Arab-Israeli Relations

Policy Analysis on Arab-Israeli Relations

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

Brief Analysis

Resolving the PA Funding Crisis, But Not in Bahrain

Rather than pinning false hopes on the Manama conference, the international community should focus on reforming the Paris Protocol and convincing the Palestinians to resume revenue transfers from Israel.

Jun 24, 2019

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Katherine Bauer

Brief Analysis

Bahrain’s Hopes and Fears for the Peace Conference

Although the island may reap diplomatic kudos and economic benefits for hosting such a high-profile event, the potential reactions of domestic sectarian communities and nearby Iran remain a concern.

Jun 24, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Don’t Dismiss the Bahrain Conference. It Can Help Palestinians.

Emphasizing stabilization efforts now while at least mentioning Palestinian statehood just might give the Trump peace plan a chance later.

Jun 19, 2019

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

East Mediterranean Energy and Middle East Peace

The slow but steady progress in developing offshore gas fields is transforming local economies and could underpin U.S. peace plans.

Jun 13, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Lebanon and Israel Are Set to Negotiate: What’s at Stake?

Although Hezbollah and its allies might use the upcoming talks as a mere stalling tactic, negotiators will still have opportunities to exploit the group’s domestic vulnerabilities.

Jun 12, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

What to Expect from the U.S.-Russia Meeting in Jerusalem

Ultimately, no deal is better than a bad deal, and Moscow’s track record in Syria suggests it is both unable and unwilling to keep Iran out.

Jun 12, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Ramadan Soap Operas Contradict Sisi’s Outreach to Israel

Despite Egypt’s warming relations with the Israeli government, the country’s airwaves and movie theaters are still rife with bellicose and anti-Semitic content.

Jun 7, 2019

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Haisam Hassanein

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. president Donald Trump at the White House - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

After the Netanyahu Fail, What Is Trump’s Israel-Palestine Solution? Let Others Pick Up the Pieces

Other countries have insulated Washington from the ramifications of damaging policy choices and helped maintain stability, but this safety net may not survive another fall.

May 31, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

Netanyahu's Government Fail Should Postpone Trump's Middle East Peace Plan. That's a Good Thing.

Palestinians heaved a sigh of relief when they saw Israel would hold new elections, and the United States would have more time to do the diplomatic work needed.

May 31, 2019

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Ghaith al-Omari

Brief Analysis

Israel’s Election Redo: Implications for the Trump Peace Plan

The U.S. and Israeli electoral calendars will likely impede any grand peace plan for the foreseeable future, so the administration should instead focus on immediate stabilization measures leading up to and during the Bahrain economic conference.

May 31, 2019

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David Makovsky

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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