ROPESCAST

Elizabeth Tsurkov has spent years doing what most researchers only read about — traveling into conflict zones, sitting with militia commanders, and listening to the people living inside the stories we think we understand. A doctoral candidate at Princeton and fellow at both the Middle East Policy Council in Washington and the Forum for Regional Thinking in Jerusalem, she is one of the sharpest ind...

In this episode of ROPESCAST, Ksenia Svetlova sits down with Dr. Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, who offers an interesting perspective on the shifting strategic landscape of the region. The discussion centers on Iran’s proxies and the evolving dynamics of relations between Tehran and Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Dr. Vakil explains how these...

In a special 50th episode of ROPESCAST, Ksenia Svetlova sits down with Ahmed Khuzaie, a strategic analyst from Bahrain who doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the reality of Gulf security. We recorded this as the region continues to deal with the messy aftermath of the war in Iran and the persistent weight of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ahmed has a fascinating take on the Abraham A...

Our new ROPESCAST episode features a high-stakes dialogue between host Ksenia Svetlova and Elliott Abrams, a veteran U.S. diplomat and foundational figure in American foreign policy who served as Deputy National Security Advisor and Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela. The discussion offers an analysis of the recent conflict with the Iranian regime, interrogating the strategic paradox of...

What happens when the "ghosts" of history dictate the wars of the future? In this episode of ROPESCAST, Ksenia Svetlova sits down with a man who has lived through the heart of the Iranian fire: Ambassador John Limbert. A veteran diplomat and scholar, Limbert holds a perspective few on earth possess—having spent 444 days as a hostage in Tehran during the 1979 crisis. Together, we go beyon...

In this deeply personal and high-stakes conversation, Iranian activist and former political dissident Dr. Daniel Dana joins the ROPESCAST to discuss what he believes is the imminent collapse of the Islamic Republic—and what comes next. Sentenced to death three times and forced into exile, Dana shares his decades-long fight against the regime, offering a rare insider perspective on Iran’s oppositio...

In this urgent and deeply personal episode of the ROPESCAST, we sit down with Nivine Sandouka of ALLMEP and Aviv Tatarsky of Ir Amim and Engaged Dharma to confront the accelerating reality of settler violence in the West Bank—and the growing evidence that it is not only unchecked, but increasingly state-sanctioned. Together, we unpack what’s happening on the ground: the patterns, the impunity, and...

In a visceral and urgent conversation recorded under fire in the Lebanese capital, Hussein Ibish joins The ROPESCAST to map out the "Day After" for Lebanon. We dive into the internal Lebanese struggle for sovereignty, the chances of Hezbollah laying down its arms, and the potential for a historic shift in relations between Jerusalem and Beirut. Chapters: 00:00 ROPESCAST Introduction 01:0...

In this new episode of the ROPESCAST , we talk with Mandana Irandoost – Iranian-British activist, media personality, and alum of the ROPES media program. We get into what’s happening right now inside Iran, the real challenges the anti-regime activists are dealing with, and whether change can actually come from within: through regular Iranians, protests, civil society pushing back enough to actuall...

In this episode of the Ropescast we explore the current military turning point by analyzing reports of massive Israeli "softening" strikes against Iranian regime targets along the Iraqi border, which are reportedly designed to facilitate the entry of Kurdish militias. The conversation also examines the high-stakes possibility of the US administration directly arming Kurdish forces to dis...

Is a direct war with Iran inevitable, and what happens the day after the first strike? In this episode of the ROPESCAST, we sit down with Sima Shine, former senior Mossad official and leading Iran expert at the INSS institute, to cut through the rhetoric and look at the hard calculus of a regional conflict. We break down the realistic scenarios of an escalation, analyze the current risk appetite i...

In the latest episode of ROPESCAST, we are joined by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Abderahman Salaheldin, a distinguished Egyptian diplomat and former Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs. This conversation provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of Israel-Egypt relations and the dynamics of the war in Gaza, while also revisiting the visionary goal of an encompassing reg...

In this episode of ROPESCAST, we speak with ROPES Alumni: Bahraini social entrepreneur and climate innovator Leena Al Olaimy. Together we explore how climate, coexistence, and peacebuilding are deeply interconnected in the Middle East. Leena reflects on her upbringing in Bahrain’s multicultural society, what peace looks like beyond diplomacy, and why civil society plays a crucial role in shaping t...

