<p>Israel should not expect peace or tranquility in the Middle East, warns Dr. Dan Schueftan of the University of Haifa. In this interview on the ILTV Podcast with Maayan Hoffman, Schueftan explains why quiet on Israel’s borders often signals preparation for future conflict, why cooperation matters more than normalization, and how Israel’s hard power underpins its regional influence. He addresses Western criticism of Israel’s military actions, the shared threats facing Israel and Arab states, and why smart optimism means getting stronger even as challenges grow. </p>