This paper analyzes how the October 7 attack and the ensuing multi-front and Gaza war reshaped the region within the broader context of global power competition, inducing intra-Western fractures.
Pax Silica offers Israel a path from protected ally of the US to indispensable partner on the global stage.
It is unclear why it was necessary to construct such a complex structure to address Gaza’s well-known fundamental problems.
Saudi Arabia holds unique leverage over the conflict's future, but Riyadh needs to choose to engage on all fronts. This is what pro-peace Israelis and Palestinians need it to do.
This document is part of a series of policy papers within a joint project of the Mitvim Institute and the Berl Katznelson Foundation, aimed at thinking about the day after the war.
Farah Bdour on the Endurance of the Jordan–Israel Peace and the Future of the Region
The October 13, 2025 peace summit led by President Donald Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as other initiatives proposed since October 7, 2023, illustrate Egypt’s vital role in efforts to end
In the past decade, political discourse in the United States has become polarized, loud, and, at times, violent. Concepts that were once clear have become fluid and shifting according to the
These are critical days in the north. The severe blow to Hezbollah and the collapse of the Assad regime have created a diplomatic window for stabilization. This time, the opportunity is not only
The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was launched as a transport and connectivity initiative linking India, the Gulf, and Europe. That logic remains relevant, but the post-Gaza
The two countries at last have a maritime border, letting energy firms search for new gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean, but the agreement has geopolitical repercussions too.
On October 7th, Israeli society was significantly altered in light of the unprecedented trauma. As a direct result, the Israeli political system, which has never excelled in developed civil
At this year’s State of Europe event, I had the privilege of initiating and facilitating a dialogue on the evolving dynamics of the Palestine–Israel–Europe relationship — a conversation that felt
This new configuration is not good news for Israel. Its formation is another unplanned consequence of the war.
As part of Mitvim Institute’s 8th annual “Building Hope” conference on regional foreign policy, Dr. Roee Kibrik, Director of Research, held an in-depth conversation with Muhammad Baharoon,
Over the past two years of regional turmoil and a devastating war, Dr. Roee Kibrik, Director of Research at the Mitvim Institute, held an in-depth conversation with Ambassador Abderahman
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's trip to US secured all his primary objectives and left Israel without leverage as a conduit to Washington.
Based on a conversation conducted by Dr. Roee Kibrik ahead of Mitvim’s Annual “Building Hope” Conference.
The Twenty Point Peace plan seems to promise a brighter future for Gazans and Israelis alike. It envisions a massive reconstruction effort coupled with a process of disarmament, demobilization,
At the 8th Annual Mitvim Conference, held in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), over 300 participants from Israel and abroad joined senior diplomatic, political, and civil
Israel’s liberal, centrist politicians have been playing politics by Netanyahu’s rules – and losing because of it.
The cumulative consequences of the Gaza war present the Middle East with a decisive choice – between the continued cycles of violence and destruction and the beginning of a long process of
The problem with Donald Trump’s plan is that it actually consists of several plans without a detailed timetable.
Before the attacks on Oct. 7, Netanyahu had weakened Israel’s foreign ministry and centralized power in his own office, hollowing out the country’s diplomatic apparatus. When the war began,
Contrary to the lies of the coalition and the cowardice of some in the opposition, like Gantz, who portray recognition of a Palestinian state as a “reward for Hamas,” the truth is precisely the
Netanyahu’s policies since Oct. 7 have strained relations with Cairo at the expense of Israeli security.
Israeli decision-makers tend to treat the Abraham Accords as a given. These relationships require ongoing “irrigation and fertilization,” lest they wither away.
Al-Sharaa confirmed the possibility of clinching a deal during a meeting with Arab journalists earlier this month, accompanied by a US push for Israel to cooperate in this regard.
The 2025 Foreign Policy survey, published as we near the second commemoration of the October 7th attack, comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis and preparations for further escalation in the Gaza war.
Germany’s reserve towards Netanyahu not only jeopardises the two-state solution, but also Israel’s democratic future.
Like every Israeli child, I grew up with the memory of the Holocaust. My grandmother came to Palestine from Germany as a young Zionist before World War II. Her family, who stayed behind, perished.
This policy paper proposes the formation of a Euro-Arab coalition to stop the Israeli government accelerated de-facto and possibly de-jure annexation of Area C or parts of it in the West Bank,
Israel's military accomplishments should have been leveraged into a political gain.