In this episode of the Ropescast we host Iraqi-born Linda Menuhin, a veteran journalist, anchor, and pioneer who launched numerous initiatives to celebrate the heritage of the Jews from the Arab world. We move beyond the headlines to talk about the shadows of the past in Iraq, the deep connections between Jews and their homelands and the future of Jewish-Arab cooperation for the sake of peace in t...

In this episode of ROPESCAST, Ksenia Svetlova is joined by human rights activist and Iranian opposition member Zahra Amanpour to provide an essential look at the historic shifts currently occurring within the Islamic Republic. The conversation opens with an analysis of the latest news from the ground, where millions of Iranians courageously protest against the regime, then tackles the challenging...

In this episode of ROPESCAST, we sit down with Hamza Howidy, a Palestinian activist whose journey offers a rare and vital perspective on the reality of life under Hamas. Born and raised in Gaza, Hamza was once indoctrinated by the group before becoming one of their most courageous critics, participating in the "We Want to Live" protests and facing imprisonment for his dissent. Now living...

Join us for a compelling conversation with Lucy Aharish, the groundbreaking journalist, news anchor, and actress who became the first Arab-Muslim presenter on mainstream Hebrew-language television. In this episode, Lucy speaks candidly about racism, discrimination, identity, and what the future of Israeli society could look like. With her trademark honesty and courage, she reflects on her personal...

In our new episode of ROPESCAST, we feature Rabbi Elhanan Miller, founding director of People of the Book, an educational non-profit that teaches Jewish faith and culture to Muslim audiences. Our guest offers a unique perspective on bridging religious divides through digital outreach that has reached remarkable scale - boasting some 500,000 subscribers and millions of monthly hits, primarily acros...

In our new episode of ROPESCAST, we feature Abdou El Kaoukabi, Director of the Education Department at Mimouna Association and former General Secretary of the organization. Our guest offers a unique perspective on Morocco's exceptional approach to preserving Jewish heritage and its role as a regional peacebuilder and mediator. With remarkable candor, he shares his personal journey to activism...

In our episode of ROPESCAST, we feature Mohammed Daraghmeh, a veteran Palestinian journalist and bureau chief of Al-Sharq TV (Saudi Arabia) in Ramallah, who brings decades of experience covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including his tenure as a senior correspondent for the AP in the West Bank. Daraghmhe offers a rare insider's perspective on how media coverage shapes—and often distorts—p...

In our episode of ROPESCAST, we feature Shadi Martini, a Syrian humanitarian activist, doctor, and entrepreneur, who offers a surprisingly hopeful perspective amid Syria's devastation. Martini, who had to run for his life back in 2012 when he helped treating wounded Syrians in Aleppo hospitals against the orders of Assad regime, reveals why he believes a unique diplomatic opening has emerged that...

Maoz Inon - Building Lasting Peace Post 07/10 In this transformative conversation on ROPESCAST, we welcome Israeli entrepreneur and peace activist Maoz Inon, whose personal journey exemplifies extraordinary resilience and vision in the face of tragedy. On October 7, 2023, Maoz lost both of his parents in the Hamas terror attack, yet he has found the courage and forgiveness in his heart to continue...

ROPESCAST | Episode 30 - From Syria with Love In this gripping episode, Syrian-American journalist Hayvy Bouzo joins host Ksenia Svetlova for a wide-ranging discussion about Syria at a historic crossroads. Following the dramatic fall of the Assad regime, Bouzo shares her insights on the opportunities and challenges facing Syria today. The conversation moves from high-stakes geopolitics and potenti...

With war still raging in Gaza with no end in sight, events over recent weeks have escalated concerns that the conflict could expand into a regional war involving Iran, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed actors. But how likely is such a conflagration, and what are the respective calculations of Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran? What is the status of the efforts by the administration of President Joseph...

Professor Dajani shares his experiences taking Palestinian students to Auschwitz and Jewish students to Palestinian refugee camps, emphasizing empathy and reconciliation. He discusses the challenges faced and the transformative impact on his students. The conversation also explores the current educational landscape in the Middle East and practical steps for fostering peace. Email: info@ropes.org W...