Yaakov Katz

Yaakov Katz

Bio

Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column. He is the author of three books - “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards - How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War”. Shadow Strike was recently adapted into a docudrama by Reshet Media and his books have been published in a number of languages including English, Hebrew, Czech, Polish, Japanese and Mandarin. His next book – tentatively titled “Precision Strike” – is scheduled for publication by St. Martin’s Press in the Spring of 2025. Yaakov served for close to a decade as the paper's military reporter and defense analyst and was a lecturer at Harvard University where he taught an advanced course in journalism. He also served as Israel correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly. Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel’s Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs. In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Yaakov Katz

How the World Zionist Congress Got the ultra-Orthodox to Comply

Dysfunction has taken root at the highest levels of Israel’s government

Israel’s internal fractures are a gift to its enemies

The IDF needs soldiers but Israel is paying yeshivas to dodge the draft

Is the Camp David peace at risk?

Israel’s hostage negotiations cannot become political football

How Israeli leaders ignore accountability, hold contempt for citizens

Trump’s outlandish Gaza plan may spare Middle East from past mistakes

Netanyahu may be resisting it, but a state commission of inquiry into October 7 is now essential

Halevi’s resignation was overdue, now’s the time for a state inquiry

A Hostage Deal Means a Chance for Israel to Heal

A New Dilemma in Syria As Government Is Embraced by the West

Katz-Halevi clash weakens Israel’s security

The media was also responsible for October 7

KAN are not the enemy: Ministers acting against Israel’s democratic character

Israel Can Save the World From a Nuclear Iran. It Must Strike Now

The Uprising in Syria is Providing a Convenient Distraction for Bibi

Trump and Biden’s influence on Israel

The past year has presented unprecedented strategic challenges to the Jewish people

What Israel Proved With Its Most Recent Attack on Iran

Sinwar, Check. Nasrallah, Check. What Comes Next for Bibi and Israel?

Even Laser Beams Aren’t Enough to Deal With the Drone Threat

Israel Must Not Forget Gaza and the Hostages as it Fights Hezbollah

The time for difficult decisions has come

Netanyahu hasn’t cared about Philadelphi Corridor for 16 years

Israeli politicians who attack the US are playing with fire

Israel Must Target Iran at the Same Time as Hezbollah

Why the Israeli High Court ruling on Charedi draft will bring change – slowly

Hezbollah Must Be Removed

How Israel Can Find Its Way Out of Isolation

Israel is outraged at ‘absurd’ ICC, but for the rest of the world, it’s totally logical

Why Israel Can’t Count Solely on Its Missile Defenses

Keeping Israel Jewish without Politics

Israel’s Intelligence Agencies and Military Need More Civilian Oversight

A More Accurate Accounting of the War in Gaza

Israel does not have a culture of accountability

Change needs to come to Israel’s post October 7 state

A Brief Window for Israel to Integrate Its Arab and Jewish Communities

The War in Gaza May End Soon, but Not the Fighting

When the war in Gaza stops, the political war in Israel will begin

Has Israel already lost the war with Hezbollah?

What’s the End Game for Gaza? Netanyahu Must Spell It Out

Three Options for Israel to End the War in Gaza

Israel is on a Collision Course with the US

Fighting for your career instead of against Hamas

Iran Pays No Price for Bad Behavior

The IDF Reservists Fighting in Gaza Will Fight Netanyahu After the War

Israel-Hamas war isn’t just about security, it’s about Jewish peoplehood

Attacks on Israel are only the beginning. All democracies are at risk

Even After the War in Gaza, Israel Will Have to Hunt Down Hamas’ Leaders

Qatar needs to expel Hamas leaders and if not, America should do it for them

If Biden Wants to Stop a Wider War, He Should Ready a Strike on Iran

Resetting the Military’s Approach to Gaza

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, what is Israel to do?

This Is a Pearl Harbor Moment for Israel