Prof. Kobi Michael: What Trump eventually did was to flatter Netanyahu in a very grotesque manner—sometimes even embarrassing. But at the end of the day, this was camouflage. The real message was not the praise. The real message was about expectations. Those expectations, center on Turkey.

One of the main outcomes of this meeting is that Turkey, at the end of the day, will be part of the story. This is very important for President Trump. Netanyahu may be willing to make compromises in this regard, but not because Israel wants Turkey there—certainly not in Gaza.
Nobody in Israel believes that Turkey will dismantle Hamas or confront it militarily. On the contrary, there is deep concern that Turkish involvement could legitimize Hamas politically and allow it to survive in a different form.

Published in The Media Line, January  04, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The special relationship between Israel and the U.S. was built on two pillars: shared values and strategic interests. Today, the pillar of shared values is becoming increasingly shaky, especially amid rising antisemitism on both the left and the right.

Published in MBN, December 31, 2025.

Ruth Wasserman Lande explains the complex and dual nature of Egypt’s relations with Qatar and Israel, where strategic and economic cooperation often coexist with deep-seated hostility. She notes that while Egypt maintains a strong strategic alliance with Israel, it also pursues military expansion beyond peace agreement limits and balances its stance toward Hamas to manage internal security.

The interview took place on Channel I24, on December 29, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The pause in fighting has given Hamas breathing room to regroup. Everything that is happening will continue happening as long as Hamas continues to effectively control the western part of the Gaza Strip.Generally speaking, Hamas now has full freedom of movement.

Leadership race is unlikely to alter Hamas’s already dangerous course. Both leaders are problematic. Each one, in his own way, is considered to be more militant and more radical in his Gazan orientation and his support for armed resistance.Even Mashaal, often described as more politically oriented, is still in favor of the continuation of armed resistance.

Published in Fox News, December 28, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Contrary to Palestinian Authority claims about stopping the “Pay-for-Slay” program, there has been no substantial change in Palestinian Authority policy with regard to the payments to terrorists.

They are making noises as if they are changing their policies.Pay-for-Slay will continue in a different manner. Donors and the international community [who finance the PA] will find it more difficult to monitor it.

PA defines terrorists as social welfare. They continue to support incitement against Israel. They continue remaining dysfunctional.

Published in Fox News, December 26, 2025.

Meir Ben Shabbat: Currently in Hamas, they are very interested in moving to Stage B and are acting to convince the mediating countries and through them, the United States, to pressure Israel to do this.

This is the stage that is supposed to provide them with one of the most important achievements from their perspective, after the war: A significant Israeli withdrawal from Gaza territories, including the southern, northern, and eastern areas under current IDF control,  except for a narrow security strip [the security perimeter]. This stage is supposed to pave the path to a full withdrawal in stage C.

For Israel, the primary goal remains disarmament of Hamas and demilitarization of Gaza, not a ceasefire. The transition to the second stage, without a practical plan for demilitarization, is not an Israeli interest. The opposite is true!. IDF control in the areas from which it is supposed to evacuate not only improves security preparedness for multiple scenarios, it also leaves in Israel’s hands a significant pressure lever on Hamas and on the mediating countries.

Published in JNS, December 24, 2025.

Dr. Yossi Mansharof: They are preparing the last war. They are disappointed with the extent of promised Chinese and Russian help. Israel-surrounding proxies were weakened significantly. The only thing Iranians have left is the missile project, which can’t paralyze Israel.

Published in The New York Sun, December 23, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The ISF will not fight Hamas. The only entity on the entire globe that is willing and able to do that is the IDF. But I think President Trump is looking toward the Nobel Peace Prize of 2026, and mainly he wants to realize the economic and business potential here in the Middle East. I think he will do his utmost to ensure that nothing will interfere.

In the end, there will be no disarmament of Hamas. Hamas will strengthen itself, and at some point we will reach another clash. This will be a very difficult multi-front challenge for Israel, and this will be a disaster for the free world, because it will embolden the radicals among the Arabs and the Muslims here in the region and beyond.

We are talking about opening the path to a new regional architecture. The Arab regimes that until today scapegoated Israel and exploited the Palestinian issue for domestic political purposes will have to take responsibility for the problem they created. This will lead to many new opportunities, opportunities that do not exist today.

Published in Eurasia, December 17, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: I think the very fact that such a plan was introduced indicates a huge gap in the American understanding of Palestinian society.

The proposal is explicitly contingent on Hamas fully disarming and dismantling its tunnel network — a prerequisite that many analysts say would be difficult to achieve and sustain. Even if security conditions improve, skeptics question whether investors would risk billions of dollars in a region vulnerable to renewed conflict.

Winning Palestinian support may prove equally challenging. The idea that it will be done by foreigners is not accepted by the Palestinians themselves, calling it a new version of colonialism or imperialism.

Published in Fox News & 12News, December 23, 2025.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Trump appeared intent on maintaining the perception of progress toward peace in Gaza by restraining Israel and making concessions to Hamas and its allies, such as Qatar and Turkey.

The ISF will not fight Hamas. The only entity on the entire globe that is willing and able to do that is the IDF. But I think President Trump is looking toward the Nobel Peace Prize of 2026, and mainly he wants to realize the economic and business potential here in the Middle East. I think he will do his utmost to ensure that nothing will interfere.

In the end, there will be no disarmament of Hamas. Hamas will strengthen itself, and at some point we will reach another clash. This will be a very difficult multi-front challenge for Israel, and this will be a disaster for the free world, because it will embolden the radicals among the Arabs and the Muslims here in the region and beyond.

Published in The Washington Free Beacon, December 20, 2025.