[PREVIEW] Palestine, Iran and the Shifting Politics of the Middle East | Helena Cobban

Aug 5, 2026This discussion examined major developments affecting Palestine and the wider region, with a focus on political shifts in the United States, the US-Iran war, the situation in Lebanon, and the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.Helena Cobban, a writer and researcher on international affairs and president of Just World Educational, offered her analysis of these developments and what they could mean for the future. The conversation covered the growing support for Palestinian rights within parts of the US Democratic Party, including recent primary elections in Michigan and New York. Helena discussed the emergence of younger pro-Palestinian candidates, the role of Arab American voters, and divisions within both the Democratic and Republican parties over US support for Israel. She also examined the development of new alliances among Palestinian rights advocates and anti-Zionist Jewish groups. The discussion then turned to the US-Iran war and the conflicting accounts surrounding possible negotiations and a ceasefire. Helena explained why she believed US and Israeli expectations about the war had failed, and examined Iran's military resilience, its ability to protect key capabilities, and its use of deterrence and pressure against the United States and Gulf states. The conversation also explored Lebanon, including the Lebanese government's talks with Israel, the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United States, and the continuing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Helena discussed Israel's military actions in Lebanon and drew connections between the destruction there and the policies previously used in Gaza. The final part focused on Gaza and the so-called ceasefire. Helena discussed Hamas's offer to hand over its heavy weapons to a Palestinian administrative body, the dispute over the sequence of Israeli withdrawal and disarmament, and the role of the proposed Board of Peace and the United Nations. She also considered upcoming political developments, including the UN General Assembly, Israel's election, and the US midterm elections. The discussion ended with Helena explaining why she remained more optimistic than she had been for some time. She pointed to political changes in the United States, possible shifts within the United Nations, and what she described as the resilience and leadership of Palestinians and Iranians. Watch the full discussion for Helena Cobban's detailed analysis of these interconnected developments and their possible implications for Palestine and the wider region.