Israel and Morocco: Major Potential for Warm Peace
The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco is not without precedent. In fact, the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1994 following Israel’s peace agreements
Progressive politics in the Middle East: Israel and the region
The Abraham Accords that were signed recently between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be equalled to a tip of an iceberg: much more is laying beneath the surface. These
2021
US Policies towards Israel and the Middle East is a monthly publication of the Mitvim Institute, currently written by Gall olle Sigler. The publication covers issues related to US-Israel
Opportunities and Challenges for Israel-UAE
Economic Cooperation
Israeli-Emirati economic ties have been developing continuously since the 1990s, setting the stage for the recent Abraham Accords and the partnerships that have begun to flourish as a result.
After UAE, Bahrain normalization,
will ties with Egypt, Jordan improve?
The establishment of peaceful relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco introduces a new model of normalization, highlighting warm receptions between the people
Will Saudi Arabia Pick Up the Mantle?
Yonatan Touval on Modern Diplomacy
Civilian cooperation between Israel and Arab states: How does it work?
A research by Dr. Roee Kibrik and Einat Levi
How Israel Is Triggering a Royal Civil War in Saudi Arabia
Prof. Elie Podeh on Haaretz
The UAE’s Stability from an Outsider’s Perspective
Dr. Moran Zaga on Qposts
Regional Cooperation: Government Practices
A research by Ksenia Svetlova and Mor Yahalom
Trump’s Mideast legacy: The good, the bad and the ugly
The termination of Donald Trump’s presidency signals the end of an era in US involvement in the Middle East with its attendant good, bad and ugly aspects. The Trump Administration is said to have
Israel, the UAE and Bahrain: A different kind of peace
In the weeks since the historic August 13 declaration of diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, followed by a declaration of diplomatic ties with Bahrain, it has become
Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies: An Annual Assessment, November 2020
The Mitvim Institute presented its annual assessment of Israel’s regional foreign policies at its fourth annual conference on October 28, 2020. The conference was held in cooperation with the
Israel must prepare for a change in US policy toward Iran
Nadav Tamir on Jpost
UNSCR 1325: IMPLEMENTATION IN TURKEY AND ISRAEL
Policy paper published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Advancing the peace process depends on civilian ties
Einat Levi on Jpost
Israel, the Middle East and Joe Biden
Ksenia Svetlova, towards the US elections
Sudan’s economic interests tipped scales
Op-ed on Jpost by prof. Elie Podeh
Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies: An Annual Assessment
The 4th Annual Conference of the Mitvim Institute, in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Wednesday, 28 October 2020, 16:00 Israel time (15:00 CET, 10:00 EDT) Via Zoom; Register here The
Trump is bullying Sudan into embracing Israel. It won’t end well
As the Trump administration seeks to clinch another diplomatic breakthrough ahead of the November election, it has zeroed in on Sudan. Exerting heavy pressure on it to normalize relations Israel,
Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Negotiations: Cautious Optimism but No Bells of Peace
Op-ed by Amb. (ret.) Michael Harari
The 2020 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute
The 2020 Israeli Foreign Policy Index
The 2020 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute
Findings of the Mitvim Institue Poll, October 2020 The eighth annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2019. It was carried out by
Advancing Israeli-Arab Peace Depends on Civilian Ties
An op-ed by Dr. Roee Kibrik and Einat Levi
Mitvim signed a cooperation agreement with the UAE think tank Trends Research & Advisory
TRENDS-Mitvim press release
What does the US election have to do with Middle East peacemaking?