The massacre of October 7th and the ensuing military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran did not merely reshape the Middle Eastern political landscape — they also redefined Israel’s role
Discussions aimed at reaching a mutual understanding are vital to preventing miscalculation from either side.
More than a century after Britain first endorsed a Jewish homeland in Palestine, it now stands on the brink of recognizing a Palestinian one. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration marked the first
On July 29th, I joined an emergency press tour organized by Ir Amim, focusing on the planned settlement expansion in E1. The tour came ahead of the plan’s upcoming court hearing on August 6th
Food security is a pressing global challenge, amplified by climate change, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. The "Jordanian-Israeli Food Security: A Road Map of Potential
If Israel plays its diplomatic cards wisely, it could redefine its bilateral relationship with China in the wake of the Iran war.
The Israeli Humanitarian Forum for Gaza – which includes Israeli humanitarian and aid organizations such as Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies – received alarming
After Prolonged Multi-Front Confrontations, Diplomatic Opportunities Emerge
A renewed security agreement between Israel and Syria could lead to a new kind of normalization.
This is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to agree a détente between two hostile neighbours, but getting there is tricky. Several issues must (but can) be overcome.
It overestimates the appeal of military might while ignoring the real motivations that have historically led Arab states to normalize relations with Israel.
SOCAR’s expanding footprint in Israel could eventually open new routes and strategies for future export diversification in the region.
The ceasefire in the war with Iran provides us with an opportunity to draw lessons both for that conflict and beyond it.
Iran’s axis of proxies has taken a serious hit and has become an axis of the weak.
In a special conversation with the Mitvim Institute, Saudi scholar Dr. Aziz Alghashian – a senior research fellow at Mitvim – shares a Gulf perspective on the Israel-Iran conflict, calling for
"Security is not just the tank, the airplane, and the missile ship. Security is also, and perhaps above all, the person—the person, the Israeli citizen. Security is also the person's education,
Dr. Aziz Alghashian is a Saudi researcher specializing in the kingdom’s foreign policy strategies. He is a senior research fellow at the Mitvim Institute. Alghashian is especially known as an
"Trump’s business trip to the Middle East presents a new strategic reality: the American president has, for now, chosen to sideline Israel and its considerations in his foreign policy."
This document is part of a series of policy papers within a joint project of the Mitvim Institute and the Berl Katznelson Foundation, aimed at thinking about the day after the war.
Why the US should appoint a special envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor? Ambitious India-Middle East-Europe corridor gains momentum amidst geopolitical shifts and renewed diplomatic
Food security has become a critical priority in recent years, driven by the growing impacts of global climate change. As countries develop strategies to ensure stable and sufficient food
When I joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the 1990s, I was proud to represent a country that was a beacon of values on the international stage. A country that led the fight against
Since the outbreak of the war, several Arab states have played supportive roles – Egypt and Qatar as mediators, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and
In recent weeks, a flood of words has been spoken about US President Donald Trump’s proposed “evacuation and reconstruction” plan for the Gaza Strip – both regarding its impracticality and its
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who last year wanted to suspend the Association Agreement, stated that the meeting did not take place under a “business as usual” atmosphere. And yet,
In September 2023, Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies – and the U.S. Department of State launched a joint project to create a civil-society network of regional thinkers
This policy paper explores the fast-moving expansion of the UAE’s influence in the Middle East through physical control of territories and assets beyond its borders, analysing the implications
Unsurprisingly, the meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu garnered significant headlines, but far more than expected. Trump’s proposals to transfer
In the opening weeks of his second term, US President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico, expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, and threatened to retake the Panama Canal. Yet all this
As Washington and New Delhi prepare for the high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, defense cooperation takes center stage. This
Alongside the excitement and joy over the ongoing release of hostages, I can’t stop thinking that the deal for a ceasefire and hostage release could have been achieved long ago. It’s a “gut
On January 12, two seemingly unrelated events took place in Saudi Arabia. In the first, Real Madrid faced Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah. Thousands of Saudis filled the
The re-deployment of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) emerges as one crucial component for promoting stability and governance in Gaza
When President Joe Biden announced on Jan. 15, 2025 that the United States had successfully brokered a fragile ceasefire and phased hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, he underscored how
Immediately after the signing of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, incoming US President Donald Trump announced that, after the return of the hostages, he intends to continue the implementation
