All Areas

The Limited European Leverage over Israel

Israel and the EU maintain exceedingly close relations with each other. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner and has extensive cultural and political ties to the country. Despite this,

Guiding Principles for a New Israeli Foreign Policy Paradigm

Mitvim policy guide lines

The Palestinian Foreign Service at a Time of Diplomatic Freeze

The annual commemoration of the UN’s vote on 29 November 1947 for the partition plan provides an opportunity for the Palestinian Foreign Service and the Palestinian President to shine a global

Briefing on climate change crisis

Briefing on climate change crisis, November 2019

25 Years of Israel-Jordan Peace: Time to Restart the Relationship

Towards the 25th anniversary of the peace treaty with Jordan, Mitvim experts visited Amman for a series of meetings with political, security, media and civil society figures in Jordan. The

The Quality of Israel’s Peace with Jordan is Dependent on the Israeli-Palestinian Issue

The question of the affinity between the Israeli-Palestinian track and the Israeli-Arab track is a contentious issue in Israeli public discourse. Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly claims that

The 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute

The seventh annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2019. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with

When Israel Smiled at the World, the World Smiled Back

“In the last decade of the twentieth century, atlases, history and geography books no longer present an up-to-date picture of the world. Walls of enmity have fallen, borders have disappeared,

Israel’s Regional Foreign Policy: An Annual Status Assessment

The Third Annual Conference of the Mitvim Institute, November 2019

The Democracy Component in Israel’s Relations with Arab State

Something good is happening in relations between Israel and the Arab world, as evidenced by more frequent visits of senior Israeli officials to Arab capitals and conciliatory remarks about Israel

Exaggerated Disappointment on the Silver Jubilee of the Israeli-Jordanian Peace Treaty

The 26th of October marked the silver jubilee of the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. The media emphasized the fact that no formal celebrations were held on both sides of the Jordan River. Indeed,

The Lesson for Israel from the US Abandonment of the Kurds

President Trump has hastily dispatched his Vice President Pence for urgent talks with President Erdoğan. These talks may have produced a 120 hours pause in the Turkish onslaught into the Kurdish

After 25 Years of Peace, Israel-Jordan Relations Need a Restart

Jordan will not celebrate this month’s 25th anniversary of the festive signing of the historic peace agreement with Israel in Wadi Araba. The winds of reconciliation that blew at the time, the

The Real Danger that Brexit Poses for Israel

When Israelis ask what Brexit means for them, many will think of economy and trade, and about diplomatic relations with Britain and Europe. These are important, but in considering Brexit’s

Members of Knesset Can Help Improve Israel’s Foreign Policy

120 Members of Knesset (MKs), veteran and new, are now starting their term in the 22nd Knesset. In the near future, assuming a new government will actually be formed, they will build a

The Importance of Ties between Palestinian Citizens of Israel and Diaspora Jewry: A View from Britain

Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, who feel their political representatives cannot achieve significant change for them on domestic issues, find it hard to believe that their voice could be

Democracy and Foreign Policy in Israel

On 11 June 2019, the Mitvim Institute and the Davis Institute held a conference at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on democracy and foreign policy in Israel. It included sessions on democracy,

Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, Vol. 3

This document outlines major trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies over the past six months. It is based on the Mitvim Institute’s monthly reports that cover ongoing developments in the

Existing and Potential Cooperation between Israel and Key Arab States

For the past two years, Mitvim Institute experts have been studying the changing relations between Israel and key Arab states – Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and

Israeli Election Analysis: Netanyahu’s Dominant Grip is Coming to an End

While the Israeli elections results do not yet provide clarity regarding the identity of the next prime minister or the composition of the next government, they do indicate that Netanyahu’s

The Resignation of Jason Greenblatt, the Peace Envoy Who Did Not Broker

President Trump’s Middle East envoy Greenblatt was very different from his predecessors. While leading US mediators and envoys were generally experienced in diplomacy and foreign policy, as well

Dr. Roee Kibrik at the opening of the Eastern Mediterranean Climate Workshop

Eastern Mediterranean Climate Workshop, December 2019

Attending the 2019 Rome Med Conference

2019 Rome Med Conference, December

Attending the IDEA Annual Conference: The Center for Liberal Democracy

Attending the IDEA Annual Conference, December 2019

The Israeli Elections and the Global Competition between the Liberal and Non-Liberal Camps

The giant posters adorning the Likud party’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, showing party leader and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and

Trouble in Paradise: Cracks are Forming in the Saudi-Emirati Relationship

The relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not always been smooth. Even before the latter’s independence in 1971, the affairs between the ruling families, al-Nahyan of Abu-Dhabi and

