Seth J. Frantzman
Seth J. Frantzman is the senior Middle East Correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. He has covered the war against Islamic State, several Gaza wars, the conflict in Ukraine, refugee crises in Eastern Europe, and also reported from Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Senegal, the UAE, Ukraine, and Russia since 2011. He is the author of three books: The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024), Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future (2021), and After ISIS: America, Iran and the Struggle for the Middle East (2019). He is an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
Born in Maine, he received his Ph.D from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2010. He previously served as a research associate at the Rubin Center for Research in International Affairs at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya and a lecturer in American Studies at Al-Quds University. He is Executive Director of The Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis and was a Ginsburg/Milstein Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Frantzman has conducted research and worked for the JDC, The Shalem Center, the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, and as a Post-Doctoral at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was a Congressional intern for Congressman Jim Kolbe while studying at The University of Arizona.
He is a public speaker and frequent guest on various media as well as a contributor to Defense News, The Hill, The Spectator, and The National Interest, among other publications. His current interests include regional security and geopolitics.
Sunni candidate killed ahead of Iraq’s November parliamentary elections
Syria’s President Sharaa makes historic trip to Russia - analysis
Are Arab states already pessimistic about the future of the Gaza deal? - analysis
Will the US-backed SDF integrate with Syria’s new security forces? - analysis
Since the Assad regime fell, Syrian Kurdish-led forces have clashed with the new government's forces.
Hamas initiates reign of terror to assert power in Gaza - analysis
Hamas has launched several attacks on rival clans, killing "collaborators" attempting to challenge Hamas's superiority in post-ceasefire Gaza.
Major challenges remain after release of 20 living hostages - analysis
This is not the first time a deal has failed to reach the second stage. The January 2025 deal also didn’t reach the second phase.
How the Arab and Muslim world is preparing for Trump’s Egypt summit - analysis
"The summit aims to end the genocidal Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, boost efforts toward lasting peace, and usher in a new era of regional security," according to Egyptian media.
Peace through strength: Understanding why Trump succeeded where others failed - analysis
Trump doesn't like long wars. His tendency to want results, focus on personal relationships, and transactionalist mindset allowed him to do what no other US president had done before.
Hezbollah MP in Lebanon slams US, Israel
Hezbollah member of parliament Ali Fayyad slammed what he called American “subjugation” of Lebanon and demanded Lebanon not “normalize” with the “enemy,” according to Al-Akhbar media in Lebanon.
Egypt’s influence rises with hosting of peace summits
Egypt boosts its regional role by hosting the Gaza peace summit with US President Donald Trump and 20 world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13.
Syria’s SDF anti-ISIS fighters look to future after 10 year anniversary
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces mark 10 years as a US-backed anti-ISIS force, signaling plans to integrate with the Syrian army under a new deal.
Turkey eyes more influence in Iraq, Syria, Gaza after deal - analysis
Erdogan hopes the deals can pave the way for more Turkish influence in Gaza and around the region.
Syria tentatively warms Lebanon relations while keeping Hezbollah at bay - analysis
Israel continues to strike Hezbollah, and this aids Syria by keeping the group in check. However, Lebanon’s government has vowed to disarm Hezbollah and has not completed the task yet.