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Prof. Elie Podeh

What are Middle East reactions to the judicial reform?

‘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

Egypt, Jordan’s close ties with Israeli officials are now out in the open

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),

Why were Israel and the US not invited to the
Baghdad conference?

he Baghdad conference held on Saturday, August 28, was unusual in terms of both venue and participants. The venue was Baghdad, the host was Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and

Integration into the Middle East? Let’s see you pull it off, Lapid

On his historic June 30 visit to the Emirates for the official opening of the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid urged other Muslim and Arab states

Four memorable lies in Netanyahu’s legacy of falsehoods

Oscar Wilde is reputed to have said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” Indeed, Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure from office has made many people happy because of

Assessing Operation Guardian of the Walls: Did it change any opinions?

Historians may agree that it is still too early to evaluate the results of the recent events in Israel and Gaza, but our limited historical perspective might suggest that several Israeli

Between a Rock and a hard place

It seems a just resolution of the Palestinian issue is the minimum that Pakistan will settle for if it is to recognize Israel. Following the series of agreements between Israel, the United Arab

Trump officially made Israel part of the Middle East

 In one of its final decisions, the Trump administration moved Israel from the purview of the Pentagon’s European Command (EUCOM) to the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the US Central Command

Abraham Accords does not solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel’s newly established relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco are a welcome development signaling a paradigm shift. The working assumption for decades was that

How Israel Is Triggering a Royal Civil War in Saudi Arabia

Prof. Elie Podeh on Haaretz

Trump’s Middle East legacy: The good, the bad and the ugly

Op-ed by Prof. Elie Podeh on Jpsot

Israel, the UAE and Bahrain: A different kind of peace

In the weeks since the historic August 13 declaration of diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, followed by a declaration of diplomatic ties with Bahrain, it has become

middle east peace

The turning point for normalization was in 1993, not 2020

Prof. Elie Podeh on Jpost

Israel in the Middle East: A year of achievements and one big failure

Prof Elie Podeh on The Jerusalem Post

The coming out of the Israel-Bahrain clandestine relationship

An article published on the Jerusalem Post

Netanyahu’s ‘Brilliant’ Mideast Peace Strategy Has a Big Problem

Op-ed, Prof, Elie Podeh, September 2020

What Netanyahu failed to learn from the Arab Spring

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, August 2020

UAE also wants good ties with US Jewish lobby

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, September 2020

Israel won’t become part of the Middle East until the occupation ends

The chance of Israel’s re-admittance to the Middle East lies in its ability to show initiative, originality and flexibility of thought. Only by attempting sincerely to solve the Palestinian

Israel is entangled in UAE-Palestinian rivalries

Prof. Elie Podeh, Op-ed, July 2020

Israel Entangled in Arab Rivalries: The Case of the UAE Medical Aid for the Palestinians

June 2020

Avoiding a small annexation will not prevent the larger occupation

Israel’s mythic foreign minister, Abba Eban, once quipped that “history teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.” His insight presumed that

Seven reasons for not annexing West Bank territories

In its coalition agreement with the Likud, the Blue and White Party under the leadership of Benny Gantz has given a seal of approval to annexing parts of Judea and Samaria. According to the

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

הארץ

The Trump Peace Plan: Not Even an Opportunity

It is a special event when a peace plan for the resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict commissioned by an American president is launched. But true to President Donald Trump’s record, his peace

Sorry, Jared, This Time It’s Not the Palestinians Who Have ‘Screwed Up,’ It’s You

Prof. Elie Podeh, January 2020

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

Israel in an (Un)Changing Middle East

The Middle East is a confusing area. On the one hand, it is highly volatile, with frequent changes throughout the region and in the domestic affairs of its countries. On the other hand, many

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump’s Jerusalem Statement is his March of Folly

US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel confirms Abba Eban’s aphorism that “men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other

The 1947 Partition Plan: The Palestinians’ Biggest Missed Opportunity

The United Nations Partition Plan, which marked its 70th anniversary on Wednesday, was rejected by the Arabs and the Palestinians. Everyone knows that. What is less well known is that not all the

Happy Holidays? Not in the Middle East

How does the Middle East look on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5778? One can point to a number of important changes that took place over the past year: * The Islamic State is about to disappear

What Abbas Should Be Concerned About?

