Palestinians

Policy Analysis on Palestinians

How the Abraham Accords Look Forward, Not Back

Close reading of Israel’s agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain shows how their strictly bilateral focus could affect the chances for people-to-people engagement and regional security cooperation, depending on each government's political will.

Sep 16, 2020

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David Makovsky

Video

Brief Analysis

The UAE-Israel Breakthrough: Bilateral and Regional Implications and U.S. Policy

Former diplomats and experts discuss what steps each party should take after the historic White House signing ceremony, and how to bring the Palestinians and other actors into the fold.

Sep 14, 2020

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Ebtesam al-Ketbi
Dore Gold
Barbara A. Leaf
David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

The Middle East Is Changing. Will Palestinians Be Left Behind?

The Palestinian issue has become far less of a priority for most Arab states, who now tend to see Israel as a bulwark against regional threats and a partner on urgent health, water, and food-security needs.

Sep 13, 2020

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

The Road Beyond UAE-Israel Normalization

Netanyahu’s strategy of bypassing the intractable Palestinian issue has paid substantial dividends worldwide, but a peace treaty ‘domino effect’ is unlikely in the near term given various calculations in Riyadh and other Arab capitals.

Sep 10, 2020

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Ehud Yaari

Articles & Testimony

Here’s How Palestinians Could Benefit from the Diplomatic Deal Between Israel and the United Arab Emirates

Skillful U.S. and Arab diplomacy could use normalization and the accompanying annexation freeze as a base for renewed momentum toward an eventual two-state solution.

Sep 10, 2020

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David Makovsky
Daniel Shapiro

Brief Analysis

Normalization Can Inject New Life into the Arab Peace Initiative

With careful diplomacy, blunt discussion of national interests, and reciprocal steps on the ground, a group of like-minded Arab states could advance Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking while still preserving the API’s core.

Aug 31, 2020

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Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

The Israel-UAE Deal Proves the One-State Solution Is Delusion

Far from producing a melting pot of coexistence and equality, forcing Israelis and Palestinians into a single state would only inflame the conflict and trigger an endless struggle over dominance.

Aug 20, 2020

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Isaac Herzog
Michael Herzog

Multimedia

Decision Points Season Two

The new season of the Decision Points podcast with host David Makovsky focuses on key Israeli and Arab leaders.

Aug 19, 2020

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Why the Israel-UAE Agreement Is Actually a Very Big Deal

It shows the Palestinians that their longstanding paradigm for isolating Israel has failed, partly due to converging regional interests, and partly because it was based on incorrect assumptions.

Aug 18, 2020

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

The Israel-UAE Agreement Is a Key Step for Peace and Sends a Crucial Message to Palestinians

Emirati leaders apparently understood that this move would preserve the two-state option and preempt Iran from exploiting the annexation issue—while also opening access to previously off-limits U.S. weaponry.

Aug 13, 2020

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Israel-UAE Deal Achieves a Middle East Rarity: It’s Win-Win-Win, Palestinians Included

Arab countries that have official relations with Israel are more effective at advancing Palestinian interests, and now Abu Dhabi has joined their ranks.

Aug 13, 2020

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Ghaith al-Omari

Video

Brief Analysis

Palestinians and the Two-State Solution: Hard Data on the Hardest Questions

Three experts on Palestinian and Israeli public opinion discuss recent poll results, sociopolitical trends, and potential avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation on smaller ‘non-narrative’ issues.

Jul 28, 2020

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David Pollock
Tamar Hermann
Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Don’t Give Up on the Two-State Solution

Unilateral Israeli annexation would be a mistake, but a one-state solution or an unconditional declaration of Palestinian statehood would just compound the error.

Jul 14, 2020

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Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

Video

Brief Analysis

How the Contest to Succeed Abbas Is Shaping Palestinian Options

Israeli and Palestinian experts and former negotiators explore the lack of clarity surrounding the next PA leader, including the potential effects succession might have on internal politics, annexation responses, U.S. policy, and more.

Jul 6, 2020

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Ghaith al-Omari
Ehud Yaari
Michael Herzog

Articles & Testimony

Israelis and Palestinians Must Realize That Each Needs to Give, Not Just Take

Netanyahu is treating the Trump plan like a buffet where he can choose only the parts he likes.

Jul 6, 2020

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David Makovsky
Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

I’m an Ardent Zionist. But Israel’s Annexation Makes No Sense.

If Netanyahu decides to throw prudence aside and proceed with the move, it would impose impossibly high costs and deliver few benefits.

Jun 25, 2020

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

The Ghost of Annexation Past

King Abdullah's 1950 annexation of “Arab Palestine” shows that a bold leader can play his advantages well, redraw the map, gain some recognition, and still leave only regrets.

Jun 25, 2020

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Martin Kramer

Video

Brief Analysis

Israeli Annexation in the West Bank? Scenarios and Implications

What factors will shape Israel's decisionmaking, and how would unilateral annexation affect its relations with the Palestinians, Arab neighbors, Europe, and U.S. legislators?

Jun 23, 2020

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David Makovsky
Ghaith al-Omari
Dana Stroul
Dennis Ross

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

A Nation Divided: Palestinian Views on War and Peace with Israel

Polling shows that Palestinian public opinion is moving away from prior support for a compromise peace deal with Israel.

Jun 22, 2020

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Why the ICC Prosecutor Is Wrong on Oslo

By making what appears to be a politically motivated case, the prosecutor’s office runs the risk of undermining both the main Israeli-Palestinian legal framework and the ICC’s role as an unbiased agent of international law.

Jun 16, 2020

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Dennis Ross

Supported by the

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics focuses on social, political, and economic developments in the Arab world, with an emphasis on the Arab countries of the Levant.

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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 a Lafer International Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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Palestinians

Policy Analysis on Palestinians

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

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Regions & Countries

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Palestinians

Policy Analysis on Palestinians

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

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