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INSIDE THE ATTACK ON IRAN WITH AVI MELAMED | UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY

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Interview of Avi Melamed on the Podcast “Unpacking Israeli History” about the Attack on Iran 2026-02 | “Emergencey Episode”

In this special episode, Noam Weissman sits down with Middle East expert and former Israeli intelligence official Avi Melamed to unpack the forces driving the Israel–Iran–U.S. confrontation. From the Sunni–Shiite split to Iran’s 1979 Islamic takeover, Avi explains how theology, grievance, and ideology shaped the Islamic Republic. He explores how Tehran’s proxy network, from Hezbollah to the Houthis, turned the Israeli–Palestinian conflict into a driver of regional escalation. They also confront the urgent question: What happens next?

🔹 Core Themes

  • Iran’s ideology — not just geopolitics — drives the regional conflict
  • The Sunni–Shiite divide remains a major fault line in Middle East politics
  • Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution reshaped regional power dynamics
  • Theology, historical grievance, and revolutionary ideology are central to Tehran’s worldview

🔹 Iran’s Regional Strategy

  • Iran operates through proxy forces rather than direct confrontation
  • Hezbollah and the Houthis serve as key instruments of Iranian influence
  • Proxy warfare allows escalation while maintaining plausible deniability
  • The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is leveraged to mobilize regional actors

🔹 Israel–Iran–U.S. Tensions

  • The confrontation is part of a broader regional power struggle
  • Actions across multiple fronts are interconnected
  • Understanding Iran’s motivations is essential to predicting future escalation

🔹 Forward-Looking Questions

  • What scenarios could trigger wider war?
  • How might U.S. involvement evolve?
  • What are the risks of miscalculation between Iran and Israel?

Avi Melamed is a former Israeli intelligence official and a former senior Arab affairs advisor. Fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, he is an apolitical non-partisan educator, analyst, and author. His area of expertise is the geopolitics of the contemporary Middle East. He paints a multidimensional picture of the realities in the region and provides an unparalleled understanding for forecasting its future events. Melamed’s non-profit, Inside the Middle East, provides courses and workshops which empower a wide range of audiences to understand the region to not only accurately project the developments that will take place throughout the Middle East but also the ramifications worldwide. His latest book “Inside The Middle East | Entering a New Era,” has received high acclaim from executives, journalists, think tanks, and thought leaders, many from across the Arab world. Under his guidance, in May 2023, ITME launched a five-part documentary series, خط التماس | Kav Ha Tefer | קו התפר | The Seam Line | Avi Melamed’s Jerusalem Living on the Edge of Eternity. The Seam Line is a unique opportunity to explore the conflict in and over Jerusalem, gain unique insights, uncover perspectives rarely explored by Western media, and understand the Israeli-Palestine conflict in the context of the complex reality of the Middle East.

If you want to have a better understanding of the news and what really drives the unfolding events…
Read the latest book of Avi Melamed,
INSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST | ENTERING A NEW ERA, available now >>>

Follow me on Twitter @AviMelamed; Facebook @InsideTheMiddleEast; for more Videos on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/AviMelamed

I can always be reached at Av*@********ed.com

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Avi Melamed
Avi Melamedhttps://insidethemiddle-east.com
Avi Melamed is an expert on current affairs in the Arab & Muslim World and their impact on Israel & the Middle East. A former Israeli Intelligence Official & Senior Official on Arab Affairs, Fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, he has held high-risk Government, Senior Advisory, Intelligence & Counter-Terrorist intelligence positions in Arab cities & communities - often in very sensitive times - on behalf of Israeli Government agencies. He is the Founder & CEO of Inside the Middle East | Intelligence Perspectives - an apolitical non-partisan curriculum using intelligence methodology to examine the Middle East. As an Author, Educator, Expert, and Strategic Intelligence Analyst, Avi provides Intelligence Analysis, Briefings, and Geopolitical Tours to diplomats, Israeli and foreign policymakers, global media outlets, and a wide variety of international businesses, organizations, and private clients on a range of Israel and Middle East Affairs.

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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New book by Avi Melamed, acclaimed intelligence & geopolitical analyst - Inside the middle east | Entering a new era | published in 2022

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