The slowing down of Israel-Arab relations under the Netanyahu government
During the Netanyahu government’s first five months, Israel-Arab ties have slowed down and tensions with the Palestinians have increased.
What lessons can Israel learn from Turkey’s elections?
Concern in Israel’s pro-democracy camp that democratic erosion processes in Turkey are similarly emerging in Israel under Netanyahu’s enduring rule.
As Middle East alliances are reshaping, Israel is lagging behind
Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Syria, Russia, and China are creating a new strategic reality while Israel is too focused on short-sighted tactical operations and fraying ties with Washington
What are Middle East reactions to the judicial reform?
‘Israel is devouring itself from within” was the headline of an article by Saudi pundit and businessman Hussein Shobokshi in the influential Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. Shobokshi argues that
Israeli-Palestinian relations are deeply affected
The project of the present Israeli governing coalition to overhaul the organization and powers of the High Court will have deep implications on Israeli-Arab relations if it succeeds. Given the
Is a formal Israeli-Saudi agreement achievable?
In recent days we have come across reports in the media, about talks promoting a possible Israeli-Saudi agreement, which took place between Israel and Saudi Arabia, even before the establishment
Is the Israeli-Lebanese maritime boundary agreement replicable?
For the past decade, policymakers have argued that the Eastern Mediterranean’s offshore natural gas deposits could help support Europe’s efforts to wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons. But
The Israeli – Lebanese Agreement: The Day After
The agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the maritime border constitutes a significant development for each of the two countries, as well as for the regional and international arena. After
The Israel-Lebanon maritime deal is an example of successful US-led mediation. Can it be copy-pasted to other Middle Eastern arenas?
After a decade of tough negotiations, frustrations, and impasses, American mediators succeeded in a difficult task. On October 26, they convinced Israel and Lebanon the importance and need for a
Israel-Lebanon negotiations: cautious optimism but no bells of peace
Negotiations on marking the Israel-Lebanon maritime border began on October 14 under unique circumstances, against the backdrop of the unprecedented economic and political crises in Lebanon.
Does Israel’s Prime Minister Have the Right to Strike a Deal With Lebanon?
The nearly concluded yet still on-off negotiations between Lapid’s caretaker government and Lebanon regarding their maritime border raises a crucial question: Do Israel’s provisional governments
Is it time for a new approach to deal with the Iranian threat? – opinion
Tough times are ahead for decision-makers in Jerusalem. As the clock ticks in Washington, Brussels and Tehran, counting down to Iranian nuclear breakout capability and international pressure
Russia is forming an alliance of pariah states in the Middle East. It might put Israel in an awkward situation in Syria
Every visit by a foreign leader to Iran draws considerable attention, not to mention criticism, in Israel. A visit, however, by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the leader of a global power
Why Is the Israeli Left Still Turning a Cold Shoulder to Gulf States?
This past April 28, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dan Feferman stood at the entrance to Auschwitz. With him were the members of the multinational delegation he had brought to the annual March of the
Jordan key to deepening Abraham Accords, calming West Bank
Israelis and Jordanians no longer hide their willingness to cooperate, but King Abdullah’s complex internal situation and mounting tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque may impede rapprochement. Relations
To the Middle East and beyond! Israel’s new connectivity
After decades of limited contact, Israel is connecting with its region at the strategic level. It seems safe to assume that more is yet to come. Largely rejected by its neighbors for decades,
Negev Summit: Middle East becoming warmer, friendlier
The public elements of the Negev Summit were full of positive atmosphere, expressions of personal warmth, and mutual compliments. It did not seem as one of those summits in which concerned
Egypt, Jordan’s close ties with Israeli officials are now out in the open
As the Russian war in Ukraine settles into a deadly routine, events in the Middle East are anything but routine. On March 18, Syrian President Bashar Assad visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
After 20 years, time for a new Arab peace initiative
Twenty years ago, in the midst of the al-Aqsa Intifada, Arab leaders convened in Beirut for their annual summit and adopted the Arab Peace Initiative (API). The move followed the failure to reach
Saudi Arabia’s Engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
During the last few decades Saudi Arabia had exercised a role of a regional coordinator between various Middle Eastern states and between them and the USA. Twice in the past it had put on the
How Iraq became the top link in China’s belt and road strategy
Last year, Iraq became a top recipient of Chinese investment and a key link in Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative. Almost 20 years after the war in Iraq began, billions of Chinese yuan are being
Hassan Nasrallah, Master of Lebanon
In 2022, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah will celebrate 30 years as the undisputed leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon—upholding a pattern of Arab leaders who mature, age, and often die while in power. It was
Israeli Arab Citizens Donate Millions for Refugees in Northern Syria
“Your donations have reached #Northern_Syria. One of the largest convoys of a charitable relief campaign has been launched to reach the needy and refugees and to protect them from the winter
ISIS cells are reappearing in Syria and Iraq
More than 100 Islamic State fighters armed with heavy machine guns and vehicles rigged with explosives attacked the gates of Gweiran Prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh. The goal of
Iran drives antisemitism in the Muslim world- analysis
When Iranian General Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, said that Saudi Arabia’s royal family actually descends from Jews who used to fight with the
Lebanon may be getting tired of Hezbollah- analysis
First, it was Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the son-in-law of Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun, who attacked the Shia Islamist political party Hezbollah and said
Between Israel and Iran- Putin’s Chess Game
Can President Putin be a “great friend of the Jewish people”, as Naftali Bennett called him, and at the same time sell sophisticated weapons to Iran, a sworn enemy of Israel? Bennett’s goal is to
Will the Sudan coup affect future ties with Israel?
