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Op-eds

Op-eds

Recommendations for restarting Israel-Jordan relations

Some 25 years after the historic peace agreement between Israel and Jordan was signed the time has come to restart the strategic relationship between the states and fuse the written words with

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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

Op-eds

Academia is also turning its back on peace

Tel Aviv University has decided to close its Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research. Two reasons led to the closure, according to the university and the donor family: the fact that the subject

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

The PA’s shrinking space for freedom of expression

At the beginning of Mahmoud Abbas’s presidency, many in the international community placed their hopes in him, seeing him as a leader who could build a pluralistic Palestinian society. But that

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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,

Op-eds

When Israelis and Palestinians Meet at the European Parliament

Less than a month before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Brussels, we – a group of young Israelis and Palestinians – arrived at the European Parliament for a second meeting of the

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

Israel-EU relations: An annual assessment

The prevailing, negative attitudes in Israel toward the EU, as reflected in the 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute, differ greatly from the facts on the ground. The

Op-eds

Time for Diplomatic Optimism

Israel has been conducting itself like a state struggling for survival ever since its establishment, and even more so in recent years, despite its indisputable standing as a regional power. While

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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,

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds הארץ

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds הארץ

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Zunehmend gespalten – Warum es der EU nicht gelingt, ihre Positionen im Nahostkonflikt umzusetzen

Seit der Erklärung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft von Venedig von 1980 haben die Europäer versucht, zu einem Friedensabkommen zwischen Israel und den Palästinensern beizusteuern. Sie haben

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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.

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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.

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

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

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Pending Opportunities

Op ed by Dr. Moran Zaga, December 2018

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

Holocaust Studies in Morocco?

Einat Levi in the Morocco World News

Op-eds גלובס

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

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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,

Op-eds

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

Op-eds Photo: Yossi Zamir

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,

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

What Israel can learn from Morocco’s multiculturalism

Einat Levi on +972 magazine

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

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

Op-eds

A New Mideast in Familiar Clothing

Slowly but surely, with the help of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, President Bashar Assad is regaining control over Syria. The process is still underway, but all the regional actors realize that

Op-eds

Netanyahu’s New Iran Approach: YouTube Diplomacy

Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership style always includes dramatic warnings about threats to Israel. For more than a decade now, Israel’s prime minister warns that Iran – in particular its nuclear

Op-eds

Israel: The Second Largest Moroccan Diaspora in the World

Einat Levi in YaBiladi

Op-eds

Doctor, Minister, Soldier, Spy: Tehran’s Man in Tel Aviv

On June 15, the Israeli state prosecution indicted a former minister, Dr. Gonen Segev, for spying for Iran. Israeli authorities arrested him about a month earlier. His arrest and indictment were

Op-eds

Trump’s Policies on Iran and North Korea Are Weakening U.S. Diplomatic Power

President Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong Un took place at a perilous time for American diplomacy. The meeting came on the heels of a surprising dispute with Canada, Germany, and France at the G7

Op-eds

Orban in Jerusalem: Challenging Days for Europe-Israel Relations

The modern State of Israel was established 70 years ago based on humanistic and pluralistic values, noble standards of equality and solidarity among all people. While Jewish presence in the Holy

Op-eds

The Art of the (Israeli-Russian) Deal

On June 1, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya told the press that he “believes” that his country and Israel reached an agreement regarding “certain disengagement in the southwest of

Op-eds

Laying a Civil Foundation for Cooperation between Israel and Iraq

The graduation ceremony of the Department of Hebrew Language at Baghdad University is considered one of the best on campus. In 2010, at the height of the evening, a female graduate interpreted

Op-eds

Israel and Saudi Arabia: From Foes to Potential Friends

The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, is fed up with the Palestinian leadership. “Over the past 40 years, the Palestinian leadership has repeatedly missed opportunities and rejected

Op-eds

The Israel-Turkey Crisis and the Need for Containment

The evolving crisis between Israel and Turkey has yet to lead to an official downgrade of official ties between both countries. However, it raises a warning sign against such a development, which

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

Korea Is Not a Likely Precedent for Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

On 27 April 2018, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It was the first time that a North Korean leader had crossed the border to the south since the

Op-eds

Netanyahu Needs Conflict to Survive

In 2015, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected to a fourth term as prime minister of Israel. Within months, pundits began speculating when his government would fall. So far, the answer has been never.

