Arab-Israeli Relations

Policy Analysis on Arab-Israeli Relations

Iraq’s Air Defense Conundrum: Options for U.S. Policy

Baghdad is under pressure to show it can protect its airspace, but procuring Russian or Iranian equipment might complicate U.S.-Iraq relations without addressing the triggers for Israeli strikes.

Sep 12, 2019

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Michael Knights
Farzin Nadimi

Brief Analysis

How Will Palestinians Respond to Netanyahu’s Annexation Announcement?

Abbas will likely use it to rally the Arab League and UN against the Trump administration’s peace plan, and his success will depend on Washington’s own reaction going forward.

Sep 11, 2019

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Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

To Win Re-Election, Bibi Netanyahu Is Waging ‘Wars’ at Home and Abroad

Publicizing IDF operations, threatening to annex the West Bank, and making alarmist statements about polling stations and the press may help him eke out a victory, but at what cost to Israel’s security and standing?

Sep 10, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

The North Korean-Israeli Shadow War

Whenever nuclear weapons technology appears in the hands of Israel’s enemies, Pyongyang is usually involved.

Sep 9, 2019

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Jay Solomon

Video

Brief Analysis

How Israel's Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny

Two Washington Institute fellows join the children of former Israeli prime ministers to discuss how their legacy of leadership informs the country’s biggest looming challenge: maintaining the possibility of separation from the Palestinians.

Sep 9, 2019

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David Makovsky
Dalia Rabin
Gilad Sharon
Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Younger Palestinians More Moderate on Tactical Issues, But Not on Long-Term Peace with Israel

A recent survey suggests an immediate opening for Washington to promote certain reforms, but real reconciliation still looks like a distant dream.

Sep 6, 2019

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

The Campaign Between Wars: How Israel Rethought Its Strategy to Counter Iran’s Malign Regional Influence

The architects of a landmark shift in IDF doctrine explain why the change was necessary, and how it has helped delay full-scale war even while forcefully confronting Tehran’s hegemonic ambitions.

Sep 4, 2019

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Gadi Eisenkot
Gabi Siboni

Articles & Testimony

What Israel Still Needs to Learn from Ariel Sharon

Whoever wins the next election may need to make a courageous political decision about separating from the Palestinians before that option disappears forever.

Sep 4, 2019

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Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

In-Depth Reports

Be Strong and of Good Courage

How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny

Modern Israel's founding fathers provided some of the boldest and most principled leadership of any nation. Now Israel needs their example more than ever.

Sep 3, 2019

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Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

How Will Hezbollah Respond to Israel’s Drone Attack?

With the IDF seemingly expanding its missile hunt to Lebanon and Iraq, the actions of Iran’s proxies, their host governments, and U.S. officials will do much to determine if wider escalation is in the cards.

Aug 28, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar

Articles & Testimony

Israel Should Resist Trump's Efforts to Politicize Support

Neither Donald Trump nor Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should be allowed to undermine bipartisan support for America’s closest ally in the Middle East.

Aug 22, 2019

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Dennis Ross
Stuart Eizenstat

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Israel Announces New Units for Settlers and Palestinians

Whether or not Palestinian units are actually built in Area C, the announcement will be a net loss if Israeli construction outside the security barrier becomes the new norm post-election.

Aug 16, 2019

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Time to Change Course on the UN’s Lebanon Policy

Serious change is required to avoid decisions that accommodate Hezbollah’s ends, ways, and means, and a vital first step is to look at current policy mechanics with a clear eye.

Aug 13, 2019

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Assaf Orion

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu’s Tougher Election Math and the Specter of Succession

A key rival could affect Netanyahu’s ability to form a coalition or even retain control over his party, but his track record of winning elections and playing wild cards cannot be discounted.

Aug 6, 2019

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Fake Tweets Put Israel in Bed with Iranian Exile ‘Terrorists’

We’re looking at the new face of cyber-ops in our hyperconnected, digitized world. It too often resembles the real thing. And it looks like Iranians are pretty good at it.

Jul 25, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Brief Analysis

Thirteen Years Since the Hezbollah-Israel War

On the anniversary of the 2006 conflict, a former IDF chief of staff assesses current power dynamics, risks, and opportunities along Israel’s northern borders.

Jul 8, 2019

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Gadi Eisenkot

Articles & Testimony

‘Settler Champion’ Netanyahu Can’t Even Get the Settlers to Vote for Him

The prime minister delivers for West Bank settlers at great cost internationally, but election results show they don’t pay him back at the ballot box.

Jul 3, 2019

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David Makovsky
Basia Rosenbaum
David Patkin

Articles & Testimony

Why Israel’s Generals Are Taking on Netanyahu

Almost all of them believe the prime minister is destroying the country's democratic values and sacrificing the Zionist dream by avoiding a two-state solution.

Jul 2, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

Jared Kushner’s All-or-Nothing Mistake in the Middle East

If the administration wants its peace plan to break the peace process paradigm, it must suggest immediately achievable and flexible short-term goals.

Jul 2, 2019

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Bahrain’s Bid for Middle East Peace Role May Come Up Short

The guest list at the scaled-down meeting continues to shrink, while the tension caused by recent Iranian escalation looms in the background.

Jun 25, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Supported by the

Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations

Through moments of hope and challenge in the Middle East diplomacy, The Washington Institute's Koret Project 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 the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute's Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

David Makovsky

David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations.

Dennis Ross

Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Ehud Yaari

Ehud Yaari is the Lafer International Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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