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Op-eds

Op-eds

Promoting Democracy and Peace Will Bring Israel
Closer to the Biden Administration

Israel’s special relationship with the US is a cornerstone in Israel’s foreign policy and national security. In recent years, alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu’s close bond with outgoing

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

The Israeli right: authoritarianism and ethnic supremacy

To understand Israel properly, one must get to know the political right, its characteristics, components, and the changes it has undergone in recent years. The right has been in power since 1977,

Op-eds

The fallacy of Netanyahu’s Iran policy

Iran’s recent decision to begin enriching uranium to 20% purity is alarming but it should come as no surprise to anyone following Teheran’s nuclear policy since Donald Trump took office in

Op-eds

How Did Israel-EU Relations Evolve During
Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU?

Between July to December 2020 Israel had a political window of opportunity: Germany’s six-month period at the Presidency of the Council of the EU. It handed Israel an opportunity to improve its

Op-eds

Israel-Turkey Relations Are Not Only About
Erdoğan and Netanyahu

The final days of 2020 raised hopes that Israel and Turkey may be on their way to improve ties, despite policy differences and lack of trust. “Turkey wants better ties with Israel”, said Turkey’s

Op-eds

Restoring Iran nuclear deal is good for Israel

he Biden administration, to be sworn in on January 20, will have to deal with many urgent issues at home and abroad and to repair the rubble left behind by the Trump administration. For Israel,

Op-eds

Sa’ar’s exit is Likud’s chance to redefine ideological boundary

The exit of Gideon Sa’ar and the formation of a new party with defectors from the Likud has the potential for a redefinition of the ideological camps on the political map. Creating a political

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Netanyahu’s cooperation with far Right, Islamists unsurprising

Many were surprised by the recently formed alliance between Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra’am Party, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which included Abbas’s announcement that he is happy

Op-eds

With Mladenov’s Departure, Who Will Prevent the Next War in Gaza?

The next time Israel and Hamas come to blows and need someone to hold them in check, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov will no longer be there to help

Op-eds

The importance of understanding complexity
in other countries

The failures in foreign policy decision-making often stem from the natural difficulty in understanding the complexities of other countries. We tend to treat each country as a unified,

Op-eds

What are Trump’s last Israel policy moves before he leaves?

The Trump administration is taking advantage of the transition period to advance several final policy moves pertaining to Israel. These include the visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the

Op-eds

Will Saudi Arabia Pick Up the Mantle?

Yonatan Touval on Modern Diplomacy

Op-eds

It’s time to empower Israel’s Foreign Ministry

Dr. Nimrod Goren on Jpost

Op-eds

Reclaiming Israel as a bipartisan issue in American politics

Dr. Ilai Saltzman on The Times of Israel

Op-eds

How Israel Is Triggering a Royal Civil War in Saudi Arabia

Prof. Elie Podeh on Haaretz

Op-eds

The UAE’s Stability from an Outsider’s Perspective

Dr. Moran Zaga on Qposts

Op-eds

Trump’s Middle East legacy: The good, the bad and the ugly

Op-ed by Prof. Elie Podeh on Jpsot

Op-eds

Biden could generate momentum for Israeli-Palestinian peace

An article by Dr. Nimrod Goren for the Middle East Institute

Op-eds

Biden’s victory, Erekat’s death teach valuable lessons for peace camp

Nadav Tamir on Jpost

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

How can Israel mend relations with White House following political change?

Nadav Tamir on Jpost

Op-eds

The Not-So-New Kid on the Block

Amb. Ret. Barukh Binah on The Times of Israel

Op-eds

Israel must prepare for a change in US policy toward Iran

Nadav Tamir on Jpost

Op-eds

The turning point for normalization was in 1993, not 2020

Prof. Elie Podeh on Jpost

Op-eds

Normalizations with Israel bring new challenge for Palestinians

Dr. Ido Zelkovitz on Jpost

Op-eds

Resumed American Leadership, Perhaps

Amb. Ret. Barukh Binah towards the U.S elections

Op-eds

How will the Post-Election Israel-EU-US Triangle Shape Up?

Dr. Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu on JPOST, towards the US elections

Op-eds

How will the post-election Israel-EU-US triangle shape up?

