U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

New Poll Shows Gazans Pragmatic Now, But Not Long-Term

A new public opinion poll from Gaza shows some pragmatic, short-term moderation toward the U.S. and Israel over the past year, including opposition to Hamas policies. However, long-term views remain hardline, with few changes during the same period.

Jul 15, 2022

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David Pollock
Faris Almaari

Brief Analysis

Biden Sees Oil as Key to His Visit, but Does Riyadh Agree?

The administration has signaled its intentions for the trip well in advance, but the realities of Saudi oil capacity and global energy forecasts should temper any U.S. expectations of a quick fix.

Jul 14, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia

Video

Brief Analysis

Biden in the Middle East: Opportunities and Challenges

A panel of veteran diplomats and scholars from the Gulf, Israel, and Washington discuss the trip’s goals and risks, as well as the president’s chances for success.

Jul 14, 2022

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Tamar Hermann
Dennis Ross
Ebtesam al-Ketbi
Robert Satloff

President Joe Biden meets Palestinian Authority President Abbas in July 2022

Articles & Testimony

From Arabs and Israelis, Biden Hears Very Different “New” Middle Easts

The Gulf capitals and Jerusalem may not agree entirely on what “regional security cooperation” means or what an anti-Iran alliance should look like, but opportunities for other types of cooperation abound.

Jul 13, 2022

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David Makovsky

Fikra Forum

Political Opposition in Iraq: Between Reform and Regime Change

Iraq’s model of opposition traditionally focuses on ideological frameworks and regime change at the expense of working within the political system to effect change.

Jul 11, 2022

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Abbas Abboud Salem

Articles & Testimony

Libya Could Make or Break Biden’s Middle East Oil Diplomacy

Increased Saudi production will mean little if Libyan production remains unreliable, so it's time to play hardball with Haftar.

Jul 10, 2022

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Ben Fishman

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in the Knesset chamber in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022 - Source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

What Biden and Lapid Have in Common

Their political temperaments and policy priorities are a good match, but this chemistry does not guarantee progress on Iranian and Palestinian issues during an election year.

Jul 8, 2022

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David Makovsky

Fikra Forum

New Poll Reveals Moderate Trend Among East Jerusalem Palestinians

A new poll captures East Jerusalem attitudes towards Arab-Israeli rapprochement, involvement from other Arab countries, and the U.S. policy on the conflict.

Jul 8, 2022

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David Pollock

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon durnig a meeting with Russian President Vladimor Putin in Rihady - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

A Picture Could Paint a Thousand Words When Biden Meets MbS

Although political constraints in Washington, Jerusalem, and Riyadh could make substantive progress hard to come by, a few good photo ops may be all that's needed to deem the visit a success.

Jul 8, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Biden-Abbas Meeting Is About Symbolism, Not Diplomatic Progress

The meeting itself is the objective, and the more uneventful it is, the more it will be deemed a success.

Jul 8, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari

An Iranian soldier wearing an IRGC uniform salutes in front of an Iranin flag - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The United States Needs a Better Strategy to Deter Iran

A “more for more” agreement might be possible, but only if Iranian leaders are genuinely afraid of what they could lose without one.

Jul 6, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Middle East aerial map, binoculars (Hebrew)

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

Countering Iran's Regional Strategy (Hebrew)

A Long-Term, Comprehensive Approach

A Hebrew version of the IDF major general's strategy paper, co-published by The Washington Institute and the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Israel's Reichman University.

Jul 5, 2022

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Eyal Zamir

Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, speaks in a recorded interview released in Jan. 2019. Photo credit: Screenshot by Cole Bunzel via Twitter.

Articles & Testimony

Why Is It So Difficult to Get Off a Terrorist List?

Strategic priorities, political factors, and institutional inertia make it hard to remove a group from government lists even if it no longer meets the designation criteria, potentially hog-tying U.S. policymakers.

Jul 3, 2022

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

Israel Hoping for Shift in US Iran Policy from Diplomacy to Deterrence

A veteran Israeli security and intelligence official explains why the Biden administration must reinvigorate oil sanctions and demonstrate a commitment to act militarily.

Jun 30, 2022

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Zohar Palti

Fikra Forum

Implications of the Sadrist Withdrawal for the Shia Coordination Framework and Iran

The conflict between the Sadrists and the Shia Coordination Framework signals the potential for a new political order in Iraq and a shift in Iran's influence in the country.

Jun 29, 2022

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Firas Elias

Articles & Testimony

One Small Handshake for the United States, One Giant Leap for U.S.-Saudi Relations

President Biden has a powerful moral imperative for ending his feud with the crown prince: to ensure that the kingdom’s gradual pivot away from extremism doesn’t falter.

Jun 29, 2022

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Can Biden Convince Saudis to See the Western Position on Russia?

Improving U.S. relations with Riyadh is the only way to shift the Saudi stance toward Russia—failing that, Biden’s trip is unlikely to yield a strategic success.

Jun 28, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Turkish president Erdogan at NATO headquarters in Brussels

Brief Analysis

What Biden Faces with Erdogan at the NATO Summit

The Turkish leader has been trying to leverage Sweden and Finland’s accession to weaken international support for the YPG in Syria, but he may be content with symbolic concessions that boost his reelection chances.

Jun 28, 2022

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Soner Cagaptay

Drawing of oil pipeline, Iraq, Kurdistan

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

The Necessary U.S. Role in Fixing the Baghdad-Kurdistan Energy Dispute

A targeted intervention could aid American interests and the global effort to find a substitute for Russian and Iranian oil and gas.

Jun 27, 2022

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Michael Knights

Photo of Israeli politicians Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid delivering a statement..

Video

Brief Analysis

The Israeli Government Falls: New Election and Implications for U.S.-Israel Relations

Watch an expert webcast examining the collapse of the year-old coalition government, the impact on President Biden’s upcoming Middle East trip, and the potential consequences for broader U.S.-Israel policy.

Jun 27, 2022

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David Makovsky
Dennis Ross

Supported by the

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East focuses on the region as a setting for heightened competition between the United States and other world powers, such as China and Russia.

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Featured experts

Robert Satloff

Robert Satloff is the Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute, a post he assumed in January 1993.

Dennis Ross

Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Michael Singh

Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

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Regions & Countries

Issues

U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

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