Israel’s relations in the Middle East and the Mediterranean are in the midst of a transformative period. The positive momentum generated following the Abraham Accords was flipped on its head
A renewed security agreement between Israel and Syria could lead to a new kind of normalization.
This is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to agree a détente between two hostile neighbours, but getting there is tricky. Several issues must (but can) be overcome.
It overestimates the appeal of military might while ignoring the real motivations that have historically led Arab states to normalize relations with Israel.
SOCAR’s expanding footprint in Israel could eventually open new routes and strategies for future export diversification in the region.
The ceasefire in the war with Iran provides us with an opportunity to draw lessons both for that conflict and beyond it.
Iran’s axis of proxies has taken a serious hit and has become an axis of the weak.
In a special conversation with the Mitvim Institute, Saudi scholar Dr. Aziz Alghashian – a senior research fellow at Mitvim – shares a Gulf perspective on the Israel-Iran conflict, calling for
"Security is not just the tank, the airplane, and the missile ship. Security is also, and perhaps above all, the person—the person, the Israeli citizen. Security is also the person's education,
The Mitvim Institute recently convened a high-level expert roundtable, held via Zoom, to explore the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations and their profound implications for the Middle East.
Dr. Gil Murciano, CEO of Mitvim, interviewed the German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, at the end of May as part of a major conference organized by the Berl Katznelson Foundation under
What is the role of civic foreign policy thinking in shaping regional security?
Dr. Aziz Alghashian is a Saudi researcher specializing in the kingdom’s foreign policy strategies. He is a senior research fellow at the Mitvim Institute. Alghashian is especially known as an
"Trump’s business trip to the Middle East presents a new strategic reality: the American president has, for now, chosen to sideline Israel and its considerations in his foreign policy."
Eitan Ishai, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Mitvim, took part in the Next Milan 2025 Forum. The conference emphasized the central role of think tanks in shaping foreign
Why the US should appoint a special envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor? Ambitious India-Middle East-Europe corridor gains momentum amidst geopolitical shifts and renewed diplomatic
Food security has become a critical priority in recent years, driven by the growing impacts of global climate change. As countries develop strategies to ensure stable and sufficient food
In his recent address, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, one of the most outspoken leaders of the Reform movement, declared, “The Palestinians have choked the hope for a two-state solution with their own
When I joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the 1990s, I was proud to represent a country that was a beacon of values on the international stage. A country that led the fight against
Since the outbreak of the war, several Arab states have played supportive roles – Egypt and Qatar as mediators, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and
In recent weeks, a flood of words has been spoken about US President Donald Trump’s proposed “evacuation and reconstruction” plan for the Gaza Strip – both regarding its impracticality and its
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who last year wanted to suspend the Association Agreement, stated that the meeting did not take place under a “business as usual” atmosphere. And yet,
In September 2023, Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies – and the U.S. Department of State launched a joint project to create a civil-society network of regional thinkers
This policy paper explores the fast-moving expansion of the UAE’s influence in the Middle East through physical control of territories and assets beyond its borders, analysing the implications
Unsurprisingly, the meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu garnered significant headlines, but far more than expected. Trump’s proposals to transfer
In the opening weeks of his second term, US President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico, expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, and threatened to retake the Panama Canal. Yet all this
As Washington and New Delhi prepare for the high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, defense cooperation takes center stage. This
Alongside the excitement and joy over the ongoing release of hostages, I can’t stop thinking that the deal for a ceasefire and hostage release could have been achieved long ago. It’s a “gut
On January 12, two seemingly unrelated events took place in Saudi Arabia. In the first, Real Madrid faced Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah. Thousands of Saudis filled the
The re-deployment of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) emerges as one crucial component for promoting stability and governance in Gaza
When President Joe Biden announced on Jan. 15, 2025 that the United States had successfully brokered a fragile ceasefire and phased hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, he underscored how
Immediately after the signing of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, incoming US President Donald Trump announced that, after the return of the hostages, he intends to continue the implementation
After 15 months of devastating news from the Middle East, a silver lining has appeared in the form of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire. The Israeli public has been waiting for this for months, with
This document reviews key trends in Israel’s regional foreign policy from July to December 2024, during a period marked by the continuing power struggle between the US-led Western axis and the
The election of the Christian Commander of the Lebanese Army, Joseph Aoun, as Lebanese president is an important milestone for Lebanon and a positive geopolitical development for Israel. It