Dr. Lior Lehrs on The Jerusalem Post
Israel in the Middle East: A year of achievements and one big failure
Prof Elie Podeh on The Jerusalem Post
Tourism is the key for civic ties between Israel and the MENA region
Einat Levi on The Jerusalem Post
Multilateral Platforms Built Framework for Ties with Israel
Dr. Moran Zaga on The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
The Potential for Israel–UAE Cooperation
Dr. Moran Zaga at LSE blog
Netanyahu’s ‘Brilliant’ Mideast Peace Strategy Has a Big Problem
Op-ed, Prof, Elie Podeh, September 2020
The agreement may have advanced Shimon Peres’ vision of peace
An op-ed published on The Jerusalem Post
The United Arab Emirates: Profile of a state on the move
An op-ed published on The Jerusalem Post
If UAE deal ushers in pro-peace leaders its achievement will be strategic
An article published on The Jewish News
The Real Reasons Israel Showed Solidarity With Lebanon After the Beirut Blast
When disaster struck in Lebanon on August 4th, killing dozens, injuring thousands and causing widespread devastation, Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi
What Netanyahu failed to learn from the Arab Spring
Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, August 2020
Peace? Sure. End of Conflict? Hardly
Many Israelis were watching the first civilian–albeit not yet commercial—flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and checking out the rates of hotel in Dubai, when the reality had knocked on their
UAE also wants good ties with US Jewish lobby
Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, September 2020
How the UAE and Saudi Arabia Now Hold Israel Hostage
Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, August 2020
UAE, Israel Deal Could be Just the Beginning
Ksenia Svetlova, Op-ed, August 2020
Senior Jordanian Officials: Annexation Endangers Israel-Jordan Relations
Insights from the Mitvim Institute’s Israel-Jordan Policy Dialogue
Israel-Jordan 2nd Policy Dialouge
Policy dialogue , July 2020
Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, January – June 2020
Issue 5
Egyptian Plague or Spring of Youth? The Israeli Discourse regarding the Arab Spring
From the outset of the protest events in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and other countries, many people in the world began using the term “Arab spring” to describe the sequence of
An Alternative Model of Israeli-Arab Encounters
The Arab Spring presents Israel with new opportunities for dialogue with the region. Nevertheless, only little effort has been invested so far in organizing bi-lateral encounters between Israelis
The 2013 Israeli Foreign Policy Index
Findings of a Mitvim Poll on Israel’s Foreign Policy, November 2013 The majority of the Israeli public believes Israel’s foreign policy is more reactive than proactive and that it is not
Israel won’t become part of the Middle East until the occupation ends
The chance of Israel’s re-admittance to the Middle East lies in its ability to show initiative, originality and flexibility of thought. Only by attempting sincerely to solve the Palestinian
Israel is entangled in UAE-Palestinian rivalries
Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, July 2020
Israel Entangled in Arab Rivalries: The Case of the UAE Medical Aid for the Palestinians
June 2020
What Is the UAE Trying to Tell Israelis?
Op ed by Dr. Moran Zaga, June 2020
The 2017 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute
The annual public opinion of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted, for the fifth consecutive year in mid-September 2017. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute,
The 2018 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute
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
The 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute
The 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index
2019-2020
US Policies towards Israel and the Middle East is a monthly publication of the Mitvim Institute, currently written by Amb. (Ret.) Barukh Binah. The publication covers issues related to US-Israel
2015 – 2016
US Policies towards Israel and the Middle East is a monthly publication of the Mitvim Institute, currently written by Amb. (Ret.) Barukh Binah. The publication covers issues related to US-Israel
2013 – 2014
US Policies towards Israel and the Middle East is a monthly publication of the Mitvim Institute, currently written by Amb. (Ret.) Barukh Binah. The publication covers issues related to US-Israel
2017-2018
US Policies towards Israel and the Middle East is a monthly publication of the Mitvim Institute, currently written by Amb. (Ret.) Barukh Binah. The publication covers issues related to US-Israel
The Middle East Rediscovers the Jews
The much-acclaimed television series “Umm Haroun” produced for Ramadan month viewing, describes the life of Kuwait’s Jewish community in the 1940s. It has generated stormy discussion throughout
Israel and Qatar Focus on Shared Interests, Setting Aside Differences
In the shadow of the Coronavirus outbreak, Qatar is once again throwing a lifeline to the Gaza Strip and establishing itself as the Palestinians’ sole savior. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Israel-Iraq Cooperation in 2019: Security Challenges and Civilian Warming
The final months of 2019 were marked by widespread, prolonged protests throughout Iraq. The demonstrations, centered in Baghdad, targeted the ruling political elite and the state backing it:
The 2019 Israel-Turkey Policy Dialogue of the Mitvim Institute
In September 2019, the Mitvim Institute held its annual Israel-Turkey policy dialogue, for the eighth consecutive year. The dialogue took place in Istanbul and Ankara, in cooperation with
Israel’s Relations with Key Arab States in 2019
A series of policy papers by Mitvim experts
The Political Situation in Iraq: An Opportunity for Israel?