On July 2, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a speech at the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa. The speech attracted little attention from Israeli or global media,

The New Middle East

Over the past year we have witnessed the molding of a new Middle East, in which Israel plays a significant role. The term “New Middle East” was coined by Shimon Peres who, after the Oslo Accords

The Palestinians also know how to miss opportunities

US President Trump’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority creates expectations for a breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To assess the likelihood of such a breakthrough, it

Trump’s Visit to the Middle East

Donald Trump made his first foreign trip since taking office to the Middle East. In May 2017 he visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. Throughout his regional tour, the US

The Third Counter-Wave to Democracy and Liberalism

It is now undeniable that Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States are part of a much broader global change. The coming to

Kerry’s parameters force Israel to take a hard look in the mirror

Throughout 2016, analysts were wondering what – if at all – will be President Obama’s final move regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The options discussed included a presidential speech

The battle over the memory of Balfour

The centennial of the Balfour Declaration will be marked on November 2, 2017, and preparations in Israel and among various Jewish organizations worldwide are underway. However, on the Palestinian

Mosul – the Battle for the Middle East

The attack of the Iraqi army – reinforced by Kurdish and United States forces – on Mosul is not just another military operation against “the Islamic State” (also known as ISIS, or Daesh). The

Israel – no longer people dwelling alone

The stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, Iran’s growing influence, acts of terrorism by jihadi Islamic organizations, the collapse of Arab countries after the Arab Spring, and the

From opportunities to missed opportunities

Over the past two years, the Israeli discourse has frequently included terms like “an opportunity to promote regional cooperation,” or “regional initiative.” This discourse is not limited to the

“No” as a Policy

Netanyahu’s recent statement that Israel “will never accept the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for negotiations,” joins a long list of negative statements made by Israel regarding attempts by

Notes on the Quartet report

The Quartet Report was widely criticized by both Israelis and Palestinians, but apart from the responses of a number Israeli and Palestinian officials, has yet to make any waves in the public

Why is Israel Afraid of an International Peace Conference?

The Netanyahu government’s objection to France’s proposal to convene an international peace conference is not out of step with traditional Israeli foreign policy. Over the years, Israeli

The Egypt-Saudi Agreements: Policy Analysis and Regional Implications

The first visit by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to Egypt has led to the signing of significant agreement between the two countries. The visit and its consequences signal a new phase in the

Egypt and Saudi Arabia: A Predictable Rapprochement

Saudi Arabian King Salman’s five-day visit to Egypt and the extensive media coverage it garnered are an expression of the warming of ties since al-Sisi became president in June 2013. Morsi’s

Saudi Arabia: Lynchpin of the moderate axis in the Middle East

Saudi Arabian king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s five-day visit to Egypt is an expression of the warming of ties between the two countries since Abdel Fattah Sisi became president of Egypt in

An opportunity for the Obama parameters

The recent Wall Street Journal report on the White House’s plans for reviving the stalled Middle East negotiations before President Barack Obama leaves office caught many people by surprise, for

2017, a 50th Anniversary That Could Spark a Real Intifada

The year 2016 doesn’t bode well for the peace process, which has been stuck for a long time. The current situation ensures that the freeze will continue. This assessment is based on three

2017, a 50th anniversary that could spark a real intifada

The year 2016 doesn’t bode well for the peace process, which has been stuck for a long time. The current situation ensures that the freeze will continue. This assessment is based on three

With Sissi, Egypt Sees a Return of the Pharaohs

On August 6, the new Suez Canal was inaugurated with great pomp and circumstance. In honor of the historic event, there were two ceremonies, attended by both Egyptian and foreign dignitaries,

Analysis: In post-nuclear agreement Middle East, ‘It’s Syria, stupid!’

Informed commentaries have stressed, somewhat justifiably, Iran’s benefits from the nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers. Yet the agreement is, in many ways, formal confirmation of regional

An opportunity that would not be seized

The post-Arab Spring period, which witnessed the collapse of dictatorial regimes, the eruption of civil wars and the possible disappearance of several sovereign Arab states, created opportunities

To win, the Israeli left needs to learn from Bibi

The Knesset election results have put the left on the defensive. It has since had to explain why it lost, and the blame was placed on the usual suspects: An ineffective campaign, a lack of

Applying the ‘Obama Doctrine’ to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Thomas Friedman’s interview with President Barack Obama on the Iranian nuclear issue evoked many responses, both positive and negative. In this interview, Friedman attempted to describe Obama’s

Israel won’t become part of the Middle East until the occupation ends

A few months ago, former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni traveled in secret to New York to a meeting attended by the foreign ministers of several Arab countries, Arab League officials and European

The Egyptian revolution is stuck

Almost three years after the Arab Spring, the Egyptian revolution seems to have become stuck, and may even have devolved to its starting point. This observation first emerged after the events of

Two Years After Tahrir Square: The Battle for Egypt’s Identity Is Far From Over

Two years ago, on 25th January 2011, it began with a big dream: Millions of people went into the Cairo streets with the aim of toppling the dictatorial Mubarak regime and establishing a democracy

Syria as a Linchpin

In 1965, the eminent British journalist Patrick Seale published an important book titled “The Struggle for Syria.” Its main thesis was that anyone who wants to acquire dominant status

There Is No Israeli Partner

The claim that there is no one to talk to on the Palestinian side is a common one in Israeli discourse, seemingly an axiom. The Netanyahu-Barak-Lieberman government has managed to stick the

Ten paradoxes in Israeli foreign policy

The composition of a broad coalition government presents opportunities to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in several directions, including the possibility of renewed dialogue with the

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    Mitvim - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies

    11 Tuval St. Ramat Gan, Israel

     5252226

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