In this video titled "What Is Israel Thinking As War Widens in the Middle East?" hosted by Glenn Greenwald, Dr. John Mearsheimer examines Israel's current strategies and challenges in its ongoing conflicts, particularly with Gaza and Iran. He highlights a divide between Israeli leaders, with Prime Minister Netanyahu favoring continued military action while others push for a ceasefire. Mearsheimer critiques Israel's reliance on military force, questioning its effectiveness in today's geopolitical context.

He also discusses concerns about Israel's future military manpower, noting that by 2050 nearly half the population could be ultra-Orthodox, who typically do not serve in the military. Mearsheimer raises concerns about Israel's missile defense capabilities against adversaries like Hamas and Hezbollah, and he suggests that some of Israel's actions may be driven by non-rational impulses, such as religious beliefs or a desire for vengeance.

Mearsheimer also addresses Israel's treatment of Palestinians, comparing it to apartheid, and draws parallels between Israeli and American reactions to traumatic events like October 7th and 9/11, respectively. He warns of potential instability in neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt due to Israeli actions and criticizes the influence of the Israel Lobby on American foreign policy, which he believes limits the U.S.'s ability to pressure Israel.

Throughout, Mearsheimer expresses concern that Israel's current strategies may not be strategically sound and could have significant moral and geopolitical consequences.

John Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He is a prominent author known for works such as "Why Leaders Lie," "The Great Delusion," and "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy." Mearsheimer earned a master's degree in international relations while in the Air Force and later completed a doctorate in government at Cornell University, focusing on international relations.

Glenn Greenwald is an American journalist and former lawyer who gained prominence for his critiques of U.S. foreign policy and national security practices. He co-founded The Intercept in 2014, where he was an editor until 2020. After leaving The Intercept, Greenwald began self-publishing on Substack. He is known for his reporting on global surveillance programs based on documents leaked by Edward Snowden, which contributed to a Pulitzer Prize for The Guardian.