Over the past six months, the Israel-Lebanon border has been a battleground between Israel and Hezbollah. Recently, there has been an escalation from both sides, albeit within perceived
Netanyahu was pressured into announcing new measures for Gazans in wake of deadly strike on WCK aid workers, but again Jerusalem risks doing too little, too late. There are many aspects of
After half a year of war, and in spite of Israel’s military strength, Hamas continues to fight. While it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact strength of the Islamist militants, some
Early in the pandemic, a friend of mine introduced me to another friend of his, an Emirati living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Knowing that my academic research is focused on the
We are honored to share the latest publication from the Mitvim Institute – the Israeli Initiative. The Initiative aims to turn the tragedy of October 7th and the ensuing war into a political
Gender equality and women’s rights are consensual values across parties and political agendas in Western democracies, of which Israel has always been proud to be a part. However,
Based on past experience with normalization agreements, three components are presently missing on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides: legitimate leadership, political determination, and
Israel’s success in stabilizing the humanitarian situation in Gaza correlates with minimizing harm to non-combatants. This provides greater flexibility for Israeli troops to defeat Hamas.
Israel and Egypt both aim to demonstrate to the Arab world the destabilizing effects of supporting the Shia axis.
Netanyahu pushed Qatar to support Hamas, unfairly targeted the Red Cross and is fighting a war with no exit plan – so who's to blame?
The sea may develop into an arena requiring greater Israeli effort, but could also create additional opportunities for international cooperation, and not only in the Red Sea.
Too many so called “security experts” have recently been explaining why we need to starve Gaza and prevent humanitarian aid in order to achieve the objectives of the war. They assert that we
Recognition by the international “moral majority” of a Palestinian state is a Zionist imperative if Israel is to ensure its future as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people.
The Gaza war’s impact on Egypt’s economy is not hidden.
The idea of rehabilitating the Palestinian Authority (PA) was proposed by US President Joe Biden in response to its weakness and to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of its
A political settlement to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians once Hamas is weakened, and after an intermediate stage in which a reconstituted Palestinian Authority is established with the
As of January 2024, the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is evolving into its ‘third stage’, from aerial bombardment and a massive ground operation into low-intensity warfare and
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip might evolve in the next few weeks into its ‘third stage’, following the aerial bombardment and the massive ground operation undertaken
The paper discusses the rising power of local government and its ability to independently create and/or advance foreign relations in order to promote peace and good neighborly relations. One of
If the northern front expands into an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, or if the Red Sea is closed by the Houthis – then the energy market will respond with increases in fuel prices
Three years after the resumption of official ties, and in the shadow of the Gaza war, the crisis provides a new opportunity for regional and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Palestinian feelings about the Arab response to the war in Gaza can be summed up in one word: disappointment. This sentiment is shared by Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinians in
The PA’s recurring willingness to seek agreements with Hamas has proven to be a consistent mistake.
Ensuring the functioning of life-sustaining infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is critical for advancing the two main Israeli goals of the war in Gaza – the return of the hostages and the
Qatar would exert a lot of influence to maintain its role in Gaza in the “day after,” yet Israel should seek to diminish this role as far as possible.
On January 25, 2006, elections were held in the Palestinian territories for the Legislative Council. Surprisingly, the Hamas organization, running as Change and Reform List, won 74 of the 132
Israel lacks a clear, consistent and established strategy for its relations with Qatar, despite profound Qatari influence in the region. Since the 1990s, Israeli decision-makers have faced the
As with many major crises, the catastrophic Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israel and ensuing war in Gaza offer an opportunity for change. This policy paper proposes guidelines for a post-war roadmap
A billboard titled “Palestinian Authority is Hamas,” appeared in Tel-Aviv, Nof HaGalil, and other Israeli cities in mid-November. It displayed an image of Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman
The climate crisis is a formative change with far-reaching consequences for Israel’s future and its strategic policies, not simply in domestic terms of quality of life and economic structure and
If I had to pick one photo epitomizing Israel’s victory over Hamas, it would not be from the Gaza battlefield. It would show delegates to the Be’eri Summit convened in order to design a
The Israeli government and Palestinian Authority cannot bring about true change on their own. The international community must push for a resolution.