After 15 months of devastating news from the Middle East, a silver lining has appeared in the form of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire. The Israeli public has been waiting for this for months, with
The election of the Christian Commander of the Lebanese Army, Joseph Aoun, as Lebanese president is an important milestone for Lebanon and a positive geopolitical development for Israel. It
Last week, Saudi researcher Abdulaziz Alghashian, from the Observer Research Foundation Middle East, published an op-ed in Haaretz arguing that the Israeli public misunderstands Saudi Arabia’s
For decades, the Israeli peace camp has hoisted the two-state formula to the top of the flagpole as the solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. We believed that resolution of the “core of
Looking back at 2024, Israel has strengthened its strategic position in the Middle East, but this has come at the cost of deepening internal divisions within Israeli society, straining relations
President Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, was committed to the future of Israel and the region, and to promoting a two-state solution. It is very regrettable that too many people in
I heard that Israeli media has been debating about the Saudi position regarding the way to end the war and move forward, and its obligation to the Palestinian issue. It seems that Saudi Arabia’s
The European Union’s response to the war in Gaza has been widely criticized as irrelevant and incoherent, casting doubt on its ability to become a credible player in the region. While the EU is
Syria constantly manages to surprise us anew. With the death of Hafez al-Assad in 2000, his son Bashar survived against all the odds and contrary to all predictions. At the beginning of the civil
The collapse of the Assad regime confronts Israel with a familiar dilemma, one with which decision-makers grappled a decade ago in the early stages of the Syrian civil war. The question is
Throughout the Middle East, with the exception of Iran and its proxies, there was a collective sigh of relief at the reelection of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Given the choice
Relations between countries naturally ebb and flow. While high tides are often seen as a positive sign, low tides can strain these connections. As we mark the 30th anniversary of the peace
A year has elapsed since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel, which ignited a war not only against the terrorist organization but also against the entire so-called Axis of Resistance led by the
Israel’s apprehension of Hezbollah has arisen not only from the arsenal of rockets and missiles it has stockpiled but also from its hostile rhetoric and the image of Nasrallah as someone who
There is a widespread perception globally that the October 7th massacre and the subsequent war have pushed the Israeli public toward the far right. This narrative suggests that while Israelis are
The United States, Europe and pragmatic Arab states are offering Israelis and Palestinians a way out of the abyss they fell into on 7 October 2023: a political process that includes the
Recent attention has turned to Jordan, following the murders of three Israelis at the Allenby Bridge Crossing. These killings have reignited fears in Israel about a potential deterioration in
The Mitvim Institute’s twelfth annual public opinion poll on Israeli foreign policy was conducted at the end of August. The survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute in collaboration
The paper outlines the existing and potential role of the EU in helping to shape a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the aftermath of the Gaza war under new Israeli
The paper aims to shed light on the obstacles and opportunities of Saudi involvement in a future Palestinian-Israeli peace process. It first explains the enigmatic nature of Saudi communication
The events of October 7 and the ensuing war prompt the question of the “day after” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Both sides of Israel’s political spectrum recognize that achieving
A key obstacle to reaching a ceasefire agreement with Hamas is Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah Crossing, along the Egyptian border. Prime
The document discusses the significance of developing a strategic policy for the humanitarian response in Gaza, emphasizing its importance as a vital Israeli interest. Humanitarian strategy is
The terrible attack in Majdal Shams is a chronicle of a disaster foretold for nearly nine months. It is the result of a lack of Israeli strategy on one hand, and Hezbollah’s assessment that
The total stalemate in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires new thinking and weaning off of old paradigms. Currently as the result of the Hamas attack on October 7, the ensuring
Normalization with Saudi Arabia has become a central issue during the Israel-Hamas war. Despite the great advantages the normalization holds for Israel, the current government is unable – and
This paper examines the differences between a blue economy and a maritime economy in the regional context of the Eastern Mediterranean. A blue economy is defined as one that improves human
Peace between peoples doesn’t have to be a love story – it can also be based on an alliance of interests. There are places where that is already working, thanks to the process of
It is possible to suggest several explanations for the inability of the mediators to persuade Sinwar or to force his hand until now. How is it that Hamas, not a particularly large or strong
The Saudi proposal opens up the path to recognition of Israel by other states in the Middle East and in the Muslim world. An important factor in every negotiation between states is the incentives
The intense diplomatic activity on the Washington-Riyadh axis, as well as statements by top officials on both sides, indicate that an Israeli-Saudi normalization agreement is still relevant
Israel must repudiate Netanyahu’s lack of statesmanship, which is leading Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state that could become a real Hamastan. The flood of Western