Last week, Saudi researcher Abdulaziz Alghashian, from the Observer Research Foundation Middle East, published an op-ed in Haaretz arguing that the Israeli public misunderstands Saudi Arabia’s
For decades, the Israeli peace camp has hoisted the two-state formula to the top of the flagpole as the solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. We believed that resolution of the “core of
Looking back at 2024, Israel has strengthened its strategic position in the Middle East, but this has come at the cost of deepening internal divisions within Israeli society, straining relations
President Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, was committed to the future of Israel and the region, and to promoting a two-state solution. It is very regrettable that too many people in
I heard that Israeli media has been debating about the Saudi position regarding the way to end the war and move forward, and its obligation to the Palestinian issue. It seems that Saudi Arabia’s
The European Union’s response to the war in Gaza has been widely criticized as irrelevant and incoherent, casting doubt on its ability to become a credible player in the region. While the EU is
The collapse of the Assad regime confronts Israel with a familiar dilemma, one with which decision-makers grappled a decade ago in the early stages of the Syrian civil war. The question is
How can we transform the tragedy of the past year into a turning point that sparks a renewed diplomatic initiative in Israel’s relations with the Palestinians and the Arab world? The Mitvim
Throughout the Middle East, with the exception of Iran and its proxies, there was a collective sigh of relief at the reelection of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Given the choice
Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies – held a roundtable on international involvement in achieving a sustainable solution for Lebanon, especially in light of the recent
Relations between countries naturally ebb and flow. While high tides are often seen as a positive sign, low tides can strain these connections. As we mark the 30th anniversary of the peace
A year has elapsed since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel, which ignited a war not only against the terrorist organization but also against the entire so-called Axis of Resistance led by the
Israel’s apprehension of Hezbollah has arisen not only from the arsenal of rockets and missiles it has stockpiled but also from its hostile rhetoric and the image of Nasrallah as someone who
There is a widespread perception globally that the October 7th massacre and the subsequent war have pushed the Israeli public toward the far right. This narrative suggests that while Israelis are
The United States, Europe and pragmatic Arab states are offering Israelis and Palestinians a way out of the abyss they fell into on 7 October 2023: a political process that includes the
Recent attention has turned to Jordan, following the murders of three Israelis at the Allenby Bridge Crossing. These killings have reignited fears in Israel about a potential deterioration in
The Mitvim Institute’s twelfth annual public opinion poll on Israeli foreign policy was conducted at the end of August. The survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute in collaboration
The Mitvim Institute’s twelfth annual public opinion poll on Israeli foreign policy was conducted at the end of August. The survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute in collaboration
The Mitvim Institute’s twelfth annual public opinion poll on Israeli foreign policy was conducted at the end of August. The survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute in collaboration
The paper outlines the existing and potential role of the EU in helping to shape a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the aftermath of the Gaza war under new Israeli
The paper aims to shed light on the obstacles and opportunities of Saudi involvement in a future Palestinian-Israeli peace process. It first explains the enigmatic nature of Saudi communication
The events of October 7 and the ensuing war prompt the question of the “day after” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Both sides of Israel’s political spectrum recognize that achieving
The document discusses the significance of developing a strategic policy for the humanitarian response in Gaza, emphasizing its importance as a vital Israeli interest. Humanitarian strategy is
The prolonged Israel-Hamas war has resulted in grave human and physical damage to the Gaza Strip. The Mitvim Institute has been engaged since the start of the war in strategic thinking to promote
The terrible attack in Majdal Shams is a chronicle of a disaster foretold for nearly nine months. It is the result of a lack of Israeli strategy on one hand, and Hezbollah’s assessment that
On July 8th, 2024, The Mitvim Institute held a roundtable discussion via Zoom focusing on international involvement and its role in preventing escalation in the ongoing crisis between Israel and
The total stalemate in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires new thinking and weaning off of old paradigms. Currently as the result of the Hamas attack on October 7, the ensuring
Normalization with Saudi Arabia has become a central issue during the Israel-Hamas war. Despite the great advantages the normalization holds for Israel, the current government is unable – and
This paper examines the differences between a blue economy and a maritime economy in the regional context of the Eastern Mediterranean. A blue economy is defined as one that improves human
Peace between peoples doesn’t have to be a love story – it can also be based on an alliance of interests. There are places where that is already working, thanks to the process of
It is possible to suggest several explanations for the inability of the mediators to persuade Sinwar or to force his hand until now. How is it that Hamas, not a particularly large or strong
The Mitvim Institute, the Israeli Association for the Study of European Integration (IASE), and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung invite you to a Zoom webinar to delve into the European Parliament
