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
Israel must not let election results undermine foreign policy
Although coalition negotiations are still underway, there is little doubt regarding the identity of Israel’s next prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is a seasoned political hand and enjoys vast
What Netanyahu’s win in the Israeli elections means for the war in Ukraine
The results of the latest Israeli elections were widely covered — and celebrated — by the state-controlled Russian media. The results of the exit polls were announced on the evening news, and the
The Paradox of Netanyahu
Israel is once again going to the election polls on November 1, for the fifth time in less than four years with only one real issue on the agenda: “Bibi or not Bibi.” Who is this man and why did
The Israel-Lebanon maritime deal is an example of successful US-led mediation. Can it be copy-pasted to other Middle Eastern arenas?
After a decade of tough negotiations, frustrations, and impasses, American mediators succeeded in a difficult task. On October 26, they convinced Israel and Lebanon the importance and need for a
Iran helped Turkey and Israel mend ties. Here’s how.
In June, amid the season for summer vacations, some alarming news was published about the dangers posed to Israeli tourists visiting Turkey. According to intelligence provided by Turkish and
Russia v. Jewish Agency: behind Putin’s curtain
Just four days into the premiership of Yair Lapid, on July 5, there were whiffs of a major diplomatic crisis between Russia and Israel in the air. The employees of the Jewish Agency in Russia had
Yair Lapid- Will He Take Down Netanyahu?
To Be Yair Lapid On November 1, Yair Lapid will cast his vote at the ballot box in the posh north Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ramat Aviv, hoping for the stars to align just right to allow him to
Russia is forming an alliance of pariah states in the Middle East. It might put Israel in an awkward situation in Syria
Every visit by a foreign leader to Iran draws considerable attention, not to mention criticism, in Israel. A visit, however, by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the leader of a global power
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
Why Is the Israeli Left Still Turning a Cold Shoulder to Gulf States?
This past April 28, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dan Feferman stood at the entrance to Auschwitz. With him were the members of the multinational delegation he had brought to the annual March of the
There’s uncertainty in Israel and within the Palestinian Authority. The US’s stabilizing role is critical more than ever.
Just months ago, it seemed that the Joe Biden administration’s global priorities were all set—from strategic competition with China to addressing Putin’s emboldened Russia. However, the Middle
I won’t attend the Genesis Prize ceremony, nobody should
A few weeks ago I got a call from a Genesis Prize Foundation representative kindly asking me to confirm my attendance at the annual ceremony taking place this week in Jerusalem. The recipient of
Jordan key to deepening Abraham Accords, calming West Bank
Israelis and Jordanians no longer hide their willingness to cooperate, but King Abdullah’s complex internal situation and mounting tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque may impede rapprochement. Relations
Russia, Israel tensions will continue to mount: Russian experts
After Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made statements about “Hitler’s Jewish blood” and blamed the Jews for being “the worst antisemites,” the verbal and written exchange between Israel and Russia
Holocaust denial still common in the Arab world, but views are changing
“I watched movies about Holocaust before, and I thought that generally, I have more knowledge about this issue than many in my society. But only when you come here, to Auschwitz, do you truly
Toxic Performers: Israeli activists struggle to cancel shows by Putin sympathizers
An April 19 post from the Facebook page of Bezalel Events, the organizer of popular Russian comedian Nurlan Saburov’s Israel tour: “None of the employees of our company supports or has ever
Israel’s balancing act still not enough for Russia
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
Arab-Israelis have no appetite for another wave of violence
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 –
Russia’s Chilling Manifesto for Genocide in Ukraine
“The peculiarity of modern, nazified Ukraine is in its formlessness and ambivalence, which disguises Nazism as a desire for ‘independence’ and a ‘European’ (Western,
Dancing In Two Weddings: Israel Balances Russia and Ukraine
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,
Can Israel Cope With the Immigrant Wave From Russia’s War on Ukraine, Jews and non-Jews Alike?
Three decades after the fall of the Soviet empire, and in the wake of Russia’s invasion, Israel is once again facing a significant spike in Jewish immigration from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. It
Ramadan Will Test Budding Israel-Turkey Relations: Expert
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s historic trip to Turkey and landmark meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were all smiles and promises. Both leaders said their countries had much
The Real Danger of Putin’s ‘Nazi’ Slur for Ukraine, Israel and the World
“When we are told that Ukrainian nationalism and neo-Nazism are a myth, ‘propaganda invented by Russia,’ they are obviously counting on someone who is not familiar with the history of the
Is Bennett gambling Israel’s international standing away?