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

The New Israeli Illusion: Peace with the Arab World, Without the Palestinians

In recent weeks, Saudi officials made statements that were interpreted in Israel as a change of attitude in Saudi Arabia towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Israeli Channel 10,

Op-eds

Post Iran Deal: Israel and the Post-American Era

Of the many formidable foreign policy questions facing Israel as it celebrates its 70th anniversary, the most auspicious is how the Jewish State should adapt to a multipolar world. The urgency to

Op-eds

The President’s Speech and the Prospects of an Iranian-Israeli War

The evening US President Donald J. Trump took the United States out of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it smelled in Israel as if war was coming. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut

Op-eds הארץ

Who Said Refugees Do Not Return Home?

The demonstrations in the Gaza Strip over the last four weeks, under the banner of the “return of the refugees,” have stirred confusion and resentment among many Israelis. No question about it:

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

The Need for Increased Transparency in the Israeli Foreign Service

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is being weakened in recent years, and is seeking ways to change this trend, and to increase its relevance and importance. Sharing more information

Op-eds

The JCPOA Crisis and Israeli-Iranian Relations

Much of the discourse on the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between the P5+1 powers and Iran, has centered broadly on two issue sets. The first

Op-eds

Beyond Judo: The Routinizing Effect in Israel-Morocco Relations

Einat Levi in the Morocco World News

Op-eds

Israel and the Abbas Peace Plan

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority’s chairman, appeared on February 20th before the Security Council and presented a new Palestinian peace plan, with a number of points: first, a request

Op-eds

Towards the Renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

(to view the interview in Fathom, click here)

Op-eds

The Fruits of Israeli-Jordanian Peace Are Still Waiting on the Tree

After a six-month diplomatic crisis between Israel and Jordan, a new Israeli ambassador – Amir Weissbrod – is expected to arrive in Amman soon to fully resume the embassy’s operations. This will

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

Time for an Israel-Turkey Dialogue on Syria

Iranian involvement in Syria is increasing, bolstering Israeli motivation to influence Syria’s reality. Israel has carried out successful military moves in recent years in order to preserve its

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

In With the Arabs: The Joint List Should Be Part of the Coalition

The rejection of the mostly-Arab Joint List as a legitimate coalition partner, not only by the Israeli right, but also by (at least) three members of center-left parties reflects three concerns:

Op-eds

Israel’s Partners in Europe: Yes to Democracies, No to the Far Right

The Israeli government and the Knesset are formulating approaches to address the rise of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party and the new Polish law regarding the Holocaust. In this effort, there

Op-eds THE JERUSALEM POST

A Diplomatic Blueprint for Israel vis-à-vis Syria

Following the infiltration of the Iranian drone into Israel’s air space and Israel’s retaliation, the public discourse in recent days focused mainly on the security aspect and the various ways to

Op-eds

Israel-Jordan Reconciliation: Better Late Than Never

Six months after an Israeli security guard killed two Jordanian citizens (his attacker and a second man who was shot accidentally), the solution for the crisis which marred relations between the

Op-eds

Can China Contribute to Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking?

In December 2017, while the UN General Assembly voted against the American decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and while Palestinian leaders were seeking an alternative mediator

Op-eds

Israel Should Maintain its Boycott on Far-Right Parties in Europe

The Austrian Freedom Party, which is known for its anti-Semitic and Nazi roots, is part of the new coalition government in Vienna. Its leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, is Austria’s new

Op-eds

Trump’s Statement on Jerusalem

On 6 December 2017, US President Donald Trump delivered a statement in which he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. His statement was warmly received in Israel, but was heavily criticized

Op-eds

Introducing a Vision of Peace for Jerusalem is the Ultimate Response to Trump’s Statement

“This is the time to say thank you for the decision that has lifted every heart in Israel, and every heart in the Jewish world”. This statement was not issued after Trump’s decision to recognize

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