Arab-Israeli Relations

Policy Analysis on Arab-Israeli Relations

When International Guarantees Utterly Failed

The international community's vacillation and vague guarantees in the run-up to the 1967 war taught the Israelis an important cautionary lesson: when the chips are down, they need to be able to defend themselves by themselves.

May 4, 2017

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Low Expectations for Abbas Visit

The first summit between the two leaders is unlikely to result in any major initiatives, though Abbas could complicate future peace prospects or ties with the United States if he fails to deliver on Trump's initial requests.

May 2, 2017

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

The Abbas-Trump Agenda: Urging Modest Steps Toward Peace

Although the Palestinian leader is hesitant to discuss tougher U.S. requests and may be unable to deliver on them immediately, President Trump should make firm demands on difficult issues while offering to work with him on meeting them.

Apr 26, 2017

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Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Common Threats Offer New Opportunities for Israel-GCC Cooperation

The Trump administration should treat the Gulf's quiet security coordination with Israel as a chance to counter Iranian and jihadist threats in the region, perhaps even parlaying it into progress on the Palestinian issue.

Apr 26, 2017

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Palestinians Aren't Ready to Make Peace With Israel, But That Doesn't Rule Out a Peace Deal

While 'warm' peace should remain the ultimate goal, a cold, flawed peace is infinitely preferable to no peace at all, and Israel has already struck such accords with other Arab governments.

Apr 19, 2017

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Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Putin's Self-Serving Israel Agenda

Russia's West Jerusalem announcement is more a signal to Washington than a benevolent gesture toward Israel.

Apr 13, 2017

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Maps & Graphics

Fikra Forum

Occupation, Not Apartheid

In 2014, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned that Israel risked becoming an apartheid state if a two-state solution could not be reached. In March 2017, a UN report titled "Israeli Practices toward the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid," published by the Economic and Social Commission for

Apr 7, 2017

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Mohammed Dajani

Articles & Testimony

If Palestinians Are Serious About Peace, 'Martyr' Violence Should Not Pay

Although Israeli trust-building steps are important, Palestinian leaders need to reciprocate by clearly showing their people that peace and terrorism are incompatible.

Apr 6, 2017

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David Makovsky
Ghaith al-Omari
Lia Weiner

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu's New Settlements Policy: Advantages and Limitations

The prime minister's recent policy adjustment comes across as 'Bush letter minus,' though it may represent the first of several reciprocal steps still required to preserve the two-state solution.

Apr 5, 2017

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Enhancing Egyptian-Israeli Ties under the Trump Administration

U.S. officials should take a four-pronged approach to lowering the barriers that have long impeded true normalization between the two countries.

Apr 2, 2017

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

President Trump Talks Terror with Egypt's Sisi

To help Washington in the war against the Islamic State, Cairo must first help itself, in part by adopting a modern COIN approach in Sinai and refocusing its military spending toward that end.

Mar 30, 2017

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

The Power Struggle for the Throne and the Saudi 'Reset' With Trump

Palace intrigue and regional war could complicate the budding romance between Riyadh and the Trump administration.

Mar 22, 2017

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

The Quiet Advance of Eastern Mediterranean Gas

News that Israel has begun exporting gas to Jordan indicates that commercial logic can prevail despite adverse political rhetoric.

Mar 8, 2017

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Simon Henderson
David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Burning Questions for Trump on the Middle East: We Still Don't Know Where His Gut Instincts Are

Short-term benefits aside, America's partners in the Middle East will all suffer in the end if estrangement from the region becomes the norm of U.S. foreign policy.

Mar 7, 2017

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Inside the Black Box of Israeli-Palestinian Talks

All sides failed in the most recent round of negotiations, but there was an opportunity for real progress -- take it from someone who was there.

Feb 27, 2017

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Michael Herzog

Articles & Testimony

The Future of Egyptian-Israeli Relations: Cairo More Committed to Peace Than Normalization

Egypt remains an essential component of any future Palestinian peace process, but the country's deep anti-Israel propaganda is a persistent stumbling block.

Feb 18, 2017

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

Beyond 'One State': Preliminary Conclusions from the Netanyahu Meeting

The president's 'one state' comment may have been offhand, and the idea is a nonstarter in any case, but the two leaders did seem to agree in principle on a mechanism that would likely limit settlement activity.

Feb 17, 2017

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David Makovsky

Israeli and Palestinian children join the mayor of Jerusalem to release doves.

Articles & Testimony

The Road to Peace

Those who think the two-state solution is being buried should put their shovels away.

Feb 16, 2017

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Trump and Netanyahu Won't Bury the Two-State Solution

By forcing the settlements issue prematurely, Israel's right-wing parties may have misjudged the new administration's interest in preserving its peacemaking options.

Feb 14, 2017

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

What Will Netanyahu Discuss with Trump?

The following is based on remarks delivered by Ziegler Distinguished Fellow David Makovsky at a Washington Institute Policy Forum on February 8. His views on these issues are spelled out in greater length in the Transition 2017 paper " Toward a New Paradigm for Addressing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," coauthored with

Feb 10, 2017

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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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