Israel’s Foreign Service Is Being Weakened and We Are All Paying the Price,

Would we ask a farmer to grow crops without water? Would we ask a surgeon to operate without a scalpel? Would we send a soldier into battle without a rifle? If not, then why are diplomats being

House Demolitions in Sur Baher: Out of Jerusalem, Inside the Fence

The route of the Separation Fence/Wall/Barrier in the area of Jerusalem generally follows the city’s municipal boundaries, separating East Jerusalem’s Palestinian neighborhoods from the West

The US became a Dishonest Broker between Israel and the Palestinians

Jason Greenblatt, US special envoy, said in a recent interview, “There has never been an honest mediator for this conflict. The mindset of a so-called honest mediator never existed and will never

Lessons from the Peace Process between Ethiopia and Eritrea

For those interested in promoting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the current situation may be discouraging. Indeed, the misconception that there is “no solution” is

Empowering Israel’s Foreign Service via Modern and Innovative Diplomacy

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is crying out for change more than ever before. The decade-long tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister has plunged this key government agency,

Istanbul’s Message of Hope for the Israeli Opposition

Under the leadership of Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, the Blue and White party has frequently warned voters of the “Erdoğanization” of Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In other

The Bahrain Workshop and the Dwindling Chances for Israeli-Palestinian Peace under Trump

The economic workshop in Bahrain in late June produced some noteworthy moments that reflected recent changes in Israeli-Gulf relations: An interview of the Bahraini foreign minister by Israeli

Democracy is Essential to Israel’s National Security

Israel’s democratic qualities have played an important role in its military achievements over the years. This lesson arises not just from Israel’s wars, but also from 200 years of global great

The Israeli Foreign Policy Index for 2019

The 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index

Trump Distances Peace, and Bahrain is Just the Tip of the Iceber

The White House announcement that it was convening an economic workshop in Bahrain appeared to mark the launch of a significant US move unveiling the Trump plan we have been hearing about – under

Expo 2020 Dubai: An Opportunity for Israel-Gulf Relations

While Israel was excited to host the Eurovision competition in May, in the Arab Gulf States, international events are held almost on a daily basis. One of the most prestigious of them is Expo

Guiding Principles for Israel’s Foreign Policy toward the EU

Ties with the EU are a strategic asset for the State of Israel. Europe is Israel’s largest trading partner, a source of political and defense support (despite disagreements), an anchor of shared

An Economic Workshop in Bahrain, With No Political Horizon

The June 25-26 economic workshop planned by the Trump administration in Bahrain is an attempt to put the economic carriage before the diplomatic horse. History shows that most international

Europe’s Far-Right Is Blocked, for Now; Israel Should Help This Continue

The May 2019 elections to the European Parliament have blocked the storming of the continent’s parliament and of the EU’s institutions by the far-right, for now. However, the conservative and

What Do Closer Lebanon-Cyprus Energy Ties Mean for Israel?

Interesting developments have occurred recently in the Mediterranean Basin. On April 11, the foreign and energy ministers of Cyprus and Lebanon met in Beirut and agreed to accelerate their

The European Parliament Elections Results: Possible Significance for Europe and Israel

A policy roundtable on the 2019 European Parliament elections results and their possible significance for Europe and Israel took place on 30 May 2019 at Tel Aviv University. It was organized by

The Perils of Netanyahu’s “Monarchic Diplomacy”

Prime Minister Netanyahu used foreign policy as major theme in the 2019 election campaign. Giant billboards depicted him standing alongside President Trump. His aides pointed to his diplomatic

Is Trump’s “Deal of the Century” Really a Peace Plan?

In September 1978, during the Camp David peace summit, U.S. President Jimmy Carter presented Israeli and Egyptian negotiators with a draft peace agreement that served as the basis for discussions

Recalibrating the Course of Israel-EU Relations

The formation of a new Israeli government provides an opportunity to rethink the course of Israel’s policy vis-à-vis the EU. Israel-EU relations need to be handled differently, in a manner that

Israel’s Former Diplomats Are a Wasted National Resource

Security issues dominate the public and political discourse in Israel. During the 2019 election campaign, parties have been boasting of having some general or other on their roster of Knesset

Divided and Divisive: Europeans, Israel and Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

Over the last 40 years, since the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty (that alluded to but did not solve the Palestinian question) and the European Community’s 1980 Venice Declaration, Europe has been

The Israeli Election Results and Israel’s Foreign Policy

Benjamin Netanyahu won Israel’s election and declared he would form a new rightwing government. This will affect diverse aspects of Israel’s foreign policy. This document includes commentaries by

Israel Should Advance an International Initiative to Support Gaza

The political, security, humanitarian and economic crisis in the Gaza Strip has been on the Israeli, regional and international agenda for many years now. However, the disengagement from the Gaza

Trump Gives Israel’s ‘Master Statesman’ License to Carry On

Netanyahu’s new government will likely continue the path of Israel’s current foreign policy. In 2009 he paid lip-service to a two-state solution but now speaks openly about annexing settlements.

