The time has come to chart the next phase of the U.S.-Israel security relationship. Our new report by @RCBrandenburg, @GabrielEpsteinX, @elisaewers44, and @mkoplow lays out a vision for the next MOU: moving from a provider-recipient framework to a greater partnership.

Israel Policy Forum’s board of directors has elected Daryl Messinger of Palo Alto as board chair and Rick Rosen of Los Angeles as vice chair. In addition, Wendy C. Abrams and Steve Kersten of Chicago and Avi Gelboim of New York were elected to serve on the board. Messinger has held senior leadership roles at numerous American Jewish communal institutions. She was most recently the board chair of Leading Edge, an organization that raises the standard for talent, culture, and leadership across the Jewish nonprofit field. She is a longtime leader of the Reform movement, having served as board chair in North America of the Union for Reform Judaism and, most recently, as chair of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. “This is a pivotal moment for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Israel Policy Forum must chart a course for the future of this essential relationship and for U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is both realistic and resonant, and provide policymakers and community leaders with the resources needed to advance it,” said Messinger. “I am honored to be elected as IPF board chair at this critical time.” Messinger succeeds David Sherman of Chicago. During Sherman’s tenure as chair, Israel Policy Forum steadily expanded the size and scope of its activities in both Washington and in the Jewish community, particularly the IPF Atid young professional leadership programs. He will remain a member of Israel Policy Forum’s executive committee. “It continues to be an honor to work alongside our tremendous board and staff at a time when this work is so challenging yet so important,” said Sherman. “I was fortunate to build on the strong foundation set by my predecessor, Susie Gelman, and as I pass the baton to Daryl, this organization is poised to become more impactful in the critical years ahead.” Rick Rosen becomes vice chair, having served on the executive committee for five years. He is a founding member of WME, a talent agency enabling generations of artists and creators to achieve success, impact culture, and shape a better world. He succeeds Dana Linden, who will remain on Israel Policy Forum’s executive committee. Wendy C. Abrams joins the board, having most recently served as the chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish United Fund (JUF) of Chicago. She previously served as chair of National Women’s Philanthropy (NWP) of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Avi Gelboim is among the founders of Israel Policy Forum’s IPF Atid program, having hosted its first-ever program in New York nearly a decade ago. He is the principal of Scher Capital Management and manager of Scher Partners. He serves as trustee of the Sylvia & Robert Scher Charitable Foundation. Steve Kersten, a longtime Israel Policy Forum supporter, is the CEO of WaterSaver Faucet. He is a board member of the Brennan Center for Justice, a trustee at the University of Chicago, and serves on the board of UChicago Impact, the advisory council of the UChicago Urban Education Institute, and various city task forces for World Chicago Business. Bob Elman, Larry Gottlieb, and Bob Sugarman have stepped down from the Israel Policy Forum board at the conclusion of their terms. “Bob Elman and Bob Sugarman brought tremendous leadership gravitas, experience, and wisdom to IPF as it began its renaissance more than a dozen years ago,” said David Halperin, Israel Policy Forum’s CEO. “Larry Gottlieb, as our longtime treasurer, served as an essential partner in building our organization’s strength ever since,” he added. “We are so grateful for their years of commitment, leadership, and guidance.”

Let’s see what’s in the MOU and whether there’s anything beyond reopening Hormuz in return for ending the blockade, but don’t hold your breath for anything to happen at the end of the 60 day negotiating window. This was Trump’s MO with Gaza, and the Iran agreement has the hallmarks of the same pattern: negotiate a first phase that ends hostilities and gets the obvious stuff out of the way, promise a phase two that has all of the actual thorny issues and that never emerges, and declare victory and that peace has come to the Middle East. I’ll be thrilled to be wrong, but my prediction is that the U.S. does not go back to war and also doesn’t get a deal that definitely ends the nuclear threat but rather downblends uranium that remains in Iran and gets some vague promises about future enrichment. Israel will have to swallow all of this, and concentrate all its efforts on the more immediate and proximate threat of Hezbollah, and tearing up the immunity card that it has just been given.

The Israel-Iran-Hezbollah exchange on Sunday and Monday shows the box that Israel is in, though it also provided some new opportunities for Israel to probe. Here are three lessons for Israel to take away. israelpolicyforum.org/2026/0…

While this week's events have highlighted the enduring strategic conundrum posed by Iran, Israel does have some room to maneuver. In this week's Koplow Column, @mkoplow pulls apart the dynamics of the conflict and offers lessons for decision-makers. israelpolicyforum.org/2026/0…

🎧Latest #IsraelPolicyPod w/ @mkoplow @RCBrandenburg, recorded Tue: —This week's Iran-Israel escalation —Trump still seeking elusive Iran deal —Lebanon front as likely spoiler —US-Israel talks on new MOU —Politics of Israel in the US more. Listen: israelpolicyforum.org/2026/0…

On today's Israel Policy Briefing, @drothem and @GarrettNada, in conversation with @RCBrandenburg, unpacked the state of affairs between Israel and Iran, prospects for a durable ceasefire, the role of the U.S. administration, and more. youtube.com/live/9AsVjot752A

I spoke with @Newsweek about reports of a growing Trump-Netanyahu rift. I wouldn’t bet against the relationship—they have repeatedly proven more aligned than many observers assume. But ironically, the real test may be Iran: if Tehran remains confrontational, Trump and Netanyahu are likely to stay aligned. If Iran moves toward a genuine agreement with Washington, that could become the most serious test of the relationship.

On this #IsraelPolicyPod, @NeriZilber, @mkoplow, and @RCBrandenburg discuss this week's escalation between Israel and Iran, the ongoing negotiations over a new U.S.-Israel security assistance deal, the politics of Israel in America right now, and more. israelpolicyforum.org/2026/0…

Webinar Today at 12pm ET Register now: israelpolicyforum.zoom.us/we…

Join me and @IsraelPolicy4m colleagues @drothem and @RCBrandenburg for a webinar tomorrow on the #IranWar‌: israelpolicyforum.cmail19.co…

Webinar Tomorrow at 12pm ET: The Iran War’s One-Day Resumption Featuring @drothem and @GarrettNada Moderated by @RCBrandenburg Register here: israelpolicyforum.zoom.us/we…

“When you enter into a war on the basis of flawed assumptions… you end up with a situation with no good options,” says @NimrodNovik. “The assumption that Israel… can overnight change the regime in Iran was a fantasy and we’re paying the price of expectations unmet.”

On @hereandnow, Chief Policy Officer @mkoplow discussed the state of U.S.-Israel relations and the strain between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump following the war against Iran. wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/06/…

On today's Israel Policy Briefing, @RCBrandenburg and @mkoplow, in conversation with @dhalperin, unpacked the current juncture in U.S.-Israel ties and offered insight on how to advance the security partnership in the coming years and decades: youtube.com/watch?v=NAWGF3Ya…

Starting in one hour: Israel Policy Briefing on the next era of U.S.-Israel security cooperation Featuring @RCBrandenburg and @mkoplow, and moderated by @dhalperin Register now: israelpolicyforum.zoom.us/we…

Voting 106-0, the Knesset has passed the first reading of a bill to dissolve itself and head to elections. @xlederman unpacks the waning weeks of the 25th Knesset in this Inside Israeli Politics. israelpolicyforum.org/2026/0…