Avi Melamed Middle East Strategic Intelligence Analyst

Avi Melamed ~ Middle East Strategic Intelligence Analyst A New Middle East Requires a New Understanding

SAMPLE BRIEFINGS & INTELLIGENCE TOURS – SUMMER / FALL 2017

What is a Briefing?

 A Briefing is an INDOOR lecture / workshop / discussion that typically runs about 1 and 1/2 hours.

 A Briefing can be done anywhere in the world.

 A Briefing can be over breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, a drink, or as a stand-alone lecture, and is appropriate for groups of 1 to 1,000.

 A Briefing can be combined with an Intelligence Tour (for more on Intelligence Tours please see below).

 Each Briefing can be customized to the specific knowledge level and particular interest of the individual or group.

 Please note, the most important part of the briefing for me is the dialogue - so depending on the allocated time frame, I always adjust the time of my presentation to leave plenty of time for Question & Answers.

SAMPLE BRIEFINGS

DECODING THE MIDDLE EAST

The Middle East 2017: The Game of Pawns (NEW) A smoking volcano erupted into the Arab Awakening - and the aftershocks, including the War in Syria, the widening Sunni-Shi’ite rift, and the escalating Arab-Persian power struggle have brought about a tectonic plate movement that is shaping a new Middle East. My newest lecture, and the theme of my 2017 North American Lecture Tour, will take you beyond the headlines and on a complex and fascinating journey deep into the heart and minds of the Big Players and their Proxies and Pawns. Who are the major players? Who serves them? How do the proxies and pawns impact the reality of millions of people? Who really benefits from the existence of ISIS? How do factors like the Lebanese Shi’ite Hezbollah, the Palestinian Sunni Hamas, and Iraqi Shi’ite Militias view their role and place in the new Middle East? In the Middle East nothing exists in a vacuum – everything is connected, like links in a chain. “The Game of Pawns” gives you the map to follow the links and the lenses to see the multidimensional, multi-faceted reality of the Middle East today.

A Growing Whirlpool of Violence: The Middle East and the Trump Administration In 2017 the Middle East is spinning in a growing whirlpool of violence. What was the role of the Obama administration in the shaping of the Middle East today? What is the legacy of the Obama administration’s Middle East policy? How is the US viewed by the regional factors? What is the Middle East policy of the current Trump administration? What are the domestic, regional and global ramifications of the current US policy in the Middle East? An insider’s look into the current multi-dimensional reality, one that presents both challenges as well as opportunities. A Growing Whirlpool of Violence: The Middle East and the Trump Administration

GPS-Navigating the Middle East in the 21st Century In the second decade of the 21st Century the 20th Century Middle East disappears, and a new yet, at the same time an old Middle East emerges. This briefing provides a comprehensive understanding of the Middle East today including the background to today’s events, real time analysis of unfolding events in the Arab and Muslim world, their current and projected impact on the local, regional and global level, and provides you the tools, a “road map” or a “GPS” so you can navigate events on your own to predict where the future may lead…. Avi Melamed -2017 SAMPLE BRIEFINGS – Israel & Abroad (DECODING THE MIDDLE EAST…continued)

Book Talk: Inside the Middle East: Making Sense of the Most Dangerous and Complicated Place on Earth The lecture explains the background and conditions of the central events that are taking place in Arab societies in the middle of the second decade of the 21st century; to examine the processes and streams and players that are involved in shaping the face of Arab societies at this time; and to outline the possible repercussions and results – including obviously the ramifications on Israel’s geostrategic environment – of what is currently taking place within the Arab states.

America Must Revolutionize its Understanding of the Middle East For the past generation, America’s Middle East policy has primarily been a chronology of failures. These failures and many others certainly do not stem from a lack of resources, capacity, or gifted individuals. They stem from a more fundamental flaw. What is the flaw and what is the solution? That’s what this lecture is all about… For more see my article in The Hill

ISRAEL & THE ARAB WORLD

Arab-Israeli Conflict – Build Your Database This briefing focuses on building or strengthening the building-blocks of knowledge critical for understanding contemporary Israel and the Middle East.

Thinking Out of the Box - A Realistic Solution To The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict A generation has passed since the signing of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians. Oslo was guided by the concept that the two-state solution would finally resolve the conflict—but two decades later, Israelis and Palestinians remain caught in a sad, frustrating and vicious cycle that must be broken. In this lecture I offer an outside-the-box approach which can leave to a constructive breakthrough in the Arab-Palestinian arena and beyond. For more see my article in Forbes Magazine.

The Middle East Doesn’t Speak English - Arab Perspectives on Israel and the conflict Decades of working and being deeply immersed in the Arab World provides me with unique understanding, insight and most important – access to the Arab world. It is almost impossible for Westerners to understand that there are places in the world that truly think differently and act according to a world view and a set of principles that are completely foreign to the Western mindset. This lecture provides a behind the scenes view of Arab writers, thinkers, journalists, media personalities and the Arab street and their complex relationship with Israel.