Two Middle Eastern leaders are now busy working to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both countries have
Russia’s Next Target for Intimidation Could Be Israel
As Russia pounds Ukrainian cities and flaunts its nuclear weapons, there is little doubt that the implications of the war between Russia and the West will be felt globally—and the relations
Saudi Arabia’s Engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
During the last few decades Saudi Arabia had exercised a role of a regional coordinator between various Middle Eastern states and between them and the USA. Twice in the past it had put on the
Chechens Are Fighting on Both Sides of Russian-Ukrainian Conflict
mages of Chechen fighters preparing to join the battle in Ukraine on behalf of Russian troops spread widely on social media networks in the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ramzan
Israel Weighs Its Neutrality on Russia-Ukraine Conflict
While Western countries mull sanctions against Russia after it formally recognized the independence of two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, Israel is busy reshaping its attitude
By threat or raw power, Russia is determined to get its way in a post-Soviet world
On March 24, 1999, then-Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov was en route to the US for a visit. While flying over the Atlantic, he was informed that NATO forces had begun bombing Yugoslavia
The war in Ukraine that hasn’t happened and how the media failed
Ukrainian parents received a text message from the Education Ministry on Tuesday that called on them to send their children to school the following day in national outfits to celebrate the Unity
Jerusalem Tries to Navigate Russia-US-Israel Triangle Over Ukraine Conflict
The war clouds over Ukraine grow ever darker as Russian forces amass on the borders, on three sides, and Western media speculate on when exactly “D-Day” will come. Western diplomats are leaving
How Iraq became the top link in China’s belt and road strategy
Last year, Iraq became a top recipient of Chinese investment and a key link in Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative. Almost 20 years after the war in Iraq began, billions of Chinese yuan are being
Hassan Nasrallah, Master of Lebanon
In 2022, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah will celebrate 30 years as the undisputed leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon—upholding a pattern of Arab leaders who mature, age, and often die while in power. It was
Israeli Arab Citizens Donate Millions for Refugees in Northern Syria
“Your donations have reached #Northern_Syria. One of the largest convoys of a charitable relief campaign has been launched to reach the needy and refugees and to protect them from the winter
Putin’s Ukraine Gambit Risks Starting Unintended War: Experts
‘For now, Putin is getting exactly what he wants: The West is already making bargains with him,’ expert tells The Media Line As American diplomats leave their offices in Kyiv, NATO soldiers
ISIS cells are reappearing in Syria and Iraq
More than 100 Islamic State fighters armed with heavy machine guns and vehicles rigged with explosives attacked the gates of Gweiran Prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh. The goal of
The EastMed Pipeline Is Dead, Long Live the EuroAsia Electricity Project
Plan to send Israeli gas to Europe under the sea in trouble, but power grid hookup is looking good After a decade of excitement at the prospect of moving Israeli gas to Europe through the EastMed
Iran drives antisemitism in the Muslim world- analysis
When Iranian General Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, said that Saudi Arabia’s royal family actually descends from Jews who used to fight with the
Israelis Still Believe in IDF but Criticism Is Growing
Citizens worry whether the ‘people’s army’ can remain the nation’s melting pot The Israeli public’s trust in the IDF is in decline, according to the 2021 Israeli Democracy Index. In October 2021,
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
Lebanon may be getting tired of Hezbollah- analysis
First, it was Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the son-in-law of Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun, who attacked the Shia Islamist political party Hezbollah and said
Between Israel and Iran- Putin’s Chess Game
Can President Putin be a “great friend of the Jewish people”, as Naftali Bennett called him, and at the same time sell sophisticated weapons to Iran, a sworn enemy of Israel? Bennett’s goal is to
Hostility, incitement and the decision to improve ties with Israel
Shortly before Yom Kippur, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held his first official visit to an Arab state, meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah a-Sisi. The invitation
The Lost Battle of Ahmad Jibril
On July 7, 2021, a few hundred Palestinians gathered to attend a funeral at Yarmouk refugee camp cemetery, on the outskirts of Damascus. They came to say their farewells to Ahmad Jibril, the
Tsunami of Crime in Israel’s Arab Sector Has People Losing Faith in the Police
‘We have a new generation of young people who do not work or study,’ Arab activist says Ninety-six Israeli Arab citizens, men, women and children, have been murdered since the beginning of 2021.
