In the first segment of this episode, Lahav and Asher share insights on the potential timeline of the Iran war, the ayatollah regime’s survival strategy, Israel’s resilience, and why serious people should not go on Piers Morgan’s show. Prof. Jacob Nagel is Israel’s former National Security Advisor and head of the National Security Council. He currently heads the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology’s Center for Security Science and Technology. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Following a more than 40-year career in the IDF, Defense Ministry, and Prime Minister’s Office, Prof. Nagel was selected to chair Israel’s national commissions on the security budget and IDF force build-up, and on artificial intelligence. For critical insights on Iran and the changing Middle East, follow the Misgav Institute on X: @MisgavINSen. Please like and share this episode! Send your questions, comments, and suggestions for future podcast topics and guests to MideastHorizonsPodcast@gmail.com.

    1h 2m

  5. FEB 11

    “The UN Is Broken”: Gilad Erdan on Iran, Gaza & a New Global Order

    Can the UN be repaired - or should it be defunded and replaced? In this episode of Mideast Horizons, former Israeli Minister and Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan joins Asher Fredman for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation about the failure of the UN system, the future of Gaza, and the historic opportunity now facing the U.S. and Israel in Iran. Ambassador Erdan pulls back the curtain on his four years at the UN, describing an organization that is “broken and corrupt” and dominated by non-democratic regimes. As PM Netanyahu meets with President Trump, Erdan argues that we are facing a "watershed moment” in which the U.S. and Israel must focus on one goal: regime change in Tehran. Topics covered: The UN Exposed: Why the UN is beyond repair and why the U.S. should defund it. The Trump Opportunity: Why a new Iran “deal” isn’t enough - and why the West must support the Iranian people in their efforts to topple the ayatollahs. Gaza’s Future: Erdan explains why the PA must have no role in Gaza, and why international forces cannot be relied upon to oversee Hamas’s demilitarization. The Communications War: A candid look at Israel’s failure to prioritize public diplomacy and the urgent steps needed to strengthen Israel’s international standing. Resilience Under Fire: Erdan’s new mission as Global President of Magen David Adom and how his ambulance teams prepare for incoming Iranian missiles. What’s Next? Erdan discusses his plans for the future, including his intention to return to politics. Don’t miss this insider’s look at the global diplomatic battlefield! Watch, share, and subscribe to Mideast Horizons for more in-depth conversations with leading policymakers and strategic thinkers. You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

    45 min

  6. FEB 4

    Qatar, Hamas & the Muslim Brotherhood: Inside Doha’s Influence Machine

    In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov sit down with Dr. Ariel Admoni - one of Israel’s leading experts on Qatar - for a deep dive into the most controversial actor in the Middle East today. Is Qatar merely a mediator between warring sides - or something far more strategic and dangerous? Dr. Admoni, a Senior Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, explains Qatar’s decades-long relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, its hosting and financing of Hamas leadership, and how Doha has positioned itself as the “default” intermediary for the United States - from Gaza to the Taliban to the Houthis. We examine whether Qatar’s role reflects good-faith mediation or a sophisticated strategy to legitimize terror actors while expanding its global influence. The conversation explores: Qatar’s ideological and financial ties to the Muslim Brotherhood Whether Al Jazeera functions as an independent media outlet or a Qatari state instrument How Qatar leverages education, universities, aid, and media to shape Western discourse Qatar’s influence operations in Washington and Europe The controversy surrounding “Qatargate” in Israel Whether Qatar could ever join the Abraham Accords The strategic risks of Qatari involvement in post-war Gaza Dr. Admoni argues that Qatar’s power lies not in overt confrontation, but in subtle, long-term influence - shaping academic narratives, political incentives, and media ecosystems across the West. In the opening segment, Asher and Lahav analyze the latest developments regarding Iran and the possibility of renewed U.S.–Iran negotiations, Israel’s strategic timeline vis-à-vis Iranian missile and air defense rebuilding, Israel’s surprising economic resilience in 2025, and the debate over how democracies should combat rising antisemitism. Subscribe and follow Misgav Mideast Horizons for fresh insights into the most critical security and diplomatic issues facing Israel and the Middle East! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

