Yaniv Menahem

Yaniv Menahem is the Jewish Institute for National Security of America’s (JINSA) Director for Middle East Operations, a position he has held since March 2025. He previously served as JINSA’s Middle East Operations Manager from April 2018.

Prior to his roles at JINSA, Yaniv served as a spokesman for a senior member of the Israeli Knesset from 2016 to 2017 and as the Deputy Spokesman of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., from 2015 to 2017. He was trained at a ‘Shin Bet’ (Shabak) security specialist and worked in the Diplomatic Security Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As part of this position, Yaniv was posted in various countries worldwide, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Mauritania, Turkey, and the U.S.

Yaniv fulfilled his three-year army service from 2005 to 2008 as an operator and field communications specialist in the Golani Brigade’s Reconnaissance and Special Task Force Unit. During his military service, Yaniv took part in operational activities in the Gaza Strip and fought in the Second Lebanon War, undergoing numerous operational activities on the northern front. He was released as a staff sergeant and remains active in the Army reserves.

Yaniv holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Bar Ilan University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He is married to his wife, Shani, and is a father of four. He was born and raised in Herzliya, Israel.