After the honeymoon, comes the hard work:
A year on, the ink has yet to dry on the Abraham Accords
The Netanyahu government took pride in achieving “peace for peace”, but the Gulf principalities are once again moving closer to Iran. Bahrain appears the only Gulf State still adhering to the
Israel’s ‘divide and conquer’ Palestinian policy does not serve its interests
Two months have elapsed since the military operation in Gaza, but the situation there remains volatile and dangerous. Negotiations on a return of Israeli prisoners and MIAs are stuck and Gaza’s
Israel cannot afford to ignore Jordan any longer
Earlier this month, Jordan officially decided to pull out of the high-profile “Two Seas Project” – a joint endeavor with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to construct a canal that
The First Months of Israel-UAE Peace:
Israel’s Perspective on the Abraham Accords
Introduction In the few months that have passed since the signing of the historical Abraham Accords, Israel and the UAE have opened embassies and exchanged ambassadors, launched direct flights
The Two-State Solution Won’t Save Itself, Mr. President
During the last four years of Trump administration, many important words and concepts such as “human rights” or “two-states solution” were effectively omitted completely
It is time to make peace with Egypt
The news of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned visit to Egypt came shortly after popular Egyptian singer Mohamad Ramadan became the most hated person in his country; Ramadan was pictured
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
Israel, the Middle East and Joe Biden
Ksenia Svetlova, towards the US elections
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
UAE, Israel Deal Could be Just the Beginning
Ksenia Svetlova, Op-ed, August 2020
Senior Jordanian Officials: Annexation Endangers Israel-Jordan Relations
Insights from the Mitvim Institute’s Israel-Jordan Policy Dialogue
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
The Middle East Rediscovers the Jews
The much-acclaimed television series “Umm Haroun” produced for Ramadan month viewing, describes the life of Kuwait’s Jewish community in the 1940s. It has generated stormy discussion throughout
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
Recommendations for Israel’s New Foreign Minister: Initial Policy Messages
Israel’s new foreign minister should lead a process of fixing Israel’s foreign policy. This paper presents recommendations for messages he can convey and actions he can take to improve Israel’s
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
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
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
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
No preelection gifts from Arab leaders to Benjamin Netanyahu
At the annual Munich Security Conference in mid-February, the most important event of its kind – to which Israel did not bother send a single senior representative this year, Saudi Arabian
A new type of peace in the Middle East
With Washington trying once again to randomly sketch new Middle East maps, intellectuals, politicians and Arab journalists are dreaming of a fundamental change in attitudes and true normalization
Revisiting Arab Peace Initiative is best hope to solve Israel-Palestine conflict
The “deal of the century” is here, and so is the simmering, century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although the publication of the details of President Trump’s peace initiative has not so far
The Trump Plan: Not the Way to Advance Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Following the publication of the Trump plan, Mitvim Institute experts argue that this is not the way to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace. This document includes initial commentaries by Nadav
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
25 Years of Israel-Jordan Peace: Time to Restart the Relationship
Towards the 25th anniversary of the peace treaty with Jordan, Mitvim experts visited Amman for a series of meetings with political, security, media and civil society figures in Jordan. The
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
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
The Crisis in Israel-Jordan Relations
MK Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union) and the Mitvim Institute held a joint conference at the Knesset on the crisis in Israel-Jordan relations. The conference took place on 10 January 2018, after
“Israel Benefits from the Collapse of Syria”
In January 2014, as the second Geneva conference on the Syrian civil war was being conducted, Channel 9 and The Mitvim Institute’s Ksenia Svetlova interviewed Dr. Samir al-Taqi, a former advisor
The Mass Media and Israeli-Arab Relations following the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring has changed the mainstream media scene in the Middle East. Major pan-Arab TV stations have been losing audience, while new media such as Twitter, Facebook, and independent blogs
