Arab-Israeli Relations

Policy Analysis on Arab-Israeli Relations

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receives President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Doha, Qatar - source: Reuters

UAE Leader Visits Qatar: An Advance, Not a Breakthrough

Sandwiched between meetings with a Taliban leader and Israel’s president, the Doha trip reflects the scope and versatility of Emirati diplomacy.

Dec 5, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Photo showing 1983 terrorist attack at U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.

Video

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah Turns 40: Implications of the Group’s Internal, Regional, and Strategic Shifts

Four experts assess Hezbollah's impact at home and abroad after decades of political maneuvering, military operations, and criminal activity.

Dec 2, 2022

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Hanin Ghaddar
Matthew Levitt
Mona Fayad
Akeel Abbas

Fikra Forum

KRG and PA: Reprioritizing Governance over Symbolism

Although Palestinian and Kurdish politics have similarly deteriorated into ineffective blame games, fresh U.S. policies focused on institution-building could restore the promise of progress in both cases.

Dec 2, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu and Hamas Set to Coexist Uneasily Again

The prime minister’s return to power is unlikely to change either side’s status-quo calculations about Gaza, though Washington should still keep an eye on potential wild cards such as spillover from Temple Mount tensions and Iranian meddling.

Nov 29, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

Tracking the Religious Zionist Party Bloc in the Settlements

An analysis of Israel's last five Knesset elections indicates that settlement demographics have played a big role in the rise of Israel's ultra-nationalist, far-right bloc.

Nov 22, 2022

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Alex Harris
Sander Eizen

Fikra Forum

In 2022 Polls, Views on U.S. Relations On Par with Other World Powers in the Middle East

Regional polls from March and August reveal shifting power dynamics, as economic conditions and relations with Israel continue to weigh on citizens’ minds.

Nov 9, 2022

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Frances McDonough

Fikra Forum

MbS and Saudi Arabia’s Israel Policy: What Can We Expect from the New Prime Minister?

As Prime Minister, MbS won't throw out the Arab Peace Initiative altogether, but he will likely reframe it.

Nov 7, 2022

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Aziz Alghashian

Map of U.S. Army operations in Operation Torch, 1942 - source: U.S. Army

Articles & Testimony

From Torch to Tunis to El Alamein: Events 80 Years Ago Made the Modern Middle East

The second week of November 1942 has much to tell us about the region’s geopolitical centrality, its enduring political currents, and its role in the future of the Jewish people—not to mention the evolution of American foreign policy.

Nov 6, 2022

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Robert Satloff

Saudi men take pictures at the Al Souda mountain - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Inside Saudi Arabia: A Trip Report

After leading an extensive group visit throughout the kingdom, Washington Institute scholars offer insights from their encounters with leaders in government, religion, business, and culture.

Nov 4, 2022

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Robert Satloff
David Schenker

Fikra Forum

Building Media Cooperation Between Abraham Accords Countries

For the Abraham Accords to be truly successful, cooperation between member countries must necessarily extend to partnerships of more accurate and far-reaching media sources.

Nov 3, 2022

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Najat AlSaied

US Army soldiers meet local civilians in Morocco during Operation Torch in November 1942 - source: U.S. Army

Video

Brief Analysis

From Torch to Tunis to El Alamein: The Most Important Forgotten Week in Modern Middle East History

Watch an expert conversation on the pivotal week in WWII whose events continue to shape the modern Middle East.

November 7, 2022

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Mehnaz Afridi
Aomar Boum
Martin Cüppers
Haim Saadoun

Articles & Testimony

A Narrow Government with Ben Gvir and Smotrich Threatens US-Israel Ties

Appointing senior ministers who incite against Arabs would undermine the shared values that buttress the bilateral relationship while giving fuel to Israel’s critics in Washington.

Nov 2, 2022

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Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

Audio

Brief Analysis

Decision Points Podcast: Season 4

In this season of the Decision Points podcast, authors of seminal books on the U.S.-Israel relationship and the history of Zionism and Israel join Institute Senior Fellow David Makovsky to unpack their work and engage in striking, insightful conversations.

Oct 28, 2022

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David Makovsky

Fikra Forum

Two Years On, the Abraham Accords Bear Fruit

The Abraham Accords agreement between the UAE and Israel has made important steps in the direction of regional economic and political cooperation.

Oct 26, 2022

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Mohamed Maher

Articles & Testimony

How to Make the Most of Israel-Lebanon Maritime Deal

To maximize the benefits for the Lebanese people and regional stability, Washington must now increase pressure on Beirut to implement crucial reforms, particularly in the energy sector.

Oct 26, 2022

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Hanin Ghaddar

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Israeli Startups Are Leading Efforts to Combat Food Insecurity

From barn owls and crop sensors to 3D-printed steak and animal-free baby formula, Israeli firms are finding—and exporting—innovative ways to address challenges in the agricultural and food sectors.

Oct 25, 2022

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Shaina Katz

◆ Asset Test

Brief Analysis

What to Expect (or Not) from the Arab League Summit

Participants will probably issue potent-sounding statements on Iran, oil production, and other key issues, but their rhetoric is unlikely to result in any substantive policy shifts or internal dispute resolution.

Oct 24, 2022

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Sabina Henneberg
David Schenker

Fikra Forum

At the Edge of the Precipice: Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel on the Eve of the 2022 Parliamentary Election

Conflicted between a desire for political and social integration and a disillusionment with Israeli politics, Israel’s Arab population—particularly Arab youth—will be an unpredictable element in the upcoming elections.

Oct 20, 2022

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Michael Milshtein
Ilham Shahbari

Articles & Testimony

When There's Good News About the Middle East, We Should Take Note

Israel’s maritime deal with Lebanon, facilitated by U.S. mediation efforts, reduces the risk of war and establishes a precedent in Lebanese recognition of a boundary line.

Oct 17, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Israel Debates the Lebanon Maritime Deal

The imminent election and the resultant rush to strike a deal are distracting from what could be a significant diplomatic and economic milestone for both countries.

Oct 13, 2022

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David Makovsky

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Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

Through moments of hope and challenge in the Middle East diplomacy, The Washington Institute's Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations is committed to providing America's policymakers with timely analysis on issues of critical concern to Israel and its Arab neighbors.

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Featured experts

Ghaith al-Omari

Ghaith al-Omari is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute's Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

Mohammed Dajani

Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi is the former Weston Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and is Director of the Wasatia Academic Institute in Jerusalem.

Michael Herzog

Michael Herzog was appointed Israel's ambassador to the United States in 2021. Previously, he was an international fellow at The Washington Institute.

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Policy Analysis on Arab-Israeli Relations

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