Prof. Kobi Michael: Hamas “doesn’t intend to disarm itself and never intended to.Hamas will do all the possible and creative maneuvers and manipulations in order to keep its power and influence in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces are the only entity that can disarm Hamas. No one besides Turkey is willing to send its troops to the International Stabilization Force in order to fight Hamas,” referring to the planned force authorized by the United Nations to oversee security and demilitarization in Gaza.

Published in Fox News, January  29, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael highlights the return of hostages as a monumental achievement for Israeli resilience and the fulfillment of the national ethos that ensures “no soldier is left behind”,. He also emphasizes that the complete disarmament of Hamas by the IDF is a strategic necessity to prevent the group’s reconstitution and to enable any future reconstruction plan for Gaza.

The full interview took place on ILTV on January 26, 2026.

Meir Ben Shabbat: Hamas is no longer in a position where it feels its very existence is under threat; it remains the primary power in the Gaza Strip, deeply embedded in the population and in Gaza’s civilian systems. It skillfully exploits humanitarian aid and supplies entering the Strip for its own purposes.

Past vows by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disarm Hamas must be translated into a timetable and a clear, binding definition of what “disarmament” entails. We must show determination and complete the mission in Gaza until all the [war] objectives we defined are fully achieved.

Published in JNS, January  26, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The board could help expand the Abraham Accords, which he believes would benefit Israel. He said one of the board’s primary strategic goals is to draw countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and Malaysia closer to the accords while weakening their ties to China. This effort reflects close coordination behind the scenes between Trump and Netanyahu.

The board’s long-term impact is likely to be limited. However, the next few years could bring meaningful shifts in the international order if Trump succeeds in advancing the initiative while still in office. Trump has the political will to push parts of the plan through, at least in the short term.

As long as Trump is in power, he might succeed in doing some parts of the plan, although I am not sure after his term as president.

Published in allisraelnews, January  17, 2026.

Asher Fredman expresses skepticism regarding international efforts to disarm Hamas and establish a terror-free Gaza, noting that the specific details of how oversight committees will succeed remain unclear.

He also highlights the goal of regime change in Iran fueled by severe economic instability, envisioning a future where a liberalized Iran integrates into the region through the Abraham Accords.

The full interview took place on ILTV on January 21, 2026.

Asher Fredman: In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 massacre, trade continued, in some cases, to grow in 2024 and 2025, whereas in other cases it returned to 2023 levels. Sectors which have seen sustained growth include water, agri-food, cybersecurity, fintech, and defense.

Successful Gulf-Israel business relationships combine strategic priorities with genuine competitive advantages. While in Israel most deals have involved private companies and investors, in the GCC they have often included sovereign wealth funds or other entities with ties to the government. The most successful ventures, are those in which Israeli entities have shown a willingness to locate certain operations in the GCC country.

Published in TPS, January  21, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael assesses the volatile situation in Syria, highlighting the threats to the Kurdish minority and explaining how Turkish intervention negatively impacts Israeli security interests., He further addresses Israel’s strategic position in the Golan Heights, noting that geographical distance necessitates providing support to the Kurds through diplomatic pressure and U.S. coordination rather than direct military aid.,

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on January 20, 2026.

https://youtu.be/5YlsC2kv_VI

Prof. Kobi Michael analyzes President Trump’s vision for a new regional architecture, asserting that the Iranian regime must be toppled as it serves as the ultimate barrier to international stability and American hegemony.

He further argues that there is a direct connection between Iran and its proxies, emphasizing that the IDF must disarm Hamas before any international force or technocratic government can successfully operate in Gaza.

The full interview took place on ILTV on January 20, 2026.

claimed the proposal already signaled a break with the international order that has defined global politics for decades. The norms, international institutions and organizations and liberalism are out, and real politics, interests and power are in. Still, alliances are out, whereas allies and regional structures are in.The EU is much less important. We are talking about something which is much bigger than the Gaza Strip.

Published on Fox News on January 20, 2026.

Asher Fredman: Without disarmament, reconstruction can be, unfortunately, quite dangerous. I know that there are many people on the board and on the executive committee and advisors who understand this, who want to see Hamas disarmed, but because of all the details and this complex structure, it’s very unclear how that’s going to happen and how we’re going to prevent Hamas from taking over all this reconstruction material… unless and until Hamas disarms, we are only going to be heading down the path of disaster.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on January 18, 2026.