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About
Matthew Levitt (born August 3, 1970) is an American political scientist, counterterrorism analyst, and expert on Middle Eastern terrorist organizations, particularly Hamas and Hezbollah. He currently serves as the Fromer-Wexler Fellow and director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), a prominent think tank focused on U.S. policy in the Middle East. Levitt's expertise stems from extensive experience in government and academia, where he has analyzed terrorist financing, political strategies, and global networks of groups like Hamas. Prior to his role at WINEP, he held key positions in the U.S. government, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intelligence and Analysis (2005–2007), where he led efforts to disrupt international terrorist financing. He also worked as a counterterrorism analyst at the FBI (2001–2005) and as a senior strategist in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier, he advised on counterterrorism at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military and Security (NESA) under the State Department. Levitt is the author of influential books, including 'Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad' (2006) and 'Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God' (2013), which have shaped policy discussions on countering extremism. He holds a Ph.D. in government from Georgetown University, an M.A. in international relations from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A. in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His work continues to inform U.S. and international strategies against terrorism.