1/3 On Al-Jazeera Thursday talking about the West Bank. Now that President Trump has said no West Bank annexation, here's what concerns me: Trump emphasizes no annexation to PM Netanyahu on Monday. But when Netanyahu goes home, some Israeli ministers may try small steps to undercut Trump’s position.

Postwar Gaza plans are now on the front burner in Washington and New York. Bob Silverman and I discuss our updated Plan for Postwar Gaza and other, comparable plans in this OpEd in the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: jstribune.com/warrick-silv...

A group of former senior US officials, of whom I’m one, has released our updated Plan for Postwar Gaza on the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune website: jstribune.com/wp-content/u...

On CTV News in Canada on Saturday talking about the visit of Secretary of State Rubio to Israel. The question is what he will say on behalf of President Trump about the Israeli efforts to annex the West Bank, which could undermine the Abraham Accords.

On BBC Arabic Sunday discussing the Rubio visit to Jerusalem. The open question is what message he conveyed about West Bank annexation. Annexation could disrupt the Abraham Accords and undermine one of Trump's most important diplomatic accomplishments.

On Al-Jazeera tonight, saying that @realDonaldTrump will ensure Qatari PM Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani hears tonight the depth of the US commitment to Qatar's security. On Gaza, Trump can be expected to say no one will, or should, pay to rebuild Gaza until Hamas is out of power and disarmed.

Providing context and analysis on Israel’s strike against Hamas in Qatar, on Bloomberg’s “Insight with Haslinda Amin” on Sept. 9. www.linkedin.com/posts/tom-wa...

As I explained on several news programs on Tuesday, Israel does not ask U.S. permission before conducting strikes it deems essential for its national security. Here is IsraeliPM Netanyahu explaining this in April 2025.

Quite a statement by the White House spokesperson criticizing the location of the Israeli strike against Hamas in Doha, Qatar.

Did you see this?

On Al-Ghad al-Arabi (Egypt) on Tuesday talking about the Israeli strike against Hamas in Doha, explaining that the United States does not give "green lights" to strikes like this, as the tweet from the Israeli Prime Minister's office made clear.

So this Executive Order going after countries that wrongfully detain Americans deserves broad support. We'll deal with "retaliation" by Iran, Russia, China, etc. later. This order is good news. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Explaining the upcoming U.S. Congressional session to Arabic-speaking audiences on the Al-Qahera News Channel (from Cairo, Egypt). The federal budget, aid to Ukraine, confirmation of nominees all dominate the substantive agenda. youtu.be/4iQ_yluzglE?...

On Al-Jazeera on Monday explaining President Trump's goals for ending the war in Gaza. He wants all hostages released, Hamas permanently out of power, and more humanitarian aid urgently to the people of Gaza.

On Aug. 31, on the Al-Qahera News Channel (Cairo) discussing President Trump's approach to staffing the NSC. Every president gets the NSC he wants. The resource and legal challenge this administration faces is whether the departments and agencies are able to carry out the president's agenda.

On Al-Ghad al-Arabi today discussing the status of peace efforts in Gaza.

Outstanding today to watch the House T&I Committee’s bipartisan support for HR 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management Act of 2025. Enormous support from both sides of the aisle for keeping FEMA but fixing its problems.

This will have obvious implications for other law enforcement agencies' ability to stop the crime that President Trump says he is is very concerned about. www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...

@DefenseOne says @SecDef is making borders, not China, DOD's #1 priority. Will the resources flow to match this, or was this done just to keep the WH happy? Military support to law enf. is supposed to be temporary. DOD is making it a core mission: www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/... via @DefenseOne

You may want to read this: www.justsecurity.org/119653/wjh-d...

This deserves to be widely read. www.justsecurity.org/119653/wjh-d...

Current and former employees warn that cuts and chaotic management at jeopardize FEMA’s response to the next Hurricane Katrina. www.standupforscience.net/fema-katrina...

Sebastian Gorka giving the “teaser trailer” for the upcoming #CTstrategy. Some very promising points in it: + “We will finish the job” to “demoralize and decapitate the most dangerous” terrorist groups threatening Americans so that “terrorism will no longer be a strategic threat” to the US.

