Middle East Overview: Is Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge Eroding?
Featuring: Hazem Alghabra
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Time: 1 o’clock P.M.
This week, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, amidst much pageantry and fanfare, visited President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. What was promised to Riyadh was two squadrons of F 35 jets, a joint civil nuclear energy program and nearly 300 tanks. Meanwhile, despite assurances from Lebanese President Joseph Auon that Hezbollah would be disabled, there have been no demonstrable signs of that. On November 10th, President Trump also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the first time a Syrian President has visited the White House. President Trump had described the former al-Quada leader as a “ young, attractive guy-tough guy with a strong past.” Only months ago, there was a $10 million bounty on his head. On November 6th, exactly 4 days before the Trump-al Sharaa meeting, the United Nations lifted all sanctions against al-Sharaa. Meanwhile, in defiance of their international commitments, Iran has thrown out the International Atomic Energy Administration inspectors.
What is going on in the Middle East today, and what is happening to the US legal obligation that Israel always maintains a Qualitative Military Edge?
About Our Speaker: Hazem Alghabra, born in Damascus Syria, is the founder and president of Frontiers Consultants, a Washington DC-based consultancy firm that provides public relations and crisis management solutions with a focus on the Middle East and the United States. Prior to starting his firm, Alghabra held multiple positions with the U.S. Department of State including senior advisor for public affairs at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Alghabra provides daily insight and analysis as a commentator on a vast array of television stations including i24, Keshet, Alarabyia, Sky News, BBC, and Alsharq-Bloomberg.
