Coach Bruce Pearl's
ISRAEL NEWS
You Should Know
A Weekly News Roundup from USIEA's Chairman of the Board
This week marks an important milestone for USIEA’s work. Congress approved and the President signed legislation establishing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration office in the Abraham Accords region, reflecting years of USIEA education and engagement with policymakers. That achievement anchors the stories that follow, from supply-chain security and Gaza reform to missile defense and regional accountability.
Latest
NEWS
USIEA Policy Win: FDA Office in Abraham Accords Region Becomes Law
Congress approved and the President signed H.R. 7148, which includes a provision establishing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration office in the Abraham Accords region. The move reflects years of USIEA educational work with bipartisan lawmakers and senior officials. Why it matters: A regional FDA office strengthens scientific cooperation, regulatory alignment, and medical manufacturing partnerships with Israel and its Accords allies.
USIEA Fellows: Protecting the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
In RealClearHealth, USIEA Senior Fellow Peter Pitts and USIEA Fellow Cathy McMorris Rodgers argue that proactive FDA policy can reduce U.S. dependence on risky foreign suppliers. They point to partnerships with trusted allies, including Israel and other Accords countries, as a way to strengthen manufacturing resilience and supply security. Why it matters: National security includes access to medicine. Strengthening supply chains through allied cooperation protects Americans from politically driven disruptions.
Heather Johnston: Deradicalization and Accountability Must Shape Gaza’s Future
In a Washington Examiner op-ed, USIEA Founder and President Heather Johnston argues that humanitarian aid alone cannot secure peace in Gaza. She writes that deradicalization, accountability, and reform of educational and civic systems must be central to any post-Hamas plan. Why it matters: Replacing leadership without dismantling the structures that fuel radicalization risks repeating the same cycle of violence.
Ari Sacher: Lasers in the Golden Dome
USIEA Senior Policy Advisor Ari Sacher explains how high-energy lasers could become a key layer in a proposed U.S.–Israeli Golden Dome missile defense system. Lasers offer a cost-effective way to counter drones and rockets without exhausting expensive interceptors. Why it matters: Modern defense is about sustainability as much as capability. Lasers help preserve interceptors and strengthen long-term deterrence against saturation attacks.
Report Raises Questions About U.S. Charity Funding and Islamist Networks
A Middle East Forum investigation reports that some U.S. charities have sent millions of dollars to organizations linked to Islamist relief networks tied to extremist movements. The findings are based on publicly available tax filings and grant records. Why it matters: Oversight matters. Even well-intended charitable giving can unintentionally strengthen networks connected to extremism.
Former Palestinian Official Accuses PA of Institutional Corruption
A former senior Palestinian Authority official accused the PA of systemic corruption, citing misuse of funds, political patronage, and entrenched graft. The allegations come amid ongoing debates about governance and accountability in the West Bank. Why it matters: Reform starts with honesty. Claims from within the Palestinian leadership reinforce concerns that corruption and weak institutions undermine prospects for stability and peace.
Worth
READING
Insight & Perspective
Israel’s Victory, While Costly, Legitimized the Deal of the Century
Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Shaul Bartal argues that Hamas’s campaign produced the opposite of its stated aim. Hamas’s violence pushed the UN Security Council to confront outcomes it long avoided, including recognition of possible Israeli annexation of large parts of Judea and Samaria under President Trump’s “Deal of the Century.” Why it matters: The essay shows how Palestinian violence can force diplomatic realignment, shifting assumptions about borders, sovereignty, and Israel’s security claims.
COACH PEARL'S
Closing Reflection
Milestones matter because they show results. The establishment of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration office in the Abraham Accords region reflects years of sustained USIEA education, analysis, and engagement with policymakers. That work doesn’t happen in isolation. It is made possible by supporters like you who believe that serious ideas, presented consistently, can shape American policy. This outcome shows that USIEA is effective — and that your engagement helps turn long-term strategy into law. Thank you for standing with us in this vital cause.
— Bruce Pearl, USIEA Chairman of the Board