Israel's Wars and Prospects for Peace in the Middle East | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Dec 17, 2025

Joining H.R. McMaster, Zohar Palti, former Israeli defense official and ex-Mossad intelligence leader, dives deep into Israel's security landscape post-October 7 attacks. He analyzes critical intelligence failures, the rise of Hamas, and the broader implications of Iran's proxy network. Palti underscores the importance of U.S.–Israel cooperation to counter threats and advocates for sustained American engagement in the Middle East. His insights reflect decades of experience in navigating the intricate web of regional security and diplomatic challenges.

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INSIGHT

Accountability Shapes Israeli Politics

Israel's political crisis after October 7 reflects deep accountability norms where leaders resign after major failures.
Zohar Palti warns current government lacks responsibility and unity needed for national healing.

INSIGHT

Arrogance And Tech Reliance Caused The Surprise

Israel's intelligence and internal services failed to provide early warning before October 7.
Palti attributes the surprise to arrogance and overreliance on technology despite strong capabilities.

INSIGHT

Iran's Long Game And Israel's Prepared Response

Iran built a regional 'ring of fire' using proxies, missiles, and UAVs over decades.
Palti says Israel prepared long-term capabilities to dominate airspace against that threat within days.

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Join Mr. Zohar Palti, former director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Israel’s security posture after the October 7 attacks, strategic lessons of the war in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and beyond, and the implications of the Trump-brokered peace agreement for Israel, the broader Middle East, and global security. Drawing on decades of experience within Israel’s security and intelligence community, Palti assesses the prospects for regional stability, the future of Hamas in Gaza, emerging opportunities and risks in Lebanon and Syria, and the critical role of U.S.–Israel cooperation in countering Iranian aggression. Palti reflects on the necessity of sustained American engagement in the Middle East and the shared responsibility of democratic nations to confront terrorist and proxy threats while upholding the democratic principles they seek to protect.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Zohar Palti is the former Director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense. He previously led the Mossad Intelligence Directorate and served as the agency’s Chief of Counterterrorism, following twenty-five years in the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Corps. Mr. Palti has also been a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and is currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Public Service for strengthening U.S.–Israel strategic defense cooperation.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.