In my program Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives now going into its 5th year under the auspices of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, I emphasize to my students the importance of Critical Thinking, Media Literacy, and an Interrogative Approach. Today I came across a perfect example to illustrate the importance of both of those skills in an article…

Click Here to Download a PDF of this Bulletin   Intelligence Bulletin Al Hazimi Ideology: Radicalization of Extremism   July 23, 2017 Information: Major Arab information platforms, including Elaph and Al Arabiya, have just recently introduced a person named Ahmad Bin Omar Al Hazimi, a Saudi Salafi-Jihadi preacher advocating what is described as “a more extreme and brutal version of…

ANNOUNCING MY NEW LECTURE TOUR SEPTEMBER 27- NOVEMBER 25, 2017   Game of Pawns ~ The Middle East 2017   A smoking volcano erupted into the Arab Awakening – and the aftershocks, including the War in Syria, the widening Sunni-Shi’ite rift, and the escalating Arab-Persian power struggle have brought about a tectonic plate movement that is shaping a new Middle…

This video (to watch the video click below on “READ MORE”) compliments my latest article: This will also be the theme of my upcoming  North American Tour – February 7 – March 27, 2017. If you would like to invite me to speak to your community please email me at avi@avimelamed.com. Thank you, and as always, I hope you find this video…

July 1st, 2016 by Avi Melamed General Background: The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, Harakat al-Jihād al-Islāmi fi Filastīn, most widely known as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is a Sunni Islamic group, established in the late 1970’s. The PIJ is a Palestinian organization inspired by Jihadi Islamist Militant ideology. The goal of Jihadi Islamist Militant ideology is to create,…

by Avi Melamed For the past generation, America’s Middle East policy has primarily been a chronology of failures. The proactive promotion of democratization in Iraq, Egypt, and the Palestinian arena resulted in catastrophes. Leading from behind appears to have failed too, as chaos in the Middle East deepens, and U.S. outreach to Iran raises tensions and creates instability in the…

A few days ago the seventeen fellows – and now proud graduates – of the 2015-2016 Eisenhower Institute, Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives program, concluded eight months of studying and an eleven-day challenging, educational, engaging, exciting and meaningful Field Seminar to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Here is a link to a beautiful gallery of pictures from the tour!…

Published in Inside Sources in May 4, 2016 Restoring U.S. Influence in the Middle East by Avi Melamed The United States is viewed in the Middle East today as a declining power with a diminished ability to influence events and lead. The Arab states, Turkey, and Israel are disturbed by U.S. policy in the Middle East—primarily America’s extended hand towards Iran,…

Published on March 28, 2016, 04:00 pm on The Hill Congressional Blog The Hills Forum for Lawmakers and Policy Professionals For the past generation, America’s Middle East policy has primarily been a chronology of failures. The proactive promotion of democratization in Iraq, Egypt, and the Palestinian arena resulted in catastrophes. Leading from behind appears to have failed too, as chaos in the…