While the current Israeli military operation seeks to degrade the military capabilities of Hamas, the Israeli government has not put forward a coherent plan for what should happen to the Gaza
More than a month since the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel on 7 October, Israelis are processing the horrors, working to bring home more than 200 hostages, mobilising in mass numbers to
Hamas’ attack was aimed at Israel’s very existence. In order to survive, the country must destroy the terrorist organization’s military capabilities.
The timing of the murderous Hamas assault on Israel was likely the result of tactical considerations: the depletion of Israel’s Gaza border forces due to the Simchat Torah holiday as well as the
Saudi Arabia and Israel have many shared interests, chief among them the struggle against radical Islam propagated by groups such as ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood
President Joe Biden has declared many times that he is a Zionist, and his full-throated support for Israel following the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas has touched every soul in that country.
As we enter into the fourth week of the Israel-Hamas war, a clear endgame for the war Israel launched in retaliation for the massacre of October 7 remains elusive. The absence of well-defined
Francis Fukuyama was patently wrong in declaring the “end of history” over 30 years ago, believing that the fall of the Communist bloc would give rise to a utopian global liberal democracy. Never
The Mitvim Institute’s Eleventh Annual Public Opinion Survey on Israeli Foreign Policy was conducted in late July 2023. The survey was conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute in collaboration with
The Israeli government has instructed its foreign service diplomats to whitewash the judicial overhaul. This is a mistake.
President Isaac Herzog has called for regional environmental cooperation during visits to neighboring countries and introduced a visionary concept of a “renewable Middle East.”
In order to increase its energy security, Israel must therefore continue to seek ways of diversifying its export options and regional partners.
Turkey and Israel should aim – as part of their strategic dialogue – to identify concrete contributions that Turkey can make to improve the situation.
While Israel mourns its three soldiers killed by an Egyptian policeman, both countries need for the security cooperation between them to continue.
During the Netanyahu government’s first five months, Israel-Arab ties have slowed down and tensions with the Palestinians have increased.
Concern in Israel’s pro-democracy camp that democratic erosion processes in Turkey are similarly emerging in Israel under Netanyahu’s enduring rule.
Various global developments are weakening American influence in the Middle East, and China is filling the vacuum. This is bad news for Israel. To help the Americans help us, the government must
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
The costs that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the State of Israel have been paying following the government’s first months in office have become more and more significant in recent
Many Europeans would look at Israel and say that democracy and occupation cannot go together. They are right. Others would say that Israel is a thriving democracy and appreciate the impressive
If we learn lessons from the Czech case, it becomes clear that Israeli civil society must emphasize the righteousness of its cause beyond the borders of Tel Aviv.
Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, Israeli governments have successfully isolated the normalization process from events in the Israeli-Palestinian arena. This separation has assisted the
The Cross Border Cooperation (CBC) is one of the European Union’s (EU) financial instruments aiming to help the neighbouring countries develop better connections and relations between them,
Israel is located these days, since the establishment of Netanyahu’s new right-wing government, at a critical juncture, facing dramatic developments on various fronts. While the domestic arena is
Last week’s Knesset vote repealing parts of the 2005 Gaza Disengagement Law reflects the ruling coalition’s intoxication with power and jeopardizes the stability of the strategic alliance between
‘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
As concern in Washington is growing over Israel’s anti-democratic turn, new questions are arising about the underlying strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Such a reflection is welcome,
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
A year ago, in February 2022, Chancellor Scholz delivered a policy statement in the Bundestag, as a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He spoke about a watershed moment, which requires
Those who have closely monitored Israel-France relations over the years often conclude that understanding them requires psychological rather than political science expertise. The relationship is
The recent visit of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel will be remembered mostly for exposing US criticism of Israeli government policy, moving it from behind closed doors
King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein’s White House visit on Feb. 2 reflected that Jordan is a like-minded partner for the United States when it comes to preventing an escalation of the
The new Israeli government is unprecedented in terms of its extremist composition and declared policy intentions. The coming to power of such a government raises the likelihood of escalation on
The fight for democracy is a global one, taking place, among other corners of the world, in the United States, Europe, South America, as well as the Middle East and North Africa. When it comes to
A classified document that sets out a plan by the European Union Delegation to the Palestinian Authority proposing joint development of Area C was recently leaked. According to Channel 13
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
The UN General Assembly’s decision to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on whether the Israeli occupation is permanent or temporary should not surprise
The recent, Dec. 30, vote at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) regarding Israel — approving a request for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to offer a legal opinion on Israeli
This paper was written as part of an initiative funded by the UK government, but its views do not necessarily represent the views of the UK government. Area C of the Occupied Palestinian
A letter of appreciation from Prime Minister Yair Lapid for Mitvim’s work on Israel’s foreign affairs.