What Should Israel’s Next Foreign Minister Do?

Eight years ago, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned that Israel would face a diplomatic tsunami unless it re-engaged in the long stalemated peace talks with the Palestinians. Later on, Tzipi

Guiding Principles for Israel’s Foreign Policy toward the Eastern Mediterranean

In recent years, the Eastern Mediterranean has become a central focus of world powers, of states in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, and of international corporations. Regional geopolitical

Pompeo, the Israel-Greece-Cyprus Alliance, and the EastMed Pipeline

As the Purim holiday arrives, many are looking forward to a break from the country’s exhausting election cycle. But for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Wednesday evening was an opportunity to reinforce

Stable but Tepid: The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty After 40 Years

On March 26, 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty – the first between Israel and an Arab state. Many Israelis were disenchanted when the treaty did not result in normalized bilateral

Lessons from Tunisia on the Jewish Bridge to the Arab World

During the Oslo years, Israel experienced a period of openness in its trade and diplomatic relations with many Arab states. These days, there are those who are quick to describe Israel’s secret

Israel and Egypt: Strategic Partnership, Civil Remoteness?

This article describes the relationship and cooperation between Israel and Egypt, and discusses the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on them. It focuses on the current political and

Resolving the Crisis with Diaspora Jewry

The crisis with Diaspora Jewry is, by its very nature, both strategic and existential given the threat it poses to the essence of the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.

Who Remembers the Palestinian Issue?

Public attention in the upcoming Israeli elections is focusing on domestic political and economic issues, such as Netanyahu’s legal situation and the cost of living – and on security-related

Who Benefits from the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum?

The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, launched in mid-January in Cairo, features a development of political importance which is a direct result of the natural gas discoveries in the region in

Netanyahu and the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH)

On Janury 28, 2019, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he was terminating the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), an observer force established in

Tunisia and Its Relations with Israel Following the Arab Spring

The Israeli discourse surrounding regional cooperation tends to focus primarily on the Gulf States and on security issues; as such, it often overlooks more moderate and pro-Western countries in

Where Are Palestinian Politics Headed?

The resignation of Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who headed the PA government for two terms as President Mahmoud Abbas’ right-hand man, took place at a watershed

A Better Way for the International Community to Benefit the People of Gaza

The situation in Gaza is horrific. Actually, worse than that. Gazans have been deprived of electricity, water, jobs and salaries; they were stripped off their self-respect and parental authority,

Will Energy be the Next Point of Israeli-Egyptian Convergence?

The mid-January regional meeting in Cairo, during which a new regional gas forum was announced by seven Eastern Mediterranean countries, illustrates the promising political potential embedded in

Alternative Directions for Israeli Foreign Policy on the Eve of an Election Year

The Mitvim Institute’s second annual conference took place in Tel Aviv on December 30, 2018. The conference explored alternative directions for Israeli foreign policy towards the April 2019

Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies vol. 2

This document briefly outlines major trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies over the past six months. It is based on the Mitvim Institute’s monthly reports that cover ongoing developments

The 2018 Israel-Turkey Policy Dialogue of the Mitvim Institute

In October 2018, the Mitvim Institute held its annual Israel-Turkey policy dialogue, for the seventh consecutive year. The dialogue took place in Istanbul, in cooperation with

Regional Opportunities to Improve the Situation in Gaza

Israeli and Palestinian experts and activists – together with international diplomats – gathered on 31 October 2018 at the UN Headquarters in Jerusalem for a civil society roundtable discussion

The End of the Struggle Over Syria

US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the remaining American troops from Syria came as a surprise, but the writing was on the wall already in April, when the he announced his intention

Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Pending Opportunities

Op ed by Dr. Moran Zaga, December 2018

Israel and Egypt: A Strategic Axis in the Regional Landscape?

