BICOM's Podcast

Episode 283 | Inside the Jewish Century

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Terry Newman about Israel’s transition into what he calls the Jewish Century. Newman argues that Israel’s mainstream Jewish majority is seeking to reclaim ownership of Jewish identity, culture, and tradition from increasingly radical religious monopolies. The conversation explores how this struggle is shaping debates over democracy, national ceremonies, education, and Israel’s evolving story at home and abroad, including its foreign policy and regional relationships.

Terry Newman is an entrepreneur and investor in the construction, security, and healthcare sectors. He has previously served as a strategic advisor at McKinsey & Company and as Chief of Staff to a member of the House of Lords. He is Chairman of BNA Public Council, a member of the World Jewish Congress, and holds degrees from Oxford University and Tel Aviv University.

Episode 282 | Approaching elections with the Israeli right

In this episode, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Jonathan Javor as they look ahead to the 2026 Knesset election. Javor who broadly reflects a right-wing perspective explains how Israeli politics has shifted towards the right and examines the electoral challenges facing Likud and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The conversation also reviews the role of the ultra-Orthodox, the prospects for Naftali Bennett and how security, identity, and coalition considerations are shaping Israeli politics.

Jonathan Javor is a political consultant specialising in campaign strategy and management. He has worked in politics and consultancy for over fifteen years and has consulted many senior politicians both in Israel and abroad, including Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister.

Episode 281 | Trump’s year in the Middle East

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Jonathan Paris, who outlines how Trump’s personalised diplomacy has reshaped regional dynamics. They discuss Trump’s relationships with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the new Syrian leadership. Jonathan also explains the US and Israeli strategy towards Iran and reflects on Yemen, Hezbollah, and the rise of antisemitism across Europe and the United States.

Jonathan Paris is a London-based Middle East analyst and former Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He also served as a consultant to the US government and was a Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Episode 280 | Countering AI misinformation

In this episode, recorded during BICOM briefing, Tal Hagin presents his VIST method for identifying AI generated misinformation, and discusses the use of AI in psychological operations and information warfare. Tal also outlines how AI-driven manipulation is reshaping conflict reporting and what can be done to counter deception with case studies from Gaza, Sudan, and Iran.

Tal Hagin is an Information Warfare Analyst and Media Literacy Lecturer with over a decade of experience in information warfare and strategic communication. He also works as research fellow for FakeReporter, an Israeli watchdog group focusing on combating fake news, online incitement, and foreign influence campaigns.

Episode 279 | Will the ceasefire with Hezbollah hold?

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Orna Mizrahi about where things stand a year after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, examining Hezbollah’s military recovery, the evolving Iranian role, the state of Lebanon’s political leadership, and whether a renewed round of conflict is becoming more likely.

Orna Mizrahi served for 26 years in the IDF, including as an intelligence analyst and as a senior officer in the Strategic Planning Division. She later spent twelve years at Israel’s National Security Council, culminating in her role as Deputy National Security Adviser. She now focuses on Israel–Lebanon dynamics, Hezbollah, and regional strategy at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).

Episode 278 | Inside Israeli diplomacy at the UN

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Jonathan Harounoff Israel’s Spokesperson to the United Nations. They discuss relations with the UK and other missions, combatting anti-Israeli prejudice including the debate over recognition of Palestinian statehood, and the next steps for the international stabilisation effort in Gaza. 

Jonathan was born in London, graduated with a degree in Arabic, Persian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. He completed his graduate studies in international relations, journalism and diplomacy at Harvard and received his master's from Columbia. Prior to the UN he worked as a journalist. He is also the author of Unveiled: Inside Iran’s #WomanLifeFreedom Revolt.

Episode 277 | Iran. What next?

In this episode, recorded live in London, Richard Pater speaks with Andrea Stricker and Behnam Ben Taleblu from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) about Iran’s nuclear, missile, and regional threat landscape five months after the Twelve-Day War and the snapback sanctions.

Together, they discuss the whereabouts and condition of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stock, as well as Iran’s use of proxies across the region. Andrea Stricker is Deputy Director of FDD’s Non-proliferation and Biodefense Program, and Behnam Ben Taleblu is Senior Director of FDD’s Iran Program.

Episode 276 | Saudi perspective on normalisation

In this episode, recorded during a BICOM media briefing, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Dr Najah Alotaibi and Dr Efrat Sopher about the prospects for Saudi–Israeli normalisation following the Gaza War. They discuss how Saudi Arabia’s social and educational reforms are reshaping public attitudes toward Israel. They also relate to the growing empowerment of women and the importance of grassroots initiatives.

Dr Najah Alotaibi is a Saudi academic, journalist and board member of MENA 2050. Dr Efrat Sopher is an Iranian Israeli security analyst and chair of the Board of Advisors at the Ezri Center for Iran and Gulf States Research at the University of Haifa.

Episode 275 | Inside Iran’s IRGC shadow network

In this episode, recorded during a BICOM media briefing, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Jonathan W. Hackett about the global reach of Iran’s intelligence and covert operations. Jonathan explains how the IRGC’s external apparatus evolved after 2009, outlines the shift from professionalised intelligence structures to more erratic and decentralised operations, and assesses the risks posed by Iranian networks. He also discusses the limitations of sanctions and the implications of proscribing the IRGC under UK counter-terror legislation.

Jonathan W. Hackett is a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer with 20 years’ experience in signals, HUMINT and counterintelligence, and has served with the National Security Agency, the Defence Intelligence Agency, and Special Operations Command. He is the author of Iran’s Shadow Weapons: Covert Action, Intelligence Operations and Unconventional Warfare and The Theory of Irregular Warfare.

Episode 274 | Behind the scenes of the Abraham Accords

In this episode, recorded during a media briefing, Richard Pater speaks with Shiri Fein-Grossman about the evolution of the Abraham Accords on their five-year anniversary. Shiri reflects on the foundations of Israel’s normalisation with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. She outlines the mechanics that made the accords resilient through conflict and discusses the prospects for future expansion to Saudi Arabia and parts of Africa.

Shiri Fein-Grossman is the CEO of the Israel-Africa Relations Institute and a board member of the Forum Dvorah. She previously served in a number of positions at Israel’s National Security Council culminating as the Head of the Foreign Policy Branch for Regional Affairs, where she played a central role in advancing Israel’s relations with the Abraham Accords countries.