"With his superb book, Inside the Middle East, Avi Melamed accomplishes a rare and important feat: he breaks down the most volatile and complicated region on earth in a way that both policymakers and the average person can comprehend. Avi draws on his decades of experience in the dangerous trenches of the intelligence world to explain and unpack the factors that have led to the rise of ISIS, the Arab Spring, the Israel-Palestinian conflict and other crises that have long confounded the West. Even better, he offers invaluable insights and solutions on how to tackle these complex problems. With Inside the Middle East, Melamed cements his reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on the Middle East. Required reading for Western leaders and citizens alike." —Erick Stakelbeck, host of TBN's "The Watchman" and author of ISIS Exposed
"Inside the Middle East is a must read for all of us who have an interest in the Middle East but are tired of the conventional coverage of the region. Melamed gives a completely fresh look — blowing holes in the myths and concepts. He clearly and succinctly uncovers and explains in detail what really makes the region tick. And Melamed doesn't stop there, providing not only insight but also a clear direction forward. For those of us who have followed his writings, this comes as no surprise. Melamed has already made a name for himself with his hard hitting and to the point analysis. If this is your first introduction to Melamed, get ready for a great read, as well as a real eye opening experience that will leave you with entirely new views of the fast moving developments in the Middle East and their worldwide impact." —Bill Hutman, Managing Director, GlobalSource LLC
“An interesting and sweeping account of significant political trends in the Middle East by a former senior official in the Israeli government on Middle East strategic intelligence. The book’s chapters cover the drivers of these trends such as the Arab Spring, militant Islam and al Qaida post-Usama bin Laden, the rise of ISIS, the Iranian-Arab power struggle, the war in Syria, the future of the monarchic regimes, the failure of the West to influence developments in the Middle East, the rise of the Internet as a major regional force for change, and future trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
—Perspectives on Terrorism
"As the Fellow of Intelligence and Middle East Affairs at the Eisenhower Institute, Avi has created a new learning model and groundbreaking program — Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives. Through applying classic intelligence techniques, he is empowering young people with the tools to build an accurate view of the Middle East and to be media literate critical thinkers honoring the 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy of leadership excellence. Avi Melamed adds a desperately needed voice to the conversation about the Middle East and he consistently brings our attention to 'the story behind the story.' He is a keen analyst with a rare understanding of the Middle East — including what the future holds for the region. As a gifted and passionate educator, he offers us the insight and understanding so we can navigate the increasingly complex Middle East reality." —Major General William "Bill" Matz, US Army (Ret.), member of the Eisenhower Institute National Advisory Council
"Avi Melamed’s inside knowledge of the Middle East makes him a vital resource for anyone striving to find accurate context for today’s news from one of the world’s most intractable battle zones. If you really want to understand the Middle East and know where the region is heading, there is no better source. His expertise in the geo-political realities that face the Middle East is clear and concise. With unflinching accuracy and gripping facts, he illuminates the hard reality of war. His layered and nuanced analysis offers insight so far beyond the superficial that it shines a light on the profoundly layered nuance of this rich and complex region." —Linda Solomon Wood, CEO of Observer Media Group and editor in chief at the National Observer
"Avi Melamed is an outstanding Middle East analyst with exceptional insight into the Arab world based on his unique set of experiences (or professional history). Through Inside the Middle East, Avi grants his audience “behind the scenes” access to the drama of today's Middle East. His impressive track record in prognosticating actions and reactions is based on decades of professional experience and ongoing, painstaking work monitoring events and trends. The deep, yet highly engaging analysis of the different players, the developing trends, and their future implications offers the readers a unique compass to navigate the incredibly complex labyrinth of the Middle East." —Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir, National Director and CEO, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
"With his superb book, Inside the Middle East, Avi Melamed accomplishes a rare and important feat: he breaks down the most volatile and complicated region on earth in a way that both policymakers and the average person can comprehend. Avi draws on his decades of experience in the dangerous trenches of the intelligence world to explain and unpack the factors that have led to the rise of ISIS, the Arab Spring, the Israel-Palestinian conflict and other crises that have long confounded the West. Even better, he offers invaluable insights and solutions on how to tackle these complex problems. With Inside the Middle East, Melamed cements his reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on the Middle East. Required reading for Western leaders and citizens alike." —Erick Stakelbeck, host of TBN's "The Watchman" and author of ISIS Exposed
"Inside the Middle East is a must read for all of us who have an interest in the Middle East but are tired of the conventional coverage of the region. Melamed gives a completely fresh look — blowing holes in the myths and concepts. He clearly and succinctly uncovers and explains in detail what really makes the region tick. And Melamed doesn't stop there, providing not only insight but also a clear direction forward. For those of us who have followed his writings, this comes as no surprise. Melamed has already made a name for himself with his hard hitting and to the point analysis. If this is your first introduction to Melamed, get ready for a great read, as well as a real eye opening experience that will leave you with entirely new views of the fast moving developments in the Middle East and their worldwide impact." —Bill Hutman, Managing Director, GlobalSource LLC
“An interesting and sweeping account of significant political trends in the Middle East by a former senior official in the Israeli government on Middle East strategic intelligence. The book’s chapters cover the drivers of these trends such as the Arab Spring, militant Islam and al Qaida post-Usama bin Laden, the rise of ISIS, the Iranian-Arab power struggle, the war in Syria, the future of the monarchic regimes, the failure of the West to influence developments in the Middle East, the rise of the Internet as a major regional force for change, and future trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
—Perspectives on Terrorism
"As the Fellow of Intelligence and Middle East Affairs at the Eisenhower Institute, Avi has created a new learning model and groundbreaking program — Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives. Through applying classic intelligence techniques, he is empowering young people with the tools to build an accurate view of the Middle East and to be media literate critical thinkers honoring the 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy of leadership excellence. Avi Melamed adds a desperately needed voice to the conversation about the Middle East and he consistently brings our attention to 'the story behind the story.' He is a keen analyst with a rare understanding of the Middle East — including what the future holds for the region. As a gifted and passionate educator, he offers us the insight and understanding so we can navigate the increasingly complex Middle East reality." —Major General William "Bill" Matz, US Army (Ret.), member of the Eisenhower Institute National Advisory Council
"Avi Melamed’s inside knowledge of the Middle East makes him a vital resource for anyone striving to find accurate context for today’s news from one of the world’s most intractable battle zones. If you really want to understand the Middle East and know where the region is heading, there is no better source. His expertise in the geo-political realities that face the Middle East is clear and concise. With unflinching accuracy and gripping facts, he illuminates the hard reality of war. His layered and nuanced analysis offers insight so far beyond the superficial that it shines a light on the profoundly layered nuance of this rich and complex region." —Linda Solomon Wood, CEO of Observer Media Group and editor in chief at the National Observer
"Avi Melamed is an outstanding Middle East analyst with exceptional insight into the Arab world based on his unique set of experiences (or professional history). Through Inside the Middle East, Avi grants his audience “behind the scenes” access to the drama of today's Middle East. His impressive track record in prognosticating actions and reactions is based on decades of professional experience and ongoing, painstaking work monitoring events and trends. The deep, yet highly engaging analysis of the different players, the developing trends, and their future implications offers the readers a unique compass to navigate the incredibly complex labyrinth of the Middle East." —Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir, National Director and CEO, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
