October marks the 30th anniversary of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty, a key moment in Middle East diplomacy. Since October 7th, the relationship between the two countries has been challenged like never before, with cracks appearing in the Israel-Jordan relationship. While Jordan and Israel have collaborated on strategic issues like water, energy, and security, there is a split-screen reality between the Jordanian monarchy’s ongoing cooperation with Israel and the Jordanian public’s growing discontent. Although these challenges have been difficult to bear, they have also brought the resilience of the peace treaty to the fore.

In this episode of Decision Points, David Makovsky is joined by three experts: Merissa Khurma, the head of the Middle East program at the Wilson Center, David Schenker, Taube Senior Fellow and Director of the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and former Mossad director Efraim Halevy, a key figure in forging the peace treaty. They will dive into this complex dynamic, considering whether the relationship can be salvaged under the current Israeli government, and what steps can be taken to rebuild trust between these two neighbors.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Israel’s founding in 1948, it has never faced a reality quite like this: seven active combat fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the West Bank, Gaza, and Yemen. This multi-front war was once the vision of Qassem Soleimani, the late commander of the Iranian IRGC’s Quds Force, who referred to it as the “ring of fire” — a strategy designed to suffocate Israel through proxy forces on all sides. Today, this vision has become reality, with Iranian-backed militias entrenched across the region, waging a war of attrition and destabilizing local governments. How does Iran view its proxy network as part of its broader regional strategy, and how do the local interests of these proxies align with Tehran’s overarching goals? Why are these proxies so resilient, and, most importantly, what strategies can the U.S. and Israel employ to curb their power?

In this episode of Decision Points, David Makovsky is joined by three experts to unpack Iran’s proxy network and its broader geopolitical implications: Dr. Michael Knights, Zohar Palti, and Dr. Patrick Clawson. Dr. Knights is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, specializing in the military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states. Palti is the former head of the Policy & Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense and a former leader of the Mossad Intelligence Directorate. Dr. Clawson is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and a leading expert on Iran and U.S. policy, with extensive experience at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and National Defense University. Together, they discuss the complexities of Iran’s regional ambitions and the strategies to counter them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since October 7th, Israel has been grappling with the immense economic toll of a prolonged, multi-front war. While the country’s economy has weathered crises before, the past 11 months have pushed its resilience to the limit. Soaring military expenditures, plummeting tourism, and the costs of compensating reserve soldiers and displaced citizens have all taken a toll on economic growth. How much of this turbulence stems from the war itself, and to what extent have policy missteps worsened the situation? More importantly, what does the path to economic recovery look like?

In this episode of Decision Points, David Makovsky is joined by Karnit Flug, Vice President of Research at the Israel Democracy Institute and former Governor of the Bank of Israel. Karnit led the central bank from 2013 to 2018, earning recognition as one of the world’s top central bankers. Together, they discuss Israel’s wartime economy, the challenges ahead, and the resilience of the Israeli people.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.