On April 9, Mustafa al-Kadhimi was tasked with forming a new Iraqi government after two other candidates, Mohammed Tawfik Allawi and more recently Adnan al-Zurfi, failed to win enough
Now is the time for the EU to put all of Hezbollah on its terror list
It happened at last. Germany finally announced on Thursday it has designated Lebanese Hezbollah a terror organization, banning all of its activities in the nation. Germany – and other European
Structural Shifts and Regional Security: A View from Israel
Israel is still holding to its traditional security maxim. Based on a perception of a hostile region, Israel’s response includes early warning, deterrence and swift – including pre-emptive –
Israel and Qatar Focus on Shared Interests, Setting Aside Differences
In the shadow of the Coronavirus outbreak, Qatar is once again throwing a lifeline to the Gaza Strip and establishing itself as the Palestinians’ sole savior. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Israel-Morocco Cooperation in 2019: Warming from the Bottom Up
A 2018 paper entitled “Israel and Morocco: Cooperation Rooted in Heritage”, written within the framework of the Mitvim Institute’s project on the unfulfilled potential of Israel’s relations with
Gaza Helps Israel and Qatar Find Common Ground
According to Israeli media reports, the heads of the Mossad and of the IDF’s southern command secretly visited Qatar in early February. The visit validates comments made to me by a Qatari senior
Israel-UAE Cooperation in 2019: Warming Relations, Also in Civilian Affairs
The relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel are primarily characterized by mutual interest and cautious rapprochement steps. The rapprochement can be attributed to the
Israel-Iraq Cooperation in 2019: Security Challenges and Civilian Warming
The final months of 2019 were marked by widespread, prolonged protests throughout Iraq, which began in October. Baghdad was the focal point of the demonstrations, which were directed at the
Israel-Egypt Cooperation in 2019: Strategic Warming, Civilian Coolness?
Since President Abdel Fatah a-Sisi’s rise to power in 2014, Israeli-Egyptian ties have been marked by defense-strategic cooperation. This is based on the shared perception of Iran and radical
Israel and Qatar: Relations Nurtured by the Palestinian Issue
This article focuses on relations between Israel and Qatar, analyzing them in historical context, in the context of Qatari foreign policy and in terms of their potential and the limitations
Qatar’s friendship is good for Israel
The leak of a secret visit to Doha by Mossad Director Yossi Cohen and GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Herzi Levi last month to pressure Qatar to keep funding Hamas in Gaza confirmed what Qatari
Israel Election Results Give Reason for Israel-Arab Dialogue
The results of the Israeli election did not give a clear majority to any of the sides, but they still yielded a dramatic result. For the first time, a majority in the Knesset – from Lieberman’s
Positive signs in Israel-Egypt relations
Since President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s rise to power in 2014, Israeli-Egyptian ties have been marked by defense-strategic cooperation, based on the shared perception of Iran and radical Islamist
The “Netanyahu Factor” Driving Israelis to the Polls
Israelis have gotten used over the years to governments that do not complete their full terms. But, they never experienced repeat elections prior to 2019. The current political deadlock is
No preelection gifts from Arab leaders to Benjamin Netanyahu
At the annual Munich Security Conference in mid-February, the most important event of its kind – to which Israel did not bother send a single senior representative this year, Saudi Arabian
Moving on from Trump’s plan for the Middle East
Trump’s vision for Israeli-Palestinian peace was supposed to be the ultimate gift for Netanyahu’s electoral campaign, rather than the ultimate deal for Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution.
Revisiting Arab Peace Initiative is best hope to solve Israel-Palestine conflict
The “deal of the century” is here, and so is the simmering, century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although the publication of the details of President Trump’s peace initiative has not so far
The Gulf States’ Changing Attitudes towards Judaism: A Cultural Revolution in the Making
Dr Muhammad al-Issa’s unprecedented visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on 23 January 2020, the 75th anniversary of its liberation, marked a peak in a process of interfaith momentum that
Ten trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies July-December 2019
Every six months, the Mitvim Institute maps key trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies, based on the institute’s monthly reports that monitor ongoing developments. From July through
Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, Vol. 4
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
Israel’s foreign policy mustn’t be sidelined by energy interests
On January 2, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly sign an agreement to export Israel’s natural gas via the proposed EastMed pipeline via Cyprus and Greece to Europe. The accord,
Presentation of findings to senior Foreign Ministry forum
Briefing on findings of the Foreign Affairs Policy Index, December 2019
Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies: An Annual Assessment
The Mitvim Institute 3rd annual conference provided an annual assessment of Israel’s regional foreign policies. It was held in Tel Aviv on 14 November 2019, in cooperation with the
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
