Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia

Engaging the Saudis Does Not Require Biden to Forego Our Concern for Human Rights

The president will still be able to set boundaries with Riyadh—while also addressing other major issues such as national security, rampant energy costs, and normalization with Israel.

Jun 22, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Israeli and UAE flags flying together in Abu Dhabi - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Abraham Accords and the Changing Shape of the Middle East

A veteran U.S. diplomat reflects on the decades of direct engagement that paved the way to the accords, which have since opened a new avenue for curbing Iran and reanimating Israeli-Palestinian progress.

Jun 21, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Three-star rank insignia of a US Army Lieutenant General

Articles & Testimony

How Pentagon Bureaucracy Could Undermine West Bank Security

The proposal to downgrade the U.S. Security Coordinator from a three-star general to a colonel could decimate a crucial mission, especially amid the recent uptick in Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Jun 16, 2022

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Shira Efron
Ghaith al-Omari

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at a cabinet meeting in 2022 - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Bennett on the Brink: Israel’s Precarious Coalition One Year On

Despite the government’s progress on deepening foreign ties, safeguarding domestic institutions, and bringing Arab Israeli leaders into national decisionmaking, it may soon be brought down by opposition maneuvers and fallout from terrorist attacks.

Jun 13, 2022

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Lebanon’s (Verbal) Threat Against Israeli Gas Exploration

Production from Israel’s Karish offshore natural gas field is scheduled to start later this year.

Jun 6, 2022

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Simon Henderson

An Egyptian guard inspects bomb damage near the Gaza border in Sinai

Articles & Testimony

Egypt's Remilitarized Sinai Is a Future Powder Keg

Cairo needs to hear from Israel, the United States, and the Multinational Force & Observers that its security violations erode the Egypt-Israel peace.

Jun 3, 2022

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David Schenker

Israeli Prime Minister Bennett meets with the UAE's foreign minister in December 2021 - Source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Building an Arab-Israel Bloc: Can It Compensate for a Reluctant Washington?

Arab, European, and Israeli experts assess the possibilities and limits of normalization, discussing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. retrenchment, and the Palestinian issue.

May 12, 2022

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Nickolay Mladenov
Zohar Palti
Ebtesam al-Ketbi
Karim Haggag

Arab Approval of UAE, Bahrain Peace with Israel

Video

Brief Analysis

New Arab Polls on Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and China: Analysis and Implications

Three public opinion experts discuss what March and April surveys in key states reveal about local attitudes toward U.S. policy.

May 3, 2022

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David Pollock
Catherine Cleveland
Munqith Dagher

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

Beyond the Blocs

Jewish Settlement East of Israel's Security Barrier and How to Avert the Slide to a One-State Outcome

Communities outside the West Bank security barrier constitute an obstacle to a future two-state solution and a potential source of friction between Washington and Jerusalem.

Apr 26, 2022

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David Makovsky

An Israeli security officer stands guard at the scene of a terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv, March 2022.

Articles & Testimony

A Badly Needed New Approach to Quelling the Violence

A U.S.-Israel attempt to compel Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas to end terrorist attacks against Israelis could ultimately help reset dynamics, even if such a move generates a costly short-term backlash.

Apr 25, 2022

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Ehud Yaari

Brief Analysis

Egypt, Israel, and Hamas: Opportunities for Progress in Gaza

Cairo is signaling more initiative than ever on rebuilding Gaza, curbing Hamas, and openly engaging Israel, but longer-term progress will require greater international donor resources and U.S. diplomatic support.

Apr 19, 2022

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Ramy Aziz

Brief Analysis

Political Tempest in Israel: Can Bennett Right the Ship?

His coalition is just one lost seat from being legislatively hobbled or even ousted altogether, leaving him and his allies in Washington with little time for essential damage control.

Apr 11, 2022

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David Makovsky

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz - source: Israeli Ministry of Defense

Video

Brief Analysis

Defense Minister Benny Gantz Discusses Israel's Strategic Challenges

The country's top defense official shares his insights on recent terrorist attacks, the Iran nuclear talks, the Ukraine war, expanding cooperation with regional countries, and more.

Apr 11, 2022

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Benny Gantz

Israeli police respond to a shooting in Tel Aviv - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Terror and Turbulence in Israel and the West Bank

Three experts discuss the risks of escalating violence on the ground, the Israeli and PA response so far, and U.S. policy options.

Apr 8, 2022

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Anna Ahronheim
Matthew Levitt
Ghaith al-Omari

Brief Analysis

Managing New Israeli-Palestinian Tensions During Ramadan

Despite increased readiness and cooperation in the lead-up to the holy month, recent polls provide a discouraging portrait of public hopes for peace, forcing authorities to keep a close eye on any moves that might inflame tensions.

Apr 1, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari
David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Making the Most of Jordan’s Peace Diplomacy

To follow up on the king’s Ramallah trip, Washington should encourage further engagement in the peace process beyond the diplomatic realm, including economic stabilization initiatives and tie-ins with the Abraham Accords.

Mar 29, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari

Israeli and Arab foreign ministers, along with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, at the Negev Summit - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

A New Regional Role for Israel, as Washington Shows Signs of Stepping Back

By participating in the Negev Summit, Arab states are signaling their appreciation for Israel’s status as both a local power and a unique interlocutor with the United States.

Mar 28, 2022

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Axis of Abraham: Arab-Israeli Normalization Could Remake the Middle East

The accords may point to a future in which the United States can do less in the region—but to get there, Washington must first do more.

March-April 2022

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Michael Singh

Video

Brief Analysis

An Arab Leader in Israel: A Conversation with Mansour Abbas

The head of the first Arab party to join an Israeli governing coalition answers questions about the country’s domestic and foreign policies, including its approach to Palestinian issues and diplomacy with Arab states.

Feb 10, 2022

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Mansour Abbas
David Makovsky
Robert Satloff

Photo of Naftali Bennett and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi meeting in Sharm al-Sheikh.

Brief Analysis

Israeli Coalition Leaders Navigate Protests and Political Constraints

With their constituents upping the pressure on hot-button factional issues, Prime Minister Bennett and Mansour Abbas are starting to feel the vulnerabilities inherent in their still-fragile coalition.

Jan 14, 2022

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David Makovsky

Supported by the

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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Policy Analysis on Peace Process

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Policy Analysis on Peace Process

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