The article inquires how a cultural institute in a contested city can become an allied sphere, a source for joint creation, and even a venue for peacebuilding.
The article points to measures that can be promoted in order to realize the potentially positive role of inmates in advancing peace.
This paper describes what EU Partnership Priorities (PP) are, why Israel hasn’t signed a PP agreement so far, and asks what Israel is missing out on by lacking an established set of PP with the EU.
The Israeli Police and Europol, the European Union’s police agency, have been conducting negotiations over an operational agreement for several years. In September there was signing of end of
The Mitvim Institute’s Tenth Annual Public Opinion Survey on Israeli Foreign Policy was conducted in late August 2022, exploring four areas: the Israeli foreign policy apparatus, Israel’s foreign
This paper explores how women's peace organizations contribute to peacemaking efforts in Israel-Palestine. It is part of a joint project by Mitvim and the Davis Institute.
This paper assesses the current state and potential of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (“MEPPA”), passed by Congress just after the 2020 presidential election, for
On July 18, 2022, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) decided to move ahead with convening the EU-Israel Association Council (AC) after a decade-long hiatus. This paper
This report analyses the illiberal trends and democratic backsliding that can be seen in both Europe and Israel, and is a product of a two year project between Mitvim, PAX for Peace Netherlands,
This policy paper analyzes the global surge of illiberal trends that has affected Israel and several EU member states. It considers the opportunity to strengthen EU-Israel relations on the basis
The following paper explores the relationship between Israel’s democracy and its foreign policy. It analyzes the state of Israel’s democracy and foreign relations, the role of Israel’s internal
3,500 athletes from 26 countries began competing this week in the 19th Mediterranean Games in Algeria. For over 70 years, delegates from throughout the region have convened quadrennially, in
This document focuses on the challenges and opportunities for Israel's policy in the Mediterranean Basin as a result of its warming relations with Turkey.
This article discusses the capacity of non-governmental organizations to use environmental issues as a platform for promoting peace in the region, especially between Israelis and Palestinians.
Energy relations between Israel and the Palestinians reflects the existing relationship between the parties, but at the same time hold high potential for promoting cooperation and peace.
Wednesday’s upcoming visit to Israel by Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu, likely accompanied by Energy Minister Donmez, places the gradually improving relations between the sides on a practical
Based on interviews with representatives of an Israeli human rights organization that provides health services in the Occupied Territories, this article examines the implementation of the "peace
Since the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Israel has been struggling with a balancing act: tiptoeing between pleasing its Western allies and keeping in check its powerful Russian-influenced
Soon after the first terror attack last month in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba that launched the current wave of violence, Sheikh Muhammad Abu al-Qiyan, maternal uncle of the terrorist –
“The peculiarity of modern, nazified Ukraine is in its formlessness and ambivalence, which disguises Nazism as a desire for ‘independence’ and a ‘European’ (Western,
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
Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Ankara (March 9), for the first time since 2008, is a recent attempt to open a new page in the relations between the two countries. There have been ups
The nuclear deal now brewing in Vienna places Israel and the countries of the Middle East in a much worse position than they were in 2015 when the previous agreement was signed. Iran has since
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),
Every Saturday night for the last four weeks, thousands of Israelis have been gathering at Habima Square in Tel Aviv to offer their support to Ukraine. Waving signs and blue-and-yellow flags,
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
The United States’ (US) foreign policy trend of intervention in the Middle East has long been accepted as a truism in international relations and politics. For decades, the US has demonstrated a
When considering Israel’s diplomatic maneuvering options in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine, it is important to first take stock of the fundamental, relevant facts. The first of these is that
