ITME FELLOWSHIPS

| FALL 2026 - ITME FELLOWSHIP |

OCTOBER 2026 to APRIL 2027

INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR UPCOMING ITME FELLOWSHIPS?

EMAIL US NOW!

VOICES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST

TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL, THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT, AND THE PALESTINIANS, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MIDDLE EAST.

Voices From The Middle East | About The Middle East is ITME’s international fellowship for motivated undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young leaders up to age 30.

Through direct access to Avi Melamed, regional experts, and curated Middle East resources, the Fellowship equips emerging leaders with the education, intelligence tools, and ambassador skills they need to lead contextualized, constructive conversations about Israel and the Middle East on their campuses, in their communities, and across divides.

Join renowned educator and Middle East Intelligence Analyst Avi Melamed, alongside regional experts from across the Middle East, and gain the knowledge, skills, and tools to become an Ambassador of Change.

 

Fellowship Structure
– Sunday Zoom Sessions | Live & Interactive with Avi & Regional Experts
– Weekly Assignments
– Mentoring
– Individual Capstone Project
– In-Person Capstone Weekend with Avi & Regional Experts

Application Items
– 1 Recommendation Letter
– Resume/CV
– Statement of Purpose
– Introduction Video

Application Deadline: August 1

Spring 2026 Fellowship Course Overview

FELLOWSHIP THROUGH THE EYES OF A FELLOW

INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR UPCOMING ITME FELLOWSHIPS?

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AVI MELAMED

Geopolitical Middle East expert, intelligence analyst, author, educator, founder, and CEO of Inside the Middle East Intelligence Perspectives [ITME], an institute dedicated to apolitical Middle East education.

With a rich history as a former Israeli Intelligence Official and Senior Advisor on Arab Affairs, Avi has been uniquely positioned at the intersection of diplomacy, education, and intelligence. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, Avi is recognized for his distinct understanding of current affairs in the Arab and Muslim world and their implications on Israel and the broader Middle East. His deep familiarity with the Arab and Muslim world has enabled him to predict key regional events.

Avi has authored three books on the region, produced “The Seam Line,” a five-part docuseries exploring the many layers of the conflict in and over Jerusalem, and the soon-to-be-released Inside The Middle East | The Primer, an educational film featuring voices from the Arab and Muslim world often absent in Western discourse.

>> MEET OUR GUESTS EDUCATORS >>

| FELLOWSHIPS by ITME |

EDUCATE > EQUIP > EMPOWER = CREATING AMBASSADORS OF CHANGE

Students, educators & professionals are navigating unprecedented pressure around Israel without the context or tools needed to make sense of what they are hearing, let alone respond effectively.

Most existing approaches fall into two categories: advocacy, which focuses on defending Israel or promoting a position, and education, which often reflects a Western, one-dimensional lens.

ITME fills the strategic gap between curriculum, academia, and advocacy by providing apolitical, intelligence-based Middle East education grounded in regional voices and critical thinking.

Students & Young Leaders (Up to 30)

An international fellowship for motivated undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young leaders up to the age of 30.

This Fellowship empowers emerging leaders to become Ambassadors of Change with the education, Intelligence Tools and Ambassador Skills they need to lead contextualized and constructive conversations about Israel and the Middle East across divides.

CAMPUS BASED SHLICHIM

A Fellowship designed specifically for Israel Campus Fellows working on North American college campuses.

This Fellowship empowers Israel Fellows to be trusted educators and leaders, providing the education and tools they need to support students navigating complex, polarized conversations about Israel on campus.

CUSTOM FELLOWSHIPS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Participants receive intelligence-based analytical tools and leadership communication skills to shift discussions from slogans to understanding. They emerge capable of leading with clarity, confidence, context, and credibility, strengthening the communities and institutions they serve by fostering constructive discourse rather than division. Through sustained engagement with Avi Melamed and regional experts, combined with applied learning and a culminating Capstone, Fellows transform regional knowledge and analytical discipline into practical leadership capacity.

Coleman B. Levy

Excellent explanation of the power struggle od Iran and Turkey and their respective methods to try and achieve their goals. A must read.

Susan

Avi’s book is a must read for everyone! He brings the Middle East, it’s history, countries, people and conflicts into very understandable focus. The region grapples with diverse players with varied agendas, and this book provides a roadmap to understanding and a look into possible futures for this important region.

William R. Hinson

I have long sought a book to explain what I thought was the source of most conflict in the Middle East: the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I obtained Inside the Middle East Entering A New Era and thought I would find the explanation I was looking for. This book gave me so much more than I expected! Mr. Melamed is not only a skilled writer, but an excellent educator! There are so many layers to the power struggles and conflicts in the Middle East that a casual observer can’t fathom. Mr. Melamed presents an overall picture of a complicated area and then peels back the layers that hide the true motivations of the players in this region. He uses concise historical thumbnails of Middle Eastern countries that give the reader an understanding of how and why they are where they are today without losing the reader in a sea of confusing detail. The index in the back of the book with an alphabetical listing of key individuals, organizations and concepts is incredibly helpful as a reference point as one is reading the book. I give Mr. Melamed great credit for his intimate understanding of the Middle East and his ability to convey his knowledge in an understandable form to his readers.

Yaron Ben

If you’re going to read ONE book about the Middle East, you MUST READ Inside The Middle East | Entering A New Era! The author does an incredible job of synthesizing events into one cohesive picture. The title does not disappoint. This book truly does take you inside the Middle East. The array of Arab voices the author cites and highlights bring information to the reader that is not covered in the Western media. Plus, the incredible number of maps really helped me follow the story in a very understandable way. This book offers a distinct and unique perspective on a broad array of Middle East issues – from Iran to Turkey; from Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria to Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia; from the Abraham Accords to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; from the realignments of interests to the changing balance of power in the region. Each chapter in itself and the entire book as a whole is gripping and eye-opening. It is clearly written by someone who has a rare understanding of the region. Avi Melamed is a voice that must be heard in the West! He has written the most comprehensive, understandable, and reader-friendly book on the Middle East that I have ever encountered. A MUST read for anyone who wants to really understand the region!

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