Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) is one of the most important young leaders in Washington. As the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest Conservative caucus in Congress, his views have a significant impact on the Middle East policy debate. Mr. Banks will present his views on Middle East issues, Biden Administration policies, and the role of Republicans in Congress in agreeing with or contesting those policies.

The New York Times has a history of major mistakes in the Middle East. For example, it relentlessly pushed the false WMDs in Iraq narrative and nearly always portrays Israel as an aggressor. What impact does this misreporting have on American perceptions and policy? Can the newspaper be held accountable?

Poland’s policies on Islamism and migration make it and Israel natural allies, especially at a time when Western Europe governments show increasing hostility toward the Jewish state. But a Polish law criminalizing mention of the role Polish citizens played in the Holocaust has poisoned relations between the two countries. Should Jerusalem pragmatically acquiesce to this historical revisionism in order to maintain good relations with Warsaw; or should it stick to its principles?

Netanyahu has 28 days to form government; can he patch one together with outside support by Islamists? Who is for and against, and what are the deeper dynamics? Tune on Tuesday, not Wednesday, for the answers.

Shurat HaDin (the Israel Law Center) confronts terrorists and their enablers where governments and intelligence agencies cannot: the civil court room. In less than two decades it has won more than US$2 billion in judgments from everyone from BDS bigots to state sponsors of terrorism. How does Shurat HaDin accomplish so much with limited resources, what are its goals, and what is its long-term impact?

The Establishment in France has for decades accommodated Islamists, but this has modestly changed in recent months, especially after the beheading of Samuel Paty last October. Has public opinion changed about Islamism? Survey research only goes so far because of concerns about being called an "Islamophobe." Applying data science to anonymous French tweets reveals a persistent anger that, if suitably channeled, could lead to a profound shift in policy. Can secularism make a comeback?

Israel's president has decided who gets first shot at forming a government. At this time, no one appears to have a path to 61 seats. What are the chances of ending the political impasse? Of election #5?

“Are Israeli Arabs finally moderating?” Daniel Pipes asked in late 2020. The speech on Apr. 1 by Mansour Abbas of the Islamist Ra’am party suggests just that possibility; further, he might become kingmaker following a closely divided Israeli election. Why did Abbas choose this novel route and how does he differ from his peers? What follows if an Islamist party joins a Zionist coalition?

Much has happened since the last round of Hezbollah-Israel warfare in 2006, with both sides very substantially increasing their arsenals. Moreover, Hezbollah has gained years of continuous field experience in the Syrian Civil War, while the IDF has implemented its Momentum tactics. Most observers say it’s not a question of if but of when a war breaks out. What are likely scenarios in such a conflagration? And what can we expect, given its armaments, geography and scale?

Israel's election is over, near-conclusive results are now in. Who is most likely to form the next government, the Bibi or the anti-Bibi faction?