The recent violent escalation in Gaza, that led to the resignation of the Israeli minister of defense and to a public uproar against the government’s handling of the Hamas movement, have

Israel and Turkey: Insights from a Policy Dialogue in the Midst of a Crisis

The recent escalation in Gaza highlighted once again the crisis in Israel-Turkey relations. A harsh exchange of tweets between the spokespersons of Turkey’s President Erdoğan and Israel’s

The Spring of Israel’s Relations with its Arab Neighbors

In the past few weeks it seems that Arab and Muslim countries have been competing with each other over Israel. Following news on back-channel intelligence ties with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister

Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Opportunities on Hold

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is well known for its economic power and moderate Islam, and for its increasing involvement in regional developments throughout the Middle East, including the

EastMed Gas Pipeline Must Overcome Major Obstacles

Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructures Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz has announced that the governments of Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy have reached an agreement to

Mahmoud Abbas’ Interest is to Topple Hamas

It is impossible to isolate the recent escalation of tension between Israel and the Gaza Strip from the stalemate in the internal Palestinian reconciliation process. From the current perspective,

Israel’s Renewed Affair with Oman

The official visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to Oman turned the spotlight on this distant principality in the Gulf that is unfamiliar to most Israelis. Perhaps it

Israel and Jordan: A Looming Crisis That Should Be Prevented

Less than 10 months after the resolution of the previous Israeli-Jordanian crisis, a new crisis may be sparked by King Abdullah’s recent decision not to renew the two annexes to the

The 2018 Israeli Foreign Policy Index

The sixth annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2018. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with

Welcome to the New Normal: Israel and Turkey’s Turbulent Relations in the Post-Reconciliation Era

In June 2016, Israeli and Turkish negotiators announced that they had reached the terms of a reconciliation agreement that would end six years of downgraded diplomatic ties between their

The Quest for a Long-Term Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

The attempts by officials in the Middle East and beyond to find the formula for a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, attest to the complexity of the problem that emerged over a decade ago,

Why Israel Needs a Strong Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was once one of Israel’s crown Jewels. Managing Israel’s foreign relations and the exposure that the office of the foreign minister offered, attracted

The Oslo Agreement was Assassinated with Rabin

Surprisingly for what is considered a failed peace treaty, the 25th anniversary of the Oslo Agreement received significant media coverage. Most of it, as can be expected, was onesided,

Mogherini’s Meeting with Arab Legislators from Israel

The EU quite frequently expresses criticism over Israeli policies and legislation that damage prospects of achieving the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts or that run

Israel and Morocco: Cooperation Rooted in Heritage

About one million Moroccan Jews currently live in Israel and tens of thousands of Israelis visit Morocco every year for tourism purposes, business or family visits. This reality leads Israel and

Towards an Increased Role for the Knesset in Foreign Affairs: Summary of a Knesset event held by the Mitvim Institute and the Caucus for Strengthening Israel’s Foreign Service

On May 22, 2018, the Mitvim Institute and the Caucus for Strengthening Israel’s Foreign Service held a joint event at the Knesset on how to increase the role of the Knesset in Foreign

The Boiling Water of the Red Sea: Power Struggles and Israel’s Interests

The Red Sea basin includes 12 states with a combined population of around 300 million. On the eastern shore lie Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel share the Gulf of

A Port in Cyprus Can Help Resolve Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

The Gaza Strip poses a great challenge to Israel – in particular its fragile humanitarian situation, which has been an item on the Israeli decision-making table for a long time, especially since

What Israel can learn from Morocco’s multiculturalism

Einat Levi on +972 magazine

Voices of Peace in Saudi Arabia

A serious overview of the Saudi media, as recently done by some MEMRI reports, shows a considerable improvement in the Saudi media’s treatment of Israel. These voices are important since they

Are Ties between Israel and Bahrain Warming?

The participation of an Israeli delegation in the 2018 annual UNESCO International Conference held in Bahrain corresponds with the various headlines on Israeli-Bahraini relations during the past

Israel and Iraq: Taking the Civilian Path to Improve Relations

This research examines the potential for cooperation between Israel and Iraq, the largest Arab country to Israel’s east. Iraq is changing and is undergoing reconstruction following a series of

Israel-Iraq Relations: Opportunities to Advance Cooperation

On 17 May 2018 the Mitvim Institute held a workshop on Israel-Iraq relations, based on a research by Dr. Ronen Zeidel, which was conducted as part of Mitvim’s project of the unfulfilled potential

Israel-Morocco Relations: Opportunities to Advance Cooperation

On 18 July 2018, the Mitvim Institute held a workshop on Israel-Morocco relations, based on research by Einat Levi, which was conducted as part of Mitvim’s project of the unfulfilled potential of

Netanyahu Is Actively Courting the Iranian People, but There Could Not Be a Worse Messenger

The Islamic Republic of Iran soon turns 40. Since 1979, the U.S. has been the primary ideological target of Iran’s enmity. Recently, we’ve seen the rhetoric heating up, with Iran’s

Exploring New Bridges between Regional Rivals: Overview of a Dialogue Channel between US-Based Israeli and Iranian Experts

Since 1979, Israel and Iran have engaged in a decades-long cold war against one another. However, the signing of the JCPOA in 2015 – freezing Iran’s nuclear program for a minimum 10-year period –