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3 Things to Watch: Upcoming Israel Elections

Israelis head to the polls on October 27. Here are three things Institute expert and former State Department peace negotiator David Makovsky is watching.

Learn more about David Makovsky

Photo of Shia women returning to their war-damaged village in south Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon’s Hesitant Steps on the Long Road to Peace

The more the LAF demonstrates it can enforce state authority in disarming Hezbollah, the less Israel will be compelled to continue its operations, and the more it will be inclined to gradually withdraw—though neither side can succeed without sustained U.S. leadership, a clear verification mechanism, and appropriate limits on international involvement.

Aug 12, 2026

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Assaf Orion

President Trump and Middle Eastern leaders sign documents relating to the Gaza Ceasefire - source: The White House

Hamas Accepts the Gaza Roadmap: Political Breakthrough, Implementation Uncertainty

Despite the group’s assent, major gaps remain with Israel over sequencing, disarmament, and oversight, casting doubt on the agreement’s feasibility.

Aug 7, 2026

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Neomi Neumann

Map showing Iranian, Omani, and international shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Maps & Graphics

Reaching Viable Management Arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz

Any postwar system must preserve the “transit passage” regime, enable ships to safely resume use of the original IMO route, and reject mandatory fees, veto rights, or other Iranian tactics for exerting permanent control over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

Aug 5, 2026

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Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

A child marches in a Hezbollah parade, holding a toy gun - source: Reuters

Hezbollah’s Summer Camps for Junior Jihadis Pose a Mortal Threat to Peace

Washington and Beirut have made significant strides toward curtailing Hezbollah’s military arsenal, but dismantling the group’s “aspiring martyr” pipeline is no less important.

Aug 6, 2026

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David Schenker

Bridging the Verification Gap on PA Prisoner Payments

Amid mounting economic and security pressures in the West Bank, only a U.S.-led mechanism can credibly determine Palestinian compliance with the Taylor Force Act and help promote wider stability.

Aug 3, 2026

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David Makovsky
Nava Goldstein

Institute Expertise on Israel and the Palestinians

David Makovsky

The Institute's Siegler Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations, David Makovsky is a veteran journalist who served as senior advisor to the State Department's Special Envoy for Israel-Palestinian Relations.

Dennis Ross

Ambassador Dennis Ross is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He also teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Jewish Civilization.

Interactive Map: Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region

Explore this new interactive tool to shed light on the actions of actors such as Iran and Yemen's Houthis that have threatened and attacked commercial shipping in the waters off the Middle East and North Africa.

Access the map.

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Interactive Maps

Screen shot of the Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region interactive map

Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region (Since 2017)

Shed light on the actions of actors such as Iran and Yemen's Houthis that have threatened and attacked commercial shipping in the waters off the Middle East and North Africa.

Screenshot of the Hezbollah External Operations Interactive Map

Lebanese Hezbollah Select Worldwide Activity

Access this interactive map to explore an open-source database of Hezbollah global operations and break through the terrorist organization's "Golden Rule" of secrecy.

Screenshot of the Islamic State Worldwide Activity interactive map

The Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity

Explore the most comprehensive public archive of Islamic State attack data, media output, government designations, and legal cases to understand the organization’s global reach,

Screenshot of the Iran External Operations interactive map

Iran External Operations 1979-present

Access this powerful interactive tool, which maps over forty-five years of Iranian clandestine operations around the globe.

Recently in Fikra Forum

Fikra Forum

The Erosion of Public Trust in Libya's International Unification Efforts

Libyans are increasingly questioning where governance reforms fit into the agendas of Libyan elites' engagement with the parallel UNSMIL 2025 roadmap and Boulos initiative.

Aug 10, 2026

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Tahani Elmogrbi

A satellite map with political borders overlaid shows Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

After War, a Crackdown in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province

Recent crackdowns against Iran's Baloch minority over tensions around mining in the province suggest that the rift between the regime and many Baloch is deepening in the post-war period.

Jul 8, 2026

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Samand Muhammadshahi

The Iran War's Pressure on the Egyptian Pound: Fragile Stability and Expected Shocks

The Egyptian pound is weathering significant challenges to its stability as the Iran war continues to impact oil markets and

Jun 10, 2026

Sanctions and Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood: Decoupling Burhan from Sudan’s Islamists and Iran

Sanctioning Sudan's Muslim Brotherhood will likely have an impact on Burhan's approach to the group, but a true decoupling will

Apr 17, 2026

Arab Public Opinion 2014 to Today

Fikra Interactive Public Polling Platform Thumbnail

Maps & Graphics

TWI Interactive Polling Platform

Interactive datasets, from 2014 to today

Jun 30, 2022

In Focus: Iran

Photo of Iranian and Pakistani officials announcing a new memorandum of understanding to end the U.S.-Iran war.

What the Next Iran Deal Can Learn from the JPOA

The June MOU and the 2013 JPOA are not perfect analogues, but the deliberately limited terms and careful specificity of the latter agreement hold prudent lessons for both Washington and Tehran as they contemplate a potential new round of direct negotiations.

Aug 7, 2026

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Richard Nephew

Maps & Graphics

Reaching Viable Management Arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz

Aug 5, 2026

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Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

How to Prevent Militias from Disrupting Iraqi-Saudi Relations

As the dust settles from new attacks in both countries, Baghdad will need U.S. support to make progress against Iran-backed

Jul 30, 2026

The sun sets behind U.S. and Kuwaiti flags at Ali Al Salem AFB in Kuwait - source: Department of Defense

Kuwait and the Future of U.S. Power Projection

Given the country’s difficult experience during the Iran war, Washington should offer sustained political attention, practical assistance, and an expanded

Jul 28, 2026

Regions & Countries

Issues

3 Things to Watch: Upcoming Israel Elections

Institute Expertise on Israel and the Palestinians

Interactive Map: Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region

Interactive Maps

Recently in Fikra Forum

Arab Public Opinion 2014 to Today

In Focus: Iran