    1h 7m

  7. JAN 28

    Surviving the Bondi Beach Attack: Terror, Trauma, and Combating Antisemitism, with Arsen Ostrovsky

    In this powerful episode of Mideast Horizons, recorded on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov sit down with Arsen Ostrovsky, Misgav Institute Senior Fellow and Head of the Sydney Office of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). Arsen shares his harrowing firsthand account of surviving the Bondi Beach terror attack, which claimed the lives of fifteen innocent people gathered for a Chanukah celebration. As gunfire rang out and victims lay wounded around him, Arsen was shot in the head and believed he might never see his wife and daughters again. His survival, which doctors later described as a miracle, has reshaped his personal mission and intensified his resolve to combat antisemitism worldwide. The conversation explores the explosion of antisemitism since October 7, how anti-Zionism increasingly serves as a mask for anti-Jewish hate, and how unchecked incitement led to Islamist violence. Arsen discusses the lessons that the global Jewish community, Australia, and all democracies must learn from the deadly attack. The episode also delves into the rise of AI-generated disinformation, the role of social media companies and governments in confronting online hate, the rise of Holocaust distortion, and strategies for defending Israel in the international legal and diplomatic arenas. In the first part of this episode, Lahav and Asher discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by President Trump’s Board of Peace, the danger of Israeli concessions in Syria, developments in Iran, and the deeper trends driving Saudi Arabia’s increasingly hostile stance towards Israel and the UAE. This is a sobering, courageous, and ultimately hopeful conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the urgent need for moral clarity and bold action in the fight against antisemitic hate. Please subscribe and share the Misgav Mideast Horizons podcast! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

    1h 6m

  8. JAN 21

    The Trillion-Dollar Bet: U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Future of Defense Tech

    In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, we sit down with Isaac “Yitz” Applbaum - one of the most experienced investors in Israeli technology and a key figure at the intersection of Israeli, American, Saudi, and Emirati innovation - for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of defense tech, regional cooperation, and the U.S.–Israel relationship. Yitz, Chair of Kinetica Partners and Senior Advisor to the Saudi Minister of Communications, IT, and Space, shares his remarkable personal journey from Brooklyn to Israel to the GCC, and explains why he believes Israel–Saudi normalization is coming sooner than most people think. Drawing on years of firsthand experience in the Gulf, he outlines where cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be transformational - particularly in defense, healthcare, AI, agtech, and water - and why the combination of Israeli innovation and Saudi scale could be a true “100X” moment. We also dive deep into the global defense tech boom following October 7, and what it means for Israel’s economy, innovation ecosystem, and international standing. Yitz explains why countries like Germany, Japan, and the United States are increasingly looking to Israel not just to buy systems, but to co-develop and co-invest in next-generation defense technologies. He discusses the rise of early-stage defense startups, the role of elite IDF talent, and what Israel’s government can do to better support this rapidly growing sector. In the latter part of the conversation, we explore how U.S.–Israel defense cooperation could evolve beyond traditional military aid toward deeper partnerships, joint projects, and large-scale initiatives. Yitz also reflects personally on October 7, the surge in antisemitism on both the Left and the Right, and how it has changed the way he engages with the world.   In the first part of the episode, we go beyond the headlines to discuss the latest developments related to President Trump’s Board of Peace, Gaza, the Iran protests, Josh Shapiro and the Harris campaign, and deepening UAE–India ties. This is a candid, insider discussion on technology, alliances, and the future of the Middle East—with someone who is helping shape all three. Listen now, share the episode, and rate it 5 stars wherever you get your podcasts! You can send comments or suggestions to mideasthorizonspodcast@gmail.com.

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

“Misgav Mideast Horzions”, a podcast by the Misgav Institute for National Security, is designed for anyone who wants to understand the quickly-changing realities of the Middle East, beyond the headlines, slogans and noise. Hosts Lahav Harkov and Asher Fredman speak with newsmakers, agenda-setters and top experts to not only explain the burning issues and critical developments in the region, but to highlight future opportunities and trends. The Misgav Institute is Israel’s leading national security policy center, dedicated to shaping a Middle East future of security, stability, prosperity and peace.

Information

  • Creator
    Lahav Harkov & Asher Fredman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Misgav Institute for National Security
  • Show Website
    Misgav Mideast Horizons Podcast

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