The Saudi proposal opens up the path to recognition of Israel by other states in the Middle East and in the Muslim world. An important factor in every negotiation between states is the incentives
The intense diplomatic activity on the Washington-Riyadh axis, as well as statements by top officials on both sides, indicate that an Israeli-Saudi normalization agreement is still relevant
Israel must repudiate Netanyahu’s lack of statesmanship, which is leading Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state that could become a real Hamastan. The flood of Western
The immense extent of destruction in the Gaza Strip caused by the 2023-2024 Gaza War, requires massive rebuilding. This paper sets a vision of a long-term economic rebuilding plan, which is aimed
The UN General Assembly passed on Friday with overwhelming majority a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights at the world body as an observer state, without offering it full membership. In
Water scarcity in the Middle East poses a formidable challenge, with far-reaching implications for the region’s ecological balance, socio-economic stability, and security. This policy paper
“The only thing we have in common with the Israeli government is that we also don’t believe in the two-state solution.” The speaker was not an Israeli far-right activist but Iranian Foreign
The policy paper presents a critical analysis of the phenomenon known as “climate migration,” focusing on the Israel-Palestine region. It also highlights the tension between human rights
Over the past decade until October 7th, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has received minimal significant global headlines. Extensive coverage of the conflict occurred mainly during military
Over the past six months, the Israel-Lebanon border has been a battleground between Israel and Hezbollah. Recently, there has been an escalation from both sides, albeit within perceived
The Mitvim Institute and the Berl Katznelson Center, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, invite our international community to a special briefing on the Israeli Initiative. While
Netanyahu was pressured into announcing new measures for Gazans in wake of deadly strike on WCK aid workers, but again Jerusalem risks doing too little, too late. There are many aspects of
After half a year of war, and in spite of Israel’s military strength, Hamas continues to fight. While it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact strength of the Islamist militants, some
Early in the pandemic, a friend of mine introduced me to another friend of his, an Emirati living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Knowing that my academic research is focused on the
Gender equality and women’s rights are consensual values across parties and political agendas in Western democracies, of which Israel has always been proud to be a part. However,
Based on past experience with normalization agreements, three components are presently missing on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides: legitimate leadership, political determination, and
Israel’s success in stabilizing the humanitarian situation in Gaza correlates with minimizing harm to non-combatants. This provides greater flexibility for Israeli troops to defeat Hamas.
Israel and Egypt both aim to demonstrate to the Arab world the destabilizing effects of supporting the Shia axis.
Netanyahu pushed Qatar to support Hamas, unfairly targeted the Red Cross and is fighting a war with no exit plan – so who's to blame?
The sea may develop into an arena requiring greater Israeli effort, but could also create additional opportunities for international cooperation, and not only in the Red Sea.
Too many so called “security experts” have recently been explaining why we need to starve Gaza and prevent humanitarian aid in order to achieve the objectives of the war. They assert that we
Recognition by the international “moral majority” of a Palestinian state is a Zionist imperative if Israel is to ensure its future as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people.
The Gaza war’s impact on Egypt’s economy is not hidden.
The idea of rehabilitating the Palestinian Authority (PA) was proposed by US President Joe Biden in response to its weakness and to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of its
A political settlement to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians once Hamas is weakened, and after an intermediate stage in which a reconstituted Palestinian Authority is established with the
As of January 2024, the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is evolving into its ‘third stage’, from aerial bombardment and a massive ground operation into low-intensity warfare and
While Israel’s citizens are united around the need to militarily and politically topple Hamas and bring back the hostages, the Israeli government is in no hurry to discuss the day after. In
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip might evolve in the next few weeks into its ‘third stage’, following the aerial bombardment and the massive ground operation undertaken
The paper discusses the rising power of local government and its ability to independently create and/or advance foreign relations in order to promote peace and good neighborly relations. One of
If the northern front expands into an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, or if the Red Sea is closed by the Houthis – then the energy market will respond with increases in fuel prices
Three years after the resumption of official ties, and in the shadow of the Gaza war, the crisis provides a new opportunity for regional and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Today, in collaboration with EcoPeace, we hosted a round table focused on formulating a strategy for stabilizing infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The meeting brought together experts from the
Palestinian feelings about the Arab response to the war in Gaza can be summed up in one word: disappointment. This sentiment is shared by Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinians in
