Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas Can the US-Israel Alliance Survive This War? - with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 11, 2026
Michael Oren, historian and former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., offers concise perspective on the current Middle East war. He traces the chain of miscalculations since October 7. He analyzes Iran’s role, partisan divides in American opinion, and the spread of conspiracies and antisemitic tropes. He assesses the resilience of Israel’s security ties and the case for diversifying its diplomatic partnerships.
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Stacked Miscalculations Sparked The Current Conflict
- Wars around October 7th stemmed from stacked miscalculations by Israel, Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and the U.S., not a single event.
- Examples: Israel assumed Hamas was pacified; Sinwar expected regional uprisings; Iran misjudged U.S. and Israeli responses.
Hamas And Iran Share A Survival Definition Of Victory
- Michael Oren argues Hamas and the Iranian regime share an ideological goal to remake a medieval-style Muslim empire and use terror and subterfuge.
- He highlights they define victory as surviving long-term pressure rather than territorial conquest.
Use A Cold War Model For Iran
- Oren recommends treating Iran like a Cold War adversary and sustaining pressure over decades rather than expecting quick military fixes.
- He notes pressure can be non-military and requires long-term strategic patience.
