The 23 State Solution
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
Israel’s Restored Deterrence Comes at the Cost of Diplomatic and Moral Challenges
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
The International Community’s Role in Moving From the Gaza War to Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians and Regional Stability
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
The EU’s Possible Role in the ‘Day After’ the Gaza War according to a Reverse Engineering Roadmap
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
Exaggerations, Obstacles and Opportunities: The Saudi Arabian Position in the Gaza War
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
Deradicalization and Israeli-Palestinian Reconciliation: Lessons and Recommendations Based on Past Conflicts
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
The hostages should be prioritized over Philadelphi and Rafah
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
Regional Conference on the Infrastructural-Environmental Rehabilitation of the Gaza Area
The prolonged Israel-Hamas war has resulted in grave human and physical damage to the Gaza Strip. The Mitvim Institute has been engaged since the start of the war in strategic thinking to promote
Palestine Is One Vote Short in the Security Council from Being Recognised as a State
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
Israeli-Palestinian Peace May Look Entirely Different From How We Imagine It
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
How has Hamas kept its strength for so long without giving in to mediation pressure?
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
Netanyahu’s way of governance leads to unilateral recognition of Palestinian state
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
A Vision for Regional – International Partnership for Gaza Rebuilding and Palestinian Economic Leap
The immense extent of destruction in the Gaza Strip caused by the 2023-2024 Gaza War, requires massive rebuilding. This paper sets a vision of a long-term economic rebuilding plan, which is aimed
EU on Palestine: Is There a Credible Peace Plan?
The UN General Assembly passed on Friday with overwhelming majority a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights at the world body as an observer state, without offering it full membership. In
The Israeli Initiative
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
Climate-Political Migration in Israel and Palestine
The policy paper presents a critical analysis of the phenomenon known as “climate migration,” focusing on the Israel-Palestine region. It also highlights the tension between human rights
Recommendations for Essential Infrastructure and Healthcare in the Gaza Strip
The paper examines elements of essential infrastructure in the Gaza Strip – energy, water, sanitation, and the health system – in the face of the ongoing war. Our aim is to inform
Between Annexation and Political Horizon: Israeli Society at a Crossroads for Conflict Resolution After October 7th
Over the past decade until October 7th, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has received minimal significant global headlines. Extensive coverage of the conflict occurred mainly during military
How powerful is Hamas after 6 months of war with Israel?
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
The Israeli Initiative
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
Normalization with Saudi Arabia looks unlikely, but we should try anyway
Based on past experience with normalization agreements, three components are presently missing on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides: legitimate leadership, political determination, and
The Israeli right-wing is determined to prevent any discussion of a future Palestinian state
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
Leveraging Friction: Using Israel’s tensions with normalization countries to engage them in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking
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
Will Marwan Barghouti Be the Next Palestinian President?
The first thing one sees after crossing the Qalandiya checkpoint from Jerusalem en route to Ramallah is a huge mural of Marwan Barghouti, the imprisoned Fatah leader who is seen by many
Israelis prefer practicality in promoting peace with Palestinians
The Mitvim Institute’s 2022 Foreign Policy Index, published in October for the tenth straight year in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, indicates that the Israeli public has
In a tense Jerusalem, an inside look at the city’s youth movement for peace
By the time I got to the large community building just steps from Jerusalem’s Old City walls on a cool December evening last year, I had been waiting to see Kids4Peace, a program of Seeds of
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
One year in, how a US law is disrupting the status quo
In recent days and weeks, we’ve seen gun battles in the streets, nightly raids, terror attacks, and the “highest in years” death toll in the West Bank. For three days this summer, the skies once
Women’s Peace Groups in Formal Peace Processes: Benefits of Participation, Price of Exclusion
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.
Is this a turning point in Israel- Hamas relations? – opinion
With yet another ceasefire in place following a violent round of clashes between Israel and Gaza-based militants, the recent flare-up of violence may mark a hopeful turning point—one that could
Biden’s Israel visit reiterates his views on the two state solution
In a speech delivered during his visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, President Joe Biden referred to his family’s Irish background, drawing parallels between the Irish and
Israelis, Palestinians both got something from Biden visit despite low expectations- analysis
Leaders in Jerusalem and Ramallah knew that the focal point of the American presidential visit to the Middle East was Saudi Arabia: If not for the war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices, the
Biden should bolster a Palestinian political horizon
When US President Joe Biden visits Israel and the PA in mid-July, he will meet a caretaker Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian leader who has lost his legitimacy. This is clearly far from
Biden should bolster a Palestinian political horizon- opinion
When US President Joe Biden visits Israel and the PA in mid-July, he will meet a caretaker Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian leader who has lost his legitimacy. This is clearly far from
Sports for Peace: Let Israelis and Palestinians Compete in Mediterranean Games
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
Sports for peace: let Israelis and Palestinians compete in Mediterranean games
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
‘Peace through Health’ in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Ground for dialogue or guise for continued occupation?
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
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
Making the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act a Game Changer in Israeli-Palestinian Civil Society Peacemaking
While the stagnation in the official Israeli- Palestinian peace process continues, Israelis and Palestinians working to advance peace on the civil society level are experiencing some new
That other crisis
Israel-Palestine risks becoming a forgotten conflict – the world should pay attention. In January 2001, US President Bill Clinton met with President-elect George W. Bush and presented him with a
Israel’s alternative to two-state solution is apartheid regime
The public debate on the two-state solution has seen its ups and downs in the past decade. But there is one consensus that crosses political party lines and according to it, there is no chance in
Students Accuse Birzeit University Administration of Collaboration Following IDF Campus Arrest
After recurring violent outbreaks between Fatah and Hamas activists on the campus, PA security forces last month also arrested students at several West Bank campuses Birzeit University students
With No Israeli Reporters on the Ground, Gaza Remains Invisible to Public
Many Israelis use questionable resources upon which to draw knowledge about life in the coastal strip, while some Israeli journalists dream about returning to Gaza to do their job again In 2006,
In Hopes of Postponing the Next War, Israel Lets Gazans Back in After 15 Years
10,000 laborers get work permits to cross the border Recently, Israel increased the number of Gazans allowed to work in Israel under “merchant permits” to 10,000, although 90% of them are not
How did Zionist symbol KKL-JNF become an organization that hurts Israel?
Many of us still remember the blue Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund in which our parents would toss coins in order to “redeem the Land of Israel” and fulfill the Zionist dream. Then,
Initial Biden Administration Policy Steps to Advance
Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking – Summary
This document summarizes recommendations for initial policy steps that the Biden Administration could take to advance Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. It identifies nine key goals for the new
Initial Biden Administration Policy Steps to Advance
Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking
This document presents recommendations for initial policy steps that the Biden Administration can take to advance Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. It describes the current state of play in the
Biden could generate momentum for Israeli-Palestinian peace
An article by Dr. Nimrod Goren for the Middle East Institute
The turning point for normalization was in 1993, not 2020
Prof. Elie Podeh on Jpost
