Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs

The Wave of Antisemitism Did Not Begin Because of Israel’s Government Lt. Col. (res.) @MauriceHirsch4, attorney and Senior Researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), argues that the wave of antisemitism since October 7 is unrelated to the policies of the Israeli government. “The antisemitism we have seen since October 7 has nothing to do with the government,” Hirsch said, describing it instead as “a coordinated effort to delegitimize the Jewish state and the Jewish people in their historic homeland.” “First Zionism is the problem, then the Jews are the problem, and now the government is the problem,” he added. According to Hirsch, attempts to undermine the democratic choice of Israeli citizens are part of the same pattern.

IRAN CAN'T WIN THE MILITARY WAR. SO IT'S FIGHTING A DIFFERENT ONE. “The narrative war that they're winning is actually the one in the West,” warns @FDD_Iran's @therealBehnamBT Tehran knows it's outgunned by the U.S. and Israel. Its strategy? Cognitive warfare. AI-generated LEGO videos. Conspiracy theories. Propaganda targeting Western audiences. On JCFA's East to West, Taleblu explains @smartinezamir how Iran seeks to convince the West that pressure on Tehran is a bigger threat than the regime itself.

Iran Is Making Loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei Part of Its Political Routine The Iran Desk at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) reports that a ceremony titled “Labbaik, Sayyed Mojtaba” was held near Ali Khamenei’s grave, where participants renewed their allegiance to Iran’s new leader. Holding the ceremony beside his father’s grave symbolically connects the legacy of the former supreme leader with the transfer of authority to his son. According to the JCFA Iran Desk, repeating such ceremonies is intended to project continuity and regime stability at a time when the war, the economy, and negotiations remain deeply uncertain.

How Did a U.S. Pentagon Officer End Up Fighting Alongside the Kurds in Iraq? “One of my professors secretly entered Iraq in 1988, after the chemical attack on Halabja. His story inspired me to study Kurdish history,” recalls U.S. Brig.-Gen. @GeneralAudino . “Then I returned to the Pentagon, and suddenly I was told I would be joining a Kurdish unit.” Audino went on to spend a year serving alongside Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in Iraq. In the 100th episode of East to West, hosted by @smartinezamir, he shares what he learned from the Kurds, how Iran operates in the region, and what Americans still misunderstand about the Middle East.

Iran Wants to End the War Within a Week The Iran Desk at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran remains in contact with mediators in an effort to advance a “seven-day plan,” claiming it could be finalized in less than a week. However, there is still no agreed text, no date for a new round of talks, and no U.S. approval of the proposal. For Tehran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring normal maritime traffic are key elements of the deal it hopes to put on the table.

Trump’s Support for Israel Is Closely Linked to the Ongoing Campaign Against Iran Yoni Ben Menachem @BwMnhm, Middle East expert and Senior Researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), writes that Trump’s public support for Netanyahu is also driven by strategic considerations. According to senior diplomatic officials, Trump wants to present the campaign against Iran as a joint effort by Washington and Jerusalem and maintain continuity in coordination between the two countries ahead of further confrontation with Tehran.

Israel’s Elections Surprised the Pollsters. What Does This Mean for Netanyahu, Trump, and Iran? How does Israeli democracy really work? What was surprising about the election results, and what do they mean for the United States and Iran? In the premiere episode of Between Washington and Jerusalem, Dr. @Dan_Diker and Lt. Col. (res.) @MauriceHirsch4 of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) explain Israeli politics to an international audience. Have friends who struggle to understand Israeli politics? Share this episode with them.

Former Mossad Official: "A Window for Significant Action Against Iran Opens on November 5" Sagiv Asulin, a JCFA researcher and former Mossad official, told Israel’s Channel 14 that Iran is likely to operate “on the brink of war” until the U.S. midterm elections, potentially targeting American interests and taking action in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Asulin, the period following the elections could open a window for more significant action against Tehran. “The campaign is not yet over,” he warned.

IRAN WANTS A NEW REGIONAL SECURITY FRAMEWORK. JCFA's Iran Desk: Tehran is exploring cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, while Oman is promoting a non-aggression pact involving Gulf states, Iran and Iraq. But deep mistrust remains.

INTEL TO ACQUIRE ISRAELI QUANTUM SOFTWARE COMPANY FOR $2.2 BILLION. According to a report featured in JCFA’s Daily Alert, Intel is acquiring Israeli company Classiq, which is expected to become its global quantum computing development center.