ARGUING YES
Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute
ARGUING NO
Senior Director of Policy Research at the Israel Policy Forum
MODERATOR
Host and Moderator-in-Chief
This week:
- New episode: Should Israel retaliate against Iran after recent missile strikes?
- A closer look at Iran and Israel’s military capabilities
- Your Sunday reading list
Iran is in the middle of an unprecedented moment in its history. In recent years, Iran has grown as a source of instability for the Middle East — especially for Israel.
In a new phase of the regional conflict that’s been on and off since April as a spillover of the Israel-Hamas War, assassinations of political leaders within Hamas and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and rocket strikes conducted in Iran, Israel, and southern Lebanon have many peoples’ eyes on the threat it poses to Israel. Most recently, Iran sent 180 missiles, striking Israel and the West Bank as a reaction to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, stating “whoever attacks, we will attack them.” Should Israel use this moment to strike Iran or are there better options?
Our debaters this week are authorities on Middle Eastern foreign policy and both advocate for Israel’s security. Arguing “yes” to strike is the director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute Michael Doran, who says that the U.S. should back Israel now in a large and coordinated military strike on nuclear facilities. Arguing “no” to this strategy is Senior Director of Policy Research at the Israel Policy Forum Dr. Shira Efron. She says striking now is playing into what Hezbollah, Hamas, and other enemies want in an all-out war and there are more risks in launching a surprise attack. Instead, Israel should focus on alternatives, including the elimination of Iran’s proxy networks.
Should Israel strike Iran? What would that mean for the U.S.’s stance in mediating between the two countries? Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. As always, let us know what you think.
DEBATING THE DATA
Which country has the bigger military advantage?
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Should Israel Strike Iran?
YES: Michael Doran
“Israel has to [strike Iran]. It has no choice. This is very much Iran’s war. Iran started it, and the goal of the war is to weaken not just Israel, but the American alliance system. The problem will only be solved by deterring Iran.”
NO: Shira Efron
“Israelis have felt, for the first time since 1948, that they’re facing an existential threat. The whole region is on edge. After a very painful year here, the IDF has finally achieved what we call ‘escalation dominance’ on Hezbollah. Let’s keep the eye on the ball, try to finish the proxies, and have a different strategy when we come to Iran.”
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