On Al-Jazeera today, expressing hope that Hamas's acceptance of the Witkoff proposal is complete and unqualified. I know Israel is looking for any poison pills. We should know more Wednesday.

1/12 Some interesting points here I haven’t seen in print elsewhere. www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/... During March-July 2025, 20,000 tons of food got into Gaza, about 1/3 of what WFP deemed necessary. GHF head Johnnie Moore said July 30 GHF needs 3x to 4x more aid than it has funding.

Fascinating and undoubtedly controversial discussion between Philippe Sands and Ezra Klein on the Lemkin/Lauterpacht concepts of #genocide and #crimesagainsthumanity. Well worth reading if Gaza and Ukraine concern you. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/o...

Here is Israeli PM Netanyahu's vision of postwar Gaza: civilian governance, not permanent Israeli occupation. Interesting. Interview by @foxnews.com.web.brid.gy @billhemmer.bsky.social.

On Al-Jazeera Tuesday afternoon (DC time) I predicted President Trump would decide on a major increase in US humanitarian aid to Gaza and would call on Arab states and Israel to do more.

Excellent news about FEMA and #BRIC: apnews.com/article/fema...

The US needs to increase both focus and funding on strategic resilience to prevent more deaths from #flashfloods, for reasons I explain in this piece for the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social: www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

Save this clip! #FEMA #texasfloods Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson, July 23, 2025: “Resilience is a priority for me, and it’s a priority for FEMA.” – at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Sarah Labowitz has these important observations about strange delays in federal disaster assistance. Very concerning "When FEMA’s response to extreme weather is the disaster" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

On Ash-Shams TV (based in Irbil, Iraq) on Friday night talking about Syria. The Trump administration is not happy about Israel’s breaking the ceasefire Washington thought had been arranged. (A subsequent story in Axios confirmed what I said Friday night.)

As I said Sunday on the Al-Araby News Channel, the White House and State are both angry that Israeli airstrikes disrupted the first ceasefire in Suywaida, Syria. They want to see the new ceasefire upheld by all sides so that Syria-Israeli talks can get back on track.

Important analysis on what is being held up (delayed!) at #FEMA by @sarahlabo.bsky.social. As we were all taught in high school, not to decide ... is to decide.

Excellent and important news for those concerned about the need for greater strategic resilience against flash floods. NOAA is updating its flash flood forecasting models to incorporate trends, not just (increasingly out of date) historical data. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/...

Can we do this in neutrinos?

Looks like DHS needs to get a new soundtrack. @blackrebelmotorcycle www.comicsands.com/black-rebel-...

1/12 So here’s something hard to understand about the Trump administration’s immigration plans. The US has approximately 700 immigration judges, according to DOJ statistics: www.justice.gov/eoir/office-...

On Al-Jazeera's early morning program talking about President Trump's interest in getting ceasefire talks started in Doha.

This man is a hero. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/u...

On Al-Jazeera Sunday afternoon. This was one of those panel discussions that were just starting to get into the important issues when we ran out of time.

Explaining the national security implications of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” to TRT World. A large infusion of money for border security and immigration enforcement, but the shifting of billions of dollars of burdens onto the states will have significant implications for millions of Americans.

On Al-Jazeera on Saturday evening explaining President Trump’s commitment is to the process of negotiations, not to their outcome. That will take both sides having to make difficult decisions.

Hamas agrees to a ceasefire ... but wants the Gaza Humanitarian Fund out -- proof that control of aid and security is Hamas's real power play. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-jul...

Doug Lute and I write in today's Washington Post that Congress needs to protect our Afghan allies from deportation and the crippling fees in H.R. 1, the Big, Beautiful Bill Act. This is both national honor and a clear-eyed understanding of national security. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

This is a very bad thing for good governance. But it's true. wapo.st/4kjmqsn

I'm one of many people quoted in this NYT story today that DOGE cuts have reduced our capability to protect the homeland against threats from Iran: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/u...

Here's where things stand as of Tuesday noon on the Iran-Israel ceasefire and the negotiations to achieve a durable, verifiable nuclear deal.

Okay, so this sends a very distinct message, not least because Israel had a camera in place to record it: www.jpost.com/middle-east/...