The Knight and The Dragon: BDS and AntI-Israel sentiments This briefing offers unique, thought-provoking and insightful reflections and observations regarding the reasons and the environment which gave birth to BDS and anti-Israel sentiment within Western circles. This lecture provides a better understanding of the challenge and offers a more meaningful and productive counter to anti-Israel arguments which are applicable to any environment anywhere in the world.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Dancing Salsa with Niqab* - The Struggle Over Path, Identity and Direction in the Arab World This briefing tells the untold story in the Arab world today. What we are witnessing in front of our very eyes is a struggle over the path, identity and direction of the Arab world. This lecture presents the factors involved - their ideologies, outlooks, visions and goals We will look at how this struggle is playing out, influencing events throughout the region and what the ramifications will be on the people in the Middle East – including Israel. (*a veil an observant Muslim woman wears to cover her face)

Reign of Fear: The Ideological Roots Radical Islam This lecture gives an in-depth look at the ideological and spiritual sources of contemporary radical Sunni Islam and the potential impact of radical Islam on the regional and global political system. We will explore the ideological sources, modus operandi, similarities and differences, etc. between Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, ISIS, Jabhat-al Nusra, Salafi groups, and others sprouting up throughout the region and the world. Avi Melamed -2017 SAMPLE BRIEFINGS – Israel & Abroad (SPOTLIGHT ON…continued)

?The Gaza Challenge: Is there a light at the end of the tunnel This briefing offers up to the minute geostrategic perspectives and aspects of the situation in the Gaza Strip, explores the background, and the future impact on the region. How and why is the reality in the Gaza Strip – and therefore the reality in Israel – shaped in remote arenas? Who are the players involved? What are their interests? What are the current ramifications and possible short-term and long term outcomes? Is there a potential for a positive “day ?after” for both Israelis and Palestinians

The Jet Pilot wears a Veil: Women and the Arab Awakening This briefing focuses on the impact and ramifications of the Arab Awakening on the transformation of women’s role and status within Arab societies, politics and culture. Together we’ll explore an amazing, multi-faceted picture of the challenges and prospects the Arab Awakening presents to women in the Arab world.

The War in Syria and the Realigning Middle East The war in Syria is one of the most dramatic events in the history of the Middle East. The ramifications will be global and the outcome of the war will play a substantial role in the shaping of the region and the future of the Middle East and the world. This briefing explores what led to the conflict, the factors involved in the war, why the conflict is so significant, the ramifications on the region in general and on Israel in particular, and where the conflict is heading…

WORKSHOPS & PROGRAMS

007 With a Keyboard: A Unique Workshop - Learn HOW to Think, not WHAT to Think… A workshop that creates media literate critical thinkers who will question information and implement professional intelligence skills of thinking and analysis. This is the same methodology I use in my revolutionary program, Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives under the auspices of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College.

This two-part workshop (can be condensed) is designed to provide the basic tools and terminology of Intelligence Analysis. Participants learn how to evaluate information so they will not accept “narratives” as fact, and will “question what they know.” Through a simple methodological process and hands-on work, by the end of the workshop participants will produce their first professional Intelligence Report.

Part one (60 minutes): Reading Arabic in English – In this session participants practice intelligence gathering through open sources from the Middle East and learn to apply and develop media literacy skills.

Part Two (90 Minutes): 007 With a Keyboard – In this session participants are provided with simple, useful critical thinking terminology and tools. They learn to look at and analyze information as a professional intelligence professional and they practice writing their first Intelligence Report.

Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives (“ITME”) of the Eisenhower Institute is a program that provides participants a unique, nonpartisan education on the contemporary Middle East, while teaching critical analysis and media literacy in a unique and innovative fashion. ITME provide a distinct, non-partisan perspective on the contemporary Middle East and uses intelligence methodology to educate participants how to think - not what to think.

The program in its entirety is a full year, but it can be adapted to a semester, a week, a few days, or a few hours.

Mobile: +972-505-40-99-05 US Land Line: 1-202-239-8879 [email protected] www.avimelamed.com BRIEFINGS & INTELLIGENCE TOURS – SUMMER / FALL 2017

What is an Intelligence Tour?

 An Intelligence Tour is an OUTDOOR lecture / workshop / discussion that can anywhere from 1 and a 1/2 hours, to a half-day, full day, to multiple days.

 Depending on time and budget, an Intelligence Tour can also consist of a more than one location or can also be a combination of an Indoor Briefing and an Intelligence Tour.

 An Intelligence Tour is appropriate for groups of 1 to 100 and can be with vehicles or helicopters or a mixture of both.

 Each Briefing can be customized to the specific knowledge level and particular interest of the individual or group.

SAMPLE INTELLIGENCE TOURS

Israel Update – Build Your Database This briefing focuses on building or strengthening the building-blocks of knowledge critical for understanding contemporary Israel and the Middle East. Terms like “West Bank,” “Settlements,” “The Anti-Terror Fence,” “The Green Line,” “Defensible Borders,” and “Israel’s Narrow Waist” are more tangible because you see them on the ground.

(Excellent briefing for any point in an individual or group trip, especially effective in the beginning of a course, trip, Mission, etc. because it focuses on understanding the Israeli and Middle East map and building a solid regional database on which to study and learn about Israel and the Middle East).

