إسرائيل

On February 5, Matthew Levitt, director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute, testified before the House regarding the implications of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation and its effects on the propects for Middle East peace. The following is an excerpt from his testimony.

How Israel contributes to U.S. hard and soft security, from defense and intelligence to economic competitiveness and sustainability.

As the Assad regime continues its bloody campaign to remain in power, Washington Institute scholars assess the impact of current and potential spillover on Syria's neighbors, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.

With Netanyahu's bloc winning fewer votes than expected and the center-left winning more, forming a coalition government will be complicated.

Israelis and Jordanians go to the polls hours apart facing strikingly similar political and strategic dynamics. While the results may appear to change little in either government, the issues at stake could hardly be more important to American interests in the region.

Let's stipulate that Chuck Hagel may make an exemplary defense secretary. That possibility doesn't alter the fact that his nomination by President Obama almost certainly raises doubts among allies and adversaries alike that Obama may not be nearly so committed to using all means necessary to prevent Iran from achieving

To counter the Iranian rocket and missile threat, Washington and its Gulf allies should draw on lessons learned from Israel's experience in Gaza to improve the interoperability and effectiveness of their defense efforts.

U.S.-brokered efforts to untangle the maritime knot between the three countries could boost natural gas exploration.

The lawless desert on Israel's border presents immediate risks -- and possible opportunities -- for American interests in the region.