East to West | Voices of the Middle East

In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen sits down with Elyana Elyan, a Kurdish political analyst, to unpack the story of Iran’s Kurds, from decades of repression to the protests sparked by Jina Amini. They break down whether Kurdish groups could play a major role if the Iranian regime weakens, what Kurdish parties actually want, and why the region, and powers like the U.S., Israel, and Turkey, are watching closely.

In this episode of East to West, JCFA expert, Ella Rosenberg, breaks down with Balig Sladeen how Tehran is making "every single mistake possible" by attacking GCC energy sources and closing maritime straits. They explore how the US and Sunni states are gaining total control over Middle Eastern energy and what a potential "Middle Eastern Union" could mean for the future.

Vahid Beheshti, a political activist and the founder of Iran Front, joins East to West with Balig Sladeen to chat about the current situation in the Middle East and the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Beheshti dives into the situation in Iran, talking about the potential for a new secular democratic system in Iran focused on human rights and social justice.

Türkü Avci, a Muslim Turkish woman and a Zionist studying in Israel, joins East to West with Balig Sladeen to discuss her life, her Muslim-Zionist identity, and the dramatic changes taking place in Turkey.When she publicly identified as a Zionist, the video went viral in Turkey, leading to an arrest warrant from the Turkish government. Turku shares her story of growing up in a secular Turkey, her fear that Erdoğan is radicalizing the country using the Palestinian issue, and why she feels Turkey is becoming a "middle eastern corrupted country". Now facing exile, Turku discusses her plans to apply for asylum.

In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen speaks with Dr. Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, about the strategic questions shaping Gaza and the wider region. The conversation looks at post-conflict governance, regional power dynamics, the U.S.-Israel partnership, and the broader Middle East context, including Iran and regional security considerations.

In this episode of East to West, host Balig Sladeen sits down with Elyana Elyan, a Kurdish political analyst and activist, to talk about what’s happening to the Kurds, and why it suddenly matters more than ever. They discuss who the Kurds are, why they remain stateless, what’s unfolding in northern Syria today, and how years of conflict have shaped Kurdish life across the region. Iliyana explains the cultural values of Kurdish society, the challenges Kurds face after fighting ISIS, and why many fear being forgotten once again.

In this episode of East to West, host Balig Sladeen speaks with Soraya Dean, a Muslim lawyer and activist, about what is being taught in mosques, the spread of antisemitism, and why condemnation without action has failed. Dean explains why Muslim leadership must confront these teachings directly and why recognizing Israel’s right to exist is unavoidable.

In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen speaks with Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, an expert on Turkey at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, about Turkey’s expanding role in the Middle East and its growing challenge to Israel’s security.The conversation examines Ankara’s post–October 7 shift toward Hamas, its neo-Ottoman ambitions in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and beyond, and why Israel can no longer afford to underestimate Turkey as a regional actor. From hostage mediation and ceasefire dynamics to Turkish aspirations for a guarantor role in Gaza, the episode explores how Turkey’s policies are reshaping regional power balances and Israeli strategic thinking.

Iran is facing one of its most dangerous internal moments in decades. As protests spread, infrastructure collapses and the currency plunges, the regime is struggling to contain public anger, while still pouring resources into missiles, proxies and nuclear ambitions.In this episode of East to West, host Balig Sladeen is joined by Ella Rosenberg, Senior Fellow on Counter Terrorism Financing at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), to break down why this crisis feels different. From failed sanctions enforcement and Iran’s shadow oil trade with China, to Hezbollah’s financial networks, Venezuela’s collapse, and the growing unrest inside Iran itself — this conversation exposes the regime’s vulnerabilities and the hard choices facing the West.Is Iran entering the beginning of the end — or preparing for its most dangerous phase yet?

Israel has formally recognized Somaliland, a self-governing region in the Horn of Africa. In this episode of East to West, host Balig Sladeen speaks with Mostafa Hasan, former Director of Intelligence of Somaliland, about the legal basis for Somaliland’s statehood, the strategic interests behind Israel’s decision, and the potential implications for regional security, diplomacy, and stability in the Horn of Africa.