Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

In addition to seeking Egypt’s help with mediation, the Biden administration needs to recognize that several motivations are driving Hamas in this round, so raising the cost to the group cannot just be measured in military terms.

May 14, 2021

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David Makovsky
Dennis Ross

Iron Dome rockets intercepting Hamas missiles over Tel Aviv

Articles & Testimony

How War With the Palestinians Triggered Ethnic Violence in Israel

In mixed towns across the country, Arab and Jewish citizens have turned on one another, with substantial implications for the government formation process and other issues.

May 13, 2021

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Neri Zilber

Israeli politicians Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett

Brief Analysis

Can the Change Coalition End Israel’s Endless Election Cycle?

The diverse coalition may be able to form a viable government, but it will need to navigate carefully in light of internal political differences and Netanyahu’s presence in the opposition as a potential spoiler.

May 6, 2021

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

UAE Wealth Fund to Buy Share of Israeli Gas Field

If the $1.1 billion deal goes ahead, it will strengthen Abu Dhabi’s claim to be a player in the East Mediterranean.

Apr 27, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Biden’s ‘Open Door’ to the Palestinian Authority

Reestablishing U.S. funding and diplomatic missions may pose problems given the Palestinian leadership’s continued rejectionism, but one key benefit could be ending the PA “pay for slay” program.

Apr 26, 2021

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David Pollock
Sander Gerber

Brief Analysis

Hamas Fields a Militant Electoral List: Implications for U.S.-Palestinian Ties

The group plans to put numerous convicted terrorists on the ballot, and neither the PA nor the international community seems willing to talk about the potential legal, diplomatic, and budgetary consequences.

Apr 21, 2021

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Katherine Bauer
Matthew Levitt

Photo of Muslim World League secretary-general Mohammad Al-Issa visiting Auschwitz

Video

Brief Analysis

Teaching the Holocaust in the Arab World

A remarkable panel of Arab educators, activists, and civic leaders share their experiences with breaking regional taboos and formulating effective ways to teach youths about genocide.

Apr 12, 2021

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Ali al-Nuaimi
Zeina Barakat
El Mehdi Boudra

A delegation of Gulf Arab men and women visit Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

Articles & Testimony

The Crumbling Walls of Arab Holocaust Denial

Four factors have gradually legitimized honest regional discussion of the Holocaust and made traditional statements of denial and distortion less acceptable.

Apr 8, 2021

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Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Two Kingmakers Stand at the Center of Israel’s Coalition Drama

Despite winning relatively few seats, Naftali Bennett and Mansour Abbas may have much to say about who forms the next government, and a fragile coalition seems inevitable regardless of which side they choose.

Apr 2, 2021

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Biden Needs to Tear Down Bureaucratic Walls and Refocus Middle East Programs

With few exceptions, the U.S. government has pursued Arab development, Israeli-Palestinian engagement, and Arab-Israel normalization as three separate, walled-off tracks, which no longer makes any sense.

Apr 1, 2021

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Joseph Braude
Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

The New Palestinian Fork in the Road: Will They Take It?

New proposals by Palestinian commentators can give Abbas and other senior officials a viable framework for rescheduling premature elections and jumpstarting engagement with Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.

Mar 29, 2021

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David Pollock

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures to supporters

Brief Analysis

If Palestinian Elections Proceed, Hamas May Have the Upper Hand

Abbas may decide to postpone the vote given Fatah’s internal fissures, his rivals’ relative unity, and the damage that certain outcomes could do to Palestinian relations with the West.

Mar 25, 2021

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Ghaith al-Omari

Brief Analysis

Getting the Israel-Jordan Relationship Back on Track

The deterioration seen in recent years has diplomatic, political, economic, and even personal roots, and their collective effect has been to hold back everyone’s interests, including Washington’s.

Mar 12, 2021

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David Schenker
Ghaith al-Omari

Assistant secretary of state David Schenker speaks at the Department of State in Washington, DC, alongside secretary of state Mike Pompeo

Video

Brief Analysis

Middle East Policy from Trump to Biden: Views from Inside the State Department’s Near East Bureau

The former assistant secretary of state in charge of the Middle East portfolio from 2019-2021 discusses his time in office and how the region’s challenges and opportunities are evolving at the start of the Biden administration.

March 10, 2021

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David Schenker
Robert Satloff

Video

Brief Analysis

Countdown to Israel's Election: A Conversation with Yair Lapid

The centrist party leader discusses key domestic and international policy issues ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections, with follow-up analysis by political and polling experts.

Mar 1, 2021

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Yair Lapid
David Makovsky
Tamar Hermann

U.S.-Israel cooperation images: in agtech, medicine, military, etc.

In-Depth Reports

Asset Test 2021:

How the U.S. Can Keep Benefiting from Its Alliance with Israel

Areas for especially timely U.S.-Israel cooperation include climate resilience, agtech, and medical research, as well as longstanding work in the military and security arenas.

Feb 24, 2021

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Michael Eisenstadt
David Pollock

◆ Transition 2021

MbS, King Salman, Saudi map, fighter jet

In-Depth Reports

Defining a Mature, Balanced Relationship with Saudi Arabia

An Urgent Task for the Biden Administration

A revamped approach to the alliance should stay focused on shared goals, from ensuring a stable oil market to promoting a more tolerant version of Islam at home and abroad.

Feb 22, 2021

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Dennis Ross
Robert Satloff

◆ Transition 2021

Video

Brief Analysis

New Leadership for Israel? A Conversation with Gideon Saar

The New Hope party leader and former Likud minister discusses why he is running in Israel’s March election, how his policies differ from Netanyahu’s, and what his approach will be on key issues such as the Middle East peace process and the Iranian nuclear challenge,

Feb 10, 2021

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Gideon Saar

Brief Analysis

Israel’s Round Four: New and Old Dynamics

It is far from certain that the next election will stabilize Israeli politics, and even if it does, the forces taking shape could create challenging peace math for the Biden administration.

Feb 9, 2021

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David Makovsky

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

Video

Brief Analysis

U.S. Policy Toward Arab States, Palestinians, and Israel: Ideas and Approaches for the Biden Administration

Officials, business leaders, and experts explore the economic, political, and human impact of regional normalization efforts, including their potential to reinvigorate peacemaking with the Palestinians.

Feb 3, 2021

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Yousef Al Otaiba
Samer Khoury
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum
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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Featured experts

Ghaith al-Omari

Ghaith al-Omari is a 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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Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

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Regions & Countries

Issues

Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

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