Recently, much attention has focused on Israel’s drift away from a two-state solution and toward annexation of the West Bank. But hard data shows that the Palestinian public has also clearly moved away from the classic compromise peace deal with its neighbors.
Annexation carries unclear benefits for Israel and potentially major costs. But the worst outcome is by no means certain, and numerous actors are capable of dissuading Israel from taking this fateful step.
Delinking the embargo from the nuclear deal could offer the best hope of reducing tensions within the P5+1 while also limiting Iran’s access to sophisticated weaponry.
After Kataib Hezbollah was caught red-handed prepping new rocket strikes, justice needs to be served, and Iraq’s government needs to be better secured.
A territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo illustrates the challenge that midsize powers face in an era of great power competition.
Joel Rayburn, Oula A. Alrifai, and Sam Dagher
A State Department official explains the latest sanctions against entities that do business with Assad, while two experts assess the regime’s current status and its susceptibility to foreign pressure.
The Washington Institute has been sponsoring a series of discussions about sudden succession in the Middle East. Each session focuses on scenarios that might unfold if a specific ruler or leader departed the scene tomorrow. Questions include these: Would the sudden change lead to different policies? Would it affect the...
Policy Notes
Annexation carries unclear benefits for Israel and potentially major costs. But the worst outcome is by no means certain, and numerous actors are capable of dissuading Israel from taking this fateful step.
PolicyWatch 3339
David Makovsky, Ghaith al-Omari, Dana Stroul, and Dennis Ross
What factors will shape Israel's decisionmaking, and how would unilateral annexation affect its relations with the Palestinians, Arab neighbors, Europe, and U.S. legislators?
PolicyWatch 3332
New maps explore the scope of Israel’s potential moves next month, though domestic politics, unprecedented Gulf warnings, and other factors are raising questions about whether annexation will actually proceed.
Articles & Op-Eds
The Palestinians are withdrawing from peace deals, and Jordan could be next as Israel edges closer to appropriating land outright.