Jerusalem – Seeing is the Key to Understanding When it seems like the Old City, East and West Jerusalem are in the palm of your hand, when in one glance you overlook The Anti-Terror Fence and Bethlehem, and when you can see Ramallah, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea from the one spot you begin to build a holistic and comprehensive picture of the region and can better grapple with the real issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this briefing we will delve into the complexity of Jerusalem, explore the specific issues related to Jerusalem such as its borders, its geography, demography, political structure, its strategic importance and more.

The Anti-Terror Fence (In Jerusalem or along Road 6 in the Sharon Region) Like many other countries like Sudan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, Israel has built a protective fence. Whether in Jerusalem or along Road 6, visiting the Anti-Terror Fence provides a framework to explore the myriad of on-the- ground-security issues Israel grapples with, including the challenge of suicide bombers. We will discuss why the Fence was built and its impact and I will share behind the scenes stories regarding the way Israel confronts the challenge of terrorism and suicide bombers.

Egyptian and Jordanian Borders Eilat, located on the Red Sea, occupies one of the most strategic and least explored security regions in Israel. Eilat borders Jordan – Israel’s most peaceful border, the Sinai desert – which has become more and more threatening as terror groups and weapons flow freely, and Eilat is only a stones-throw from Saudi Arabia – the most powerful player in the all-important Arabian Gulf. Eilat is the perfect location to discuss the geopolitical environment in the Arabian Peninsula and their largest concern – the Iranian nuclear project. We will use the platform to discuss the domestic environment in Jordan and the thus far, stability of the Monarchies from Jordan through the Gulf, in the Arab Spring / Arab Awakening. We will explore the challenges Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and all the countries sitting at the gateway to Africa face from the Sinai and the continent beyond.

Avi Melamed -2017 SAMPLE BRIEFINGS – Israel & Abroad (INTEL(TOURS - continued)

Gaza Border Standing in Israel you can see almost half of the Gaza Strip. That is when you begin to understand the security challenges of the southern region in a different way. On the Gaza border we will discuss the security threat this region has been subject to for decades and explore the origins and the aftermath of Israel’s latest attempt to “stop the rockets” – Operation “Protective Edge.” We will delve into the Arab Spring / Arab Awakening and discuss how events in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Sinai impact the Hamas leadership in Gaza and the lives of the Palestinians living there. We will also explore how the ever-evolving alliances, allegiances and conflicts impact and influence Palestinian identity, the Palestinian narrative and ambitions, the Fatah-Hamas relationship and the dynamic between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world.

Golan Heights (Syrian Border) The Golan Heights has been Israel’s calmest border. Current events put the future of the security future of this area in question. The war in Syria, one of the the most significant events in the history of the Middle East, has been brewing for generations – it is ripping apart the fabric of the society and putting the future of the region in question. Standing on the border, a mere twenty miles from Damascus, we will explore in depth the war in Syria, discuss the potential for the “Sinaization” of the Golan, understand the sources and impact of Assad’s allegiances and alliances from the Russia to Turkey to Iran, and how the war impacts Syria, the region including Israel’s current and future behavior and outlook and the world.

Lebanese Border The view from Israel into Lebanon is breathtaking. However, external forces and inner struggles have wrenched this county for generations. Standing on the border we will delve deeper into the history of the country and the area, explore the major forces that play a role in this struggling country, see and understand the impact of the primary players including Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria on southern Lebanon and Israel and understand why the complex fiber of Lebanon and Lebanese society makes it fertile ground for continuing violence and chaos. It is against this backdrop that we will discuss the current atmosphere in the country, the impact on Israel’s geostrategic posture, the future of Lebanon and the ramifications on the region.

Sinai Border Egypt and Israel have had a Peace Treaty since 1979, yet this is one of Israel’s most challenging borders. Events in Egypt and in the Sinai have direct ramifications on Israel’s security environment. Standing on the Sinai border we will discuss events in Egypt, the biggest and most important Arab state, the Arab Spring / Arab Awakening, the environment in the Sinai and its impact on events in the Gaza Strip, and the complicated relationships in the area. We will explore the rise and fall of the Muslim Brotherhood, the security challenges Israel faces in the proliferation of militant groups in the Sinai, outline Egypt’s major challenges and its struggle – for the first time – to forge a consensus and a national identity. We will look at where is Egypt heading and how events across the Sinai Peninsula, Africa and beyond impact Israel on multiple levels including the social, security and economic arenas.

Additional Notes on Intelligence Tours:

An Intelligence Tour can be one of the Intel Tours above OR you can combine different Intel Tours OR you can combine Briefing(s) & Intel Tour(s).

An Intelligence Tour can focus on a specific topic OR can combine different topics

An Intelligence Tour can also be done in one region OR multiple regions and can be with vehicles or helicopters or a mixture of both.

An Intelligence Tour can be as short as 1 and a ½ hours or we can build you a multi-day IntelEdventure – Ask us for more details!

Mobile: +972-505-40-99-05 US Land Line: 1-202-239-8879 [email protected] www.avimelamed.com