Dr. Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu towards the US elections

Op-eds

Advancing the peace process depends on civilian ties

Einat Levi on Jpost

Op-eds

Israel, American Jews and the Democratic dichotomy

Nadav Tamir, towards the U.S elections

Op-eds

Israel, the Middle East and Joe Biden

Ksenia Svetlova, towards the US elections

Op-eds

Sudan’s economic interests tipped scales

Op-ed on Jpost by prof. Elie Podeh

Op-eds

Will Biden Help Israel Take on Turkey?

Gabriel Mitchell, towards the U.S elections

Op-eds Photo: Yossi Zamir

A win-win approach for Israelis, Palestinians is a two-state solution

Nadav Tamir on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds

Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Negotiations: Cautious Optimism but No Bells of Peace

Op-ed by Amb. (ret.) Michael Harari

Op-eds

Making a desperate attempt to decipher Trump’s foreign policy

Nadav Tamir on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

Advancing Israeli-Arab Peace Depends on Civilian Ties

An op-ed by Dr. Roee Kibrik and Einat Levi

Op-eds

What does the US election have to do with Middle East peacemaking?

Dr. Lior Lehrs on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

Israel in the Middle East: A year of achievements and one big failure

Prof Elie Podeh on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

A Window of Opportunity in Israel-EU Relations

Op-ed

Op-eds

Tourism is the key for civic ties between Israel and the MENA region

Einat Levi on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

The Potential for Israel–UAE Cooperation

Dr. Moran Zaga at LSE blog

Op-eds

The coming out of the Israel-Bahrain clandestine relationship

An article published on the Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

Netanyahu’s ‘Brilliant’ Mideast Peace Strategy Has a Big Problem

Op-ed, Prof, Elie Podeh, September 2020

Op-eds

The agreement may have advanced Shimon Peres’ vision of peace

An op-ed published on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

The United Arab Emirates: Profile of a state on the move

An op-ed published on The Jerusalem Post

Op-eds

If UAE deal ushers in pro-peace leaders its achievement will be strategic

An article published on The Jewish News

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Trump and Netanyahu’s Barefaced Gaslighting on the Israel-Kosovo Deal

The announcement that Israel and Kosovo have agreed to establish diplomatic relations is a welcome development for both nations. But as is often the case with Israel’s leadership, this

Op-eds

What Netanyahu failed to learn from the Arab Spring

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, August 2020

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

UAE also wants good ties with US Jewish lobby

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, September 2020

Op-eds

The Foreign Ministry deserves support from the Knesset

Op-ed by Dr. Ehud Eiran

Op-eds

How the UAE and Saudi Arabia Now Hold Israel Hostage

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, August 2020

Op-eds

UAE, Israel Deal Could be Just the Beginning

Ksenia Svetlova, Op-ed, August 2020

Op-eds

The way Israel dealt with BDS played into the hands of its enemies

Nadav Tamir, Op-ed, August 2020

Op-eds

DEBATE: How Serious Is the Israeli-Turkish Rapprochement?

Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Harari, BESA online debate, August 2020

Op-eds

To recognize or not to recognize: EU recognition of Palestine

Op-ed by Dr. Lior Lehrs

Op-eds

Ashkenazi revitalized the IDF, now he can do the same to Foreign Ministry

Op-ed by Dr. Ehud Eiran

Op-eds

Who Decided Trump Was Good for Israel?

July 2020

Op-eds

The EU and Israel Should Resume Their Suspended High-Level Dialogue

July 2020

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Why Israel Should Avoid Annexation

July 2020

Op-eds

Israel Should Deepen its Engagement with the UN

July 2020

Op-eds

It Is Time for the Arab League to Act Against Annexation

July 2020

Op-eds

Israel is entangled in UAE-Palestinian rivalries

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, July 2020

Op-eds

Israel Entangled in Arab Rivalries: The Case of the UAE Medical Aid for the Palestinians

June 2020

Op-eds

What Is the UAE Trying to Tell Israelis?

Op ed by Dr. Moran Zaga, June 2020

Op-eds

Foreign Service Closing-Out Sale: Gilad Erdan’s Dual Appointment to UN and Washington

The tumult over the installation of Israel’s 35th government and the division of 36 ministerial and 16 deputy ministerial portfolios drowned out news of Gilad Erdan’s dual diplomatic appointment.

