Ksenia Svetlova

Ksenia Svetlova, former member of the Israeli Knesset, discusses the policy options Israel faced post-October 7, emphasizing missed diplomatic opportunities. Yossi Meckleberg analyzes Israeli public sentiment and the potential for strategic leadership during the conflict. Retired General Ben Hodges offers insights on urban combat, critiquing civilian tolls and emphasizing the need for restraint. They explore whether a large-scale war was unavoidable, the implications of military decisions, and the future of the two-state solution in light of recent events.

Ksenia Svetlova, former Knesset member and Middle East expert, now leading ROPES and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. She maps Gulf–Iran relations, traces the origins of Iran’s ‘ring of fire’ proxy campaign, assesses why Gulf states might move from diplomacy to action, and evaluates Gulf militaries’ likely roles and Iran’s regime resilience.

In this engaging conversation, Ksenia Svetlova, a journalist and former member of the Israeli Knesset, shares her deep insights on women's rights in the Middle East. Svetlova discusses the stark contrasts in women's freedoms between urban and rural Syria since the civil war. She highlights Tunisia as a beacon of progress while detailing the dire situations in conflict zones. The troubling realities of women's rights in Israel are also unveiled, where religious laws complicate their autonomy. Her perspectives offer a poignant look at the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the region.