The October 25 military coup in Sudan was led, surprisingly, by incumbent President Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the civilian-military Sovereign Council formed to oversee the transition
Irbil Conference: Road to normalization with Iraq long and complex
A Sept. 24 conference in the Kurdish capital of Erbil, attended by some 250-300 Iraqis, issued an unprecedented call for establishing full diplomatic relations between Iraq and Israel. News of
Hostility, incitement and the decision to improve ties with Israel
Shortly before Yom Kippur, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held his first official visit to an Arab state, meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah a-Sisi. The invitation
The Lost Battle of Ahmad Jibril
On July 7, 2021, a few hundred Palestinians gathered to attend a funeral at Yarmouk refugee camp cemetery, on the outskirts of Damascus. They came to say their farewells to Ahmad Jibril, the
Israel’s Ministry for Regional Cooperation:
A Snapshot After the New Government’s First 100 Days
Summary of remarks by Minister for Regional Cooperation Essawi Frej in a conversation with Mitvim Institute President Dr. Nimrod Goren at a Meretz Party event on 22 September 2021 Israel’s
After the honeymoon, comes the hard work:
A year on, the ink has yet to dry on the Abraham Accords
The Netanyahu government took pride in achieving “peace for peace”, but the Gulf principalities are once again moving closer to Iran. Bahrain appears the only Gulf State still adhering to the
What it might take for Saudis to join normalization process
In the year since Israel’s signing of normalization agreements with the UAE and Bahrain, and subsequently with Morocco, Israelis have debated repeatedly whether Saudi Arabia would be next in
Iran’s attacks on Israeli shipping in Gulf serves as lesson
The recent attacks on Israeli-owned and operated shipping in the Arab Gulf served as a valuable lesson for Israel. It proved the limitations of using military power in its campaign against Iran,
Why were Israel and the US not invited to the
Baghdad conference?
he Baghdad conference held on Saturday, August 28, was unusual in terms of both venue and participants. The venue was Baghdad, the host was Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and
Integration into the Middle East? Let’s see you pull it off, Lapid
On his historic June 30 visit to the Emirates for the official opening of the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid urged other Muslim and Arab states
With Netanyahu gone, the Abraham Accords
will not only survive, they might even flourish
Some international concern has been voiced about the future prospects of the Abraham Accords under Israel’s new government. This stems from the perception that the normalization agreements Israel
Israel cannot afford to ignore Jordan any longer
Earlier this month, Jordan officially decided to pull out of the high-profile “Two Seas Project” – a joint endeavor with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to construct a canal that
Is Egypt back in the Arab driver’s seat?
Egypt disappeared from the Middle East after the 2011 Arab Spring. Well, the term “disappeared” is perhaps too strong, but it certainly adopted a lower profile. Anyone accustomed to Egypt’s
The Climate Crisis as a Foreign Policy Issue:
Israeli Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation
Understanding the critical importance of climate change on both local communities and international relations, especially in the Middle East, Mitivm and EcoPeace hosted a joint conference on June
The Israel-UAE Agreement and its Regional Implications
On August 17, 2020, Mitvim hosted a briefing on the newly announced and historic Israel-UAE normalization agreement, and the new opportunities and implications it has for the country and the
Israel’s Fatal Weakness Against Iran’s Axis of Resistance
The “War between the Wars” doctrine has become the key concept of Israel‘s national strategy over the past decade. This open-ended military campaign has provided a convenient
The First Months of Israel-UAE Peace:
Israel’s Perspective on the Abraham Accords
Introduction In the few months that have passed since the signing of the historical Abraham Accords, Israel and the UAE have opened embassies and exchanged ambassadors, launched direct flights
A look at UAE policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue
Since its founding, the United Arab Emirates has displayed solidarity with the Palestinians’ national aspirations, adhered to its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and called
Lebanon ups ante on maritime border with Israel
Lebanon’s surprising decision earlier this month to expand its territorial claim by 1,430 square kilometers (552 sq. miles) further complicates the already complex maritime border negotiations
Jordan’s 100th birthday: Centenary of the
‘most unstable’ state
“Jordan is an artificial state with no future,” then-prime minister David Ben-Gurion declared shortly before the 1956 Suez Canal War. His assessment was echoed by Western intelligence agencies.
Lessons from Israel and Egypt’s lukewarm peace
On March 9, Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen met with his Egyptian counterpart Nasser Fahmi in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, located at the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula.
What has changed this Mimuna?
The resumption of diplomatic relations with Morocco may restore a “crown to its former glory” (Atara Leyoshna). On the eve of Passover this year, I am most looking forward to the Mimuna holiday —
It is time to make peace with Egypt
The news of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned visit to Egypt came shortly after popular Egyptian singer Mohamad Ramadan became the most hated person in his country; Ramadan was pictured
The Culture of Sciences: Bridging the Gaps
Between the Emirati and Israeli Research Systems
Research collaborations between Israel and the UAE is a touchstone to scale the nature of the relations between them. Academic, scientific, and technological cooperation was explicitly mentioned
Trump officially made Israel part of the Middle East
In one of its final decisions, the Trump administration moved Israel from the purview of the Pentagon’s European Command (EUCOM) to the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the US Central Command
Israel, Iran: Now is the time to test if détente can be reached
The last few months have witnessed a dramatic shift in the geopolitical balance of the Middle East. Normalization between Israel and multiple Arab states has altered the heart of the historic
Israel’s Relations with Arab Countries:
The Unfulfilled Potential
An Electronic Book edited by Dr. Roee Kibrik, Dr. Nimrod Goren, Merav Kahana-Dagan. Israel’s Relations with Arab Countries: The Unfulfilled Potential examines relations between Israel and seven
Semi-annual trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies with Arab states
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. In July-December 2020, we
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
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
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
