Rational or Reckless? War, Iran, and the Limits of Strategy— with Michael Koplow

About this episode

The episode discusses the rationality of key players in the U.S.–Iran–Israel conflict and the implications for regional power and Jewish identity.

Are Trump, Netanyahu, and Iran acting like rational players—or are we misreading the logic of this war entirely? In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Chief Policy Officer at the Israel Policy Forum, Michael Koplow to assess a volatile and uncertain moment in U.S.–Iran–Israel relations. Amid a fragile ceasefire, they explore conflicting logics and interests driving American, Israeli, and Iranian decision-making, from domestic political pressure to competing visions of regional power. Their conversation considers whether military success can translate into lasting strategic gains, how the war is reshaping Israel’s relationship with the United States, and what it means for American Jews caught between support for Israel’s legitimacy and concern about its policies. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week: Read the Kogod Research Center’s new White Paper, Building Communities of Belonging: Jewish Identity, Conversion, Intermarriage, and Adjacency.

People in this episode

Host: Yehuda Kurtzer

Guest: Michael Koplow

Topics covered

• U.S.–Iran–Israel relations
• military strategy
• political pressure
• regional power dynamics
• Israel and U.S. relations
• Jewish identity

Keywords

• Trump
• Netanyahu
• Iran
• military success
• strategic gains
• ceasefire
• American Jews
• political pressure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Israel Policy Forum, Shalom Hartman Institute

Places: United States, Iran, Israel

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