Dear President-elect: Put education at the center of your Mideast strategy

Dear President-elect,

As you prepare to assume the world’s most powerful office, the stakes for the Middle East could not be higher.

Israel, our closest ally in the region, faces an existential threat from Iran, its terror proxies, and evil axis of support. As the leader of an organization dedicated to educating senior government leaders on the U.S.-Israel relationship, I write this as an appeal for the United States to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Israel’s quest to rid the world of terrorism and lay the groundwork for a future of peace and coexistence.

As you know, ensuring Israel’s security requires a holistic approach consisting of military, diplomatic, and educational support.

First, the Jewish state must maintain its qualitative military edge. Its unique missile defense system, comprised of Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3, has allowed the nation to defend itself against terrorist organizations and the state sponsors that back them. Since the war broke out on October 7, 2023, this advantage has been crucial in maintaining the safety and well-being of Israel, as attacks from terrorist proxies are almost a daily occurrence. Your administration must work closely with Israel to ensure groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies are dismantled.

Diplomatically, it will be vital to the region’s future for your administration to make a concerted effort to bring Arab partners into a broader coalition with Israel. Normalization agreements with Arab states–such as the Abraham Accords–demonstrate that peace and cooperation with Israel is not only possible but also mutually beneficial. Saudi Arabia and others are likely candidates, but your administration could look at Lebanon in a post-Hezbollah environment to normalize with Israel as a crowning achievement of peace.

Your administration can further this momentum by supporting regional efforts to counter terrorism and promote economic partnerships that benefit all sides. Stability through security and economic development will reduce the appeal of extremism and create necessary conditions for long-term peace.

However, stability cannot be achieved solely through military and diplomatic resilience. For too long, young Palestinians have been trapped in a cycle of violence and despair perpetrated by their own governments. Many cannot visualize a future beyond conflict because they have never known otherwise.

Military action can eliminate immediate threats, and diplomacy can ease tensions, but neither can eradicate the hatred that fuels the terrorism we’re seeing today. Extremist ideologies are taught by radical individuals and perpetuated by ignorance. This is why education must be at the heart of any strategy focused on defeating radicalism. Supporting educational programs like the Alternate Gazan Education Systems (AGES) Fund that reach young Palestinians and offer them an alternative future—one that does not involve indoctrination into anti-Israel and anti-Western ideologies—can have massive implications for lasting stability. This can be achieved by expanding U.S. aid programs that focus on building educational infrastructure, training teachers, and developing curricula that promote critical thinking, tolerance, and cooperation. Education is the most powerful tool to dismantle extremist ideologies and foster a new generation of leaders who can envision a future beyond conflict.

This is not a short-term solution—it is a generational effort. But it is the only way to break the cycle of violence and create lasting peace. Your administration can play a pivotal role in this effort by working with local leaders, NGOs, and international partners to promote initiatives that encourage dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding.

As we’ve seen, the road to peace and stability in the Middle East is long and fraught with challenges. But it’s a road we have to take. Your administration can help build a future where peace is not just a possibility but a reality. The United States must lead with strength and vision, ensuring that Israel has the support it needs to fight against terrorism, secure its borders, and foster a region where young Palestinians and Israelis can grow up without the shadow of Islamist extremism looming over them.

This is the legacy your administration can leave—a Middle East where peace is built on the foundation of education, mutual respect, and the shared hope for a better tomorrow.