FDD Morning Brief

IRAN, SYRIA, THE HOUTHIS ... AND MOREHEADLINE 1: The United States dropped the demand for normalization with Israel as a condition for advancing civil nuclear cooperation discussions with Saudi Arabia. HEADLINE 2: A mob at Columbia University disseminated pamphlets praising a Palestinian terrorist. There’s a reason people call this school Birzeit on the Hudson.HEADLINE 3: Israel’s ‘Qatargate’ scandal has gotten even messier. --FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of FDD's Iran Program.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

In this insightful discussion, Jonathan Conricus, a Senior Fellow and former IDF International Spokesperson, shares his expertise on the ever-changing Middle East landscape. He delves into the implications of Israel's upcoming Operation Gideon’s Chariots, examines the ramifications of U.S. policies on Israeli security, and analyzes the complexities of the Israel-Hamas conflict amidst ongoing hostage negotiations. Conricus also highlights shifting dynamics in Lebanon and critiques U.S. defense strategies, emphasizing the urgent need to curtail Iranian influence.

DOCUMENTING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE OCTOBER 7 MASSACREHEADLINE 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Qatar to stop playing games.HEADLINE 2: The UK arrested 8 men on suspected terror offenses.HEADLINE 3: Israel carried out a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with British historian and author Lord Andrew Roberts, who chaired the United Kingdom's October 7 Parliamentary Commission Report.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THE IMPACT OF FOREIGN FUNDING TO AMERICAN UNIVERSITIESHEADLINE 1: On Wednesday, two Israeli reservists were wounded in a roadside bomb attack in the northern West Bank. HEADLINE 2: Seven Iranian entities were slapped with U.S. sanctions on Wednesday.HEADLINE 3: Reuters published details from a 33-page document its reporters found in Damascus after the Assad regime was toppled.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Frannie Block, a reporter for The Free Press.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

ABRAHAM ACCORDS, TWO-STATE PARADIGM, AND U.S.-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKSHEADLINE 1: The Navy lost a $60 million fighter jet because of a Houthi missile attack.HEADLINE 2: An Israeli district court sentenced an Israeli citizen to 10 years in prison for treason.HEADLINE 3: Sectarian clashes broke out near Damascus in what people are still calling the new Syria.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

TARIFFS, TRUMP DOCTRINE, AND WHITE HOUSE DIVISIONSHEADLINE 1: The Palestinian Liberation Organization has a new vice president.HEADLINE 2: The Houthis launched yet another ballistic missile at Israel on Saturday morning.HEADLINE 3: Qatar and Saudi Arabia are settling Syria’s debt to the World Bank.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with author and Free Press columnist Batya Ungar-Sargon.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REALITIES IN ISRAEL POST-OCTOBER 7HEADLINE 1: The Palestinian Liberation Organization Central Council held a two-day meeting this week.HEADLINE 2: Iran may be operating a new, deeply buried tunnel and an expanded security perimeter near the Natanz nuclear site.HEADLINE 3: Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he is open to normalizing ties with Israel.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Reichman University lecturer Rachel Gur, who formerly served as deputy CEO of Lobby 99.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

SANCTIONS, ILLICIT FINANCE, AND THE IRANIAN PEOPLEHEADLINE 1: Egypt and Qatar reportedly tabled a new ceasefire proposal.HEADLINE 2: Another day, another round of Iran sanctions.HEADLINE 3: Egypt and China kicked off their first-ever joint air force exercise.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Saeed Ghasseminejad, senior Iran and financial economic advisor at FDD.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

SANCTIONS, TARIFFS, AND MOREHEADLINE 1: Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Hamas leaders over the weekend. HEADLINE 2: The U.S. and Iran held a second round of nuclear talks in Rome.HEADLINE 3: Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israeli troops in northern Gaza.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Juan Zarate, former deputy national security advisor for combating terrorism under George W. Bush and chairman and co-founder of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

MORAL COURAGE IN THE WAKE OF OCTOBER 7HEADLINE 1: Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in Moscow yesterday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.HEADLINE 2: Hamas is on the verge of bankruptcy.HEADLINE 3: The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the International Bank of Yemen.HEADLINE 4: Lebanese forces detained multiple people who fired rockets into Israel last month.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with actress and producer Debra Messing, who has used her platform to stand with Israel and against antisemitism in the wake of October 7, 2023.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief