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. 


 A 3D-printed miniature model depicting U.S. President Donald Trump, Iranian and U.S. flags in this illustration taken, April 17, 2025.

Iran pivots strategy amid new US sanctions, eyes Europe and Arab ties - analysis

 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers move in on demonstrators in front of LA City Hall during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, US June 8, 2025.

'Make America Great Again': Trump's Middle East doctrine shifts to LA crisis - analysis

 Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah against background of Hezbollah flags. (illustration)

Hezbollah’s appeal for Lebanese protection signals strategic failure - analysis


From Europe to Asia: Why Israel’s defense tech is in high demand - analysis

In 2024, Israel hit a record $14.7 billion in defense exports, driven by European demand for its advanced, battle-proven systems and strengthened by global partnerships.

Defense Minister Israel Katz next to an Israeli military vehicle. (illustration)

Syria shutters displacement camp Rukban, symbol of Assad regime, people's suffering

Between 2018 and 2019, the number of displaced people in the camp reached 50,000, most of them women and children, according to a Syrian media report.

 A little girl walks near makeshift tents at Rukban camp, which lies in no-man's-land off the border between Syria and Jordan in the remote northeast, near Damascus, Syria on September 27, 2018.

Iran pushes Islamic unity through high-level regional calls during Eid al-Adha - analysis

Iran uses Eid al-Adha diplomacy to strengthen regional ties, project unity, and influence nuclear talks with the US, while tensions with Israel persist.

 People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Tehran, Iran, March 31, 2025. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout

Will arming Gazan militias against Hamas harm Israel in the long run? - analysis

Relying on a tribal militia or clan in Gaza may work in the short term. However, in the long term it is unlikely to achieve success.

 Armed men attend the funeral of Rawhi Mushtaha, a senior Hamas official and Sami Odeh, Hamas' general security service commander, who were killed in an Israeli strike during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City January 24, 2025.

Learning Israel's enemies: Officer sheds light on Israeli intel. gathering during war

'People like me in this position, we have hundreds of hours of facetime with the other side.'

 IDF soldiers in Khan Yunis in Gaza, in July 2024.

Greta Thunberg and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are sailing to Gaza, but will they make it?

There are a number of things that could cause the ship to turn around, like lack of food and water or problems with the engine.

An activist walks on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship 'Handala' as they prepare to sail for Gaza in an attempt to break a long-standing Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Marsa, Malta August 16, 2024.

What is the Mujahideen group that held Judith Weinstein, Gadi Haggai?

The Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist movement was the same group that took the Bibas family hostage.

 Judith and Gadi Hagai Weinstein.

Iran vows to help rebuild Lebanon, potentially boosting Hezbollah - analysis

This is an important meeting because it shows Iran is seeking to redouble efforts to involve itself in Lebanon after it saw setbacks last year in Israel’s war on Hezbollah and the fall of Assad.

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shakes hands with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji as he leaves the foreign ministry in Beirut, Lebanon June 3, 2025.

Damascus faces difficult choices in southern Syria in light of Israeli airstrikes - analysis

Tensions flare as rockets from Syria prompt Israeli airstrikes, despite Syria’s new government seeking stability and rejecting hostile acts.

 Members of Syrian security forces stand guard at a damaged site, after Israel carried out an air strike on the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, as reported by Syria's state news agency, in Damascus, Syria March 13, 2025

Hamas exploits aid distribution chaos to sow suspicion of Israel, aid group - analysis

The aid sites are one of the most significant places where Hamas wants to see chaos unfold, and it hopes that additional incidents can be exploited.

 People walk as Palestinians receive aid supplies from the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in the central Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025.