Reports of Ambassador Zvi Mazel
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Biden and the Abraham Accords: Attempt to disengage
The united front against Iran, led by the Gulf states and Israel with a strong push from former President Donald Trump, is crumbling. His successor Joe Biden prefers to restore the nuclear deal with Iran over advancing the promising realignment process spurred in the region by the Abraham Accords. The ...
Jordan and Israel: What went wrong?
Israel-Jordan relations recently took a turn for the worse when a disagreement over the security protocol for a high-profile visit spiraled into a tit-for-tat airspace conflict. But while the 1994 peace treaty between the two countries has failed to blossom into strong economic ties, both are unlikely to turn their ...
Palestinian leaders attempt a political comeback
After years of internecine conflict, the Palestinian territories’ main actors have agreed to hold elections in 2021. They hope to signal unity and a pro-democratic agenda to the U.S. and Europe. The current leader of the Palestinian Authority could find himself dethroned by a more popular candidate.
An uneasy truce in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt officially ended their diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar. Riyadh’s attempt to get in the Biden administration’s good graces has led to a truce between strategic U.S. allies in the Gulf, but Qatar has made only vague promises to change policies that its ...
New Opportunities 2021: Cautious optimism in the Middle East
As 2021 begins, there is room for hope in the Middle East: economies look set to rebound and the ongoing normalization process between Arab states and Israel holds the potential to usher in a new era of peace. Yet there are plenty of actors who would benefit from further chaos ...
Saudi Arabia’s dilemma: Normalize now or wait?
Though Saudi Arabia appears willing to normalize its relations with Israel, it must act cautiously. Riyadh is waiting to see which path President-elect Joe Biden will take once in the White House, but many assume his approach to the Middle East will differ from the Trump administration’s strategy. Nevertheless, it ...
Israel-Sudan deal offers hope for stability in the Middle East
Last month, Israel and Sudan signed an agreement on normalizing relations. Though less comprehensive than similar deals Israel recently signed with the UAE and Bahrain, the pact is still significant for its potential to stabilize Sudan and generate momentum toward Middle East peace. The question now is whether the new ...
Opinion: The Muslim Brotherhood’s stealth expansion in Europe
The Muslim Brotherhood has long been establishing European networks to disseminate the teaching of Islam, and governments have been slow to react. However, recent terror attacks could lead to a harder stance from EU leaders. Islamic organizations and their backers are now waiting to see if Europe will present a ...