Op-eds

COVID-19 Put the Eastern Mediterranean’s Hydrocarbon Dreams on Hold

On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will do something pretty unusual in the age of COVID-19 — travel overseas. Mitsotakis will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in

Op-eds

Avoiding a small annexation will not prevent the larger occupation

Israel’s mythic foreign minister, Abba Eban, once quipped that “history teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.” His insight presumed that

Op-eds

Israel and the US: Is the Special Relationship Still Special?

What would a change in the US administration in January 2021 bode for Israel? Does the symbiosis in the relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu attest to a historic high in

Op-eds

Hope and Optimism Should be Key Pillars of Israel’s Foreign Policy

June 2020

Op-eds

The Eastern Mediterranean: A New Diplomatic Arena for Israel

For decades, Israelis tended to perceive themselves as living in a hostile region and as being doomed for isolation in their neighborhood. The changing realities between Israel and Arab

Op-eds

Initial policy recommendations for Foreign Minister Ashkenazi – opinion

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi should lead a process of fixing the country’s regional foreign policies. In his first months in office, he should convey messages and take actions to improve

Op-eds

A Letter to Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi

Honorable Foreign Minister, Lt. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi. I know you are scheduled to move on to the Defense Ministry in 18 months, but I think you would have far greater influence and

Op-eds

Seven reasons for not annexing West Bank territories

In its coalition agreement with the Likud, the Blue and White Party under the leadership of Benny Gantz has given a seal of approval to annexing parts of Judea and Samaria. According to the

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

The Coronavirus Crisis Offers Opportunities for Innovative Israeli Diplomacy

Like so much else, official diplomacy has shifted to virtual communications since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an opportunity for Israeli diplomacy to lead a new type of

Op-eds

In Israel: Of Corona and Politics

Like everywhere in the world the coronavirus pandemic caught us by surprise. During the last week of February we all heard about it but the Government did not take it seriously. It took another

Op-eds

This Day of Independence, We Are in Danger of Risking the Zionist Dream

The corona crisis is sidelining the true threat to the Zionist vision of a democratic homeland to the Jewish People. The threat is the legitimization of annexation which is included in the

Op-eds

Forget the East-Med Pipeline: Advantages of Alternative Options to Transport the Easter Mediterranean Gas

In recent years, Israel, Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Greece and Italy promoted the idea of constructing a long pipeline to transfer gas from Israel and Cyprus to Europe. It

Op-eds

Israeli annexation talks threaten ties with Arab world

The issue of possible Israeli land annexation in the West Bank has become an endless source of spin for Israeli politicians. The hard-line right-wing Yamina party is accusing the right-wing Likud

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

The Diplomatic Potential in Developing Gaza’s Offshore Gas Field

Israel, Hamas and Egypt have long been debating whether to move ahead with an arrangement on Gaza and how to do so. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has to a large extent been excluded from this

Op-eds

A Very Israeli Pandemic Response

As in other countries, COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses particular to Israel society and governance. These shortcomings are not revelatory. Instead, the coronavirus’ spread shines a spotlight

Op-eds

The Foreign Ministry on the Frontlines of the Coronavirus Crisis

Several days ago, thousands of families in Israel were given good reason for relief: After long, tense days, their loved ones had returned to Israel thanks to a combined operation by our national

Op-eds

The World Can Overcome the Coronavirus Crisis by Working Together

Humankind is facing yet another crisis. The Coronavirus pandemic has stopped the world as we knew it. We are living through growing uncertainty about tomorrow, fear and anxiety about death. What

Op-eds

Coronavirus crisis opens opportunity for shifting Israeli foreign policy

At present, there is no end in sight for the novel coronavirus crisis and we do not know its repercussions for the future. Despite this, it is not too soon to start thinking about possible

Op-eds

Israel Needs a Diplomatic Strategy

Israeli political parties and their candidates for the premiership have for years barely mentioned foreign policy in election campaigns – as if the issue is unimportant, as though Israel’s

Op-eds

Strengthening international systems, lesson learned from coronavirus

After we beat the novel coronavirus, we will have to rebuild international systems and strengthen democracies. The prevailing view that dictatorships deal better than democracies with

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Set Israel’s Foreign Ministry Free from Quarantine

More and more Israeli diplomats are finding themselves in quarantine these days, due to the Coronavirus crisis. These include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) director general and

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

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Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies 

11 Tuval St.Ramat Gan, Israel 5252226 | info@mitvim.org.il

 

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    Mitvim - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies

    11 Tuval St. Ramat Gan, Israel

     5252226

    info@mitvim.org.il