Reports of Ambassador Zvi Mazel
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The New Middle East – an Israeli perspective
The Abraham Accords, a wide-ranging normalization program recently adopted by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, could develop into a broader alliance in the Middle East. If Saudi Arabia decides to resume ties with the Israeli state, Palestinians will have an additional incentive to return to the negotiating table.
Seen from Israel: The game-changing UAE deal
The recent normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates came as a shock to many, dispelling the mythical belief that solving the Palestinian issue was a prerequisite to any new peace deal. Like other Gulf states, the UAE has felt threatened by Iran, and sees Israel as ...
A new push for nuclear power in the Middle East
The start-up of a new reactor in the United Arab Emirates has again trained the spotlight on nuclear capabilities in the Middle East. Outside of Iran’s controversial program, Saudi Arabia’s budding nuclear ambitions could prove the most destabilizing in the region. As its technology advances, Riyadh will soon have to ...
Egypt: Caught between the Libyan threat and the pandemic
Egypt’s situation has recently suffered a double blow. The pandemic has crippled its economy, while the defeat of its Libyan ally, Field Marshal Haftar, means Cairo will need to recalibrate its involvement in Libya’s civil war. Meanwhile, President El-Sisi still has to contend with the insurgency in Sinai and the ...
Relevance beyond the crisis: In the Middle East, more chaos or a glimmer of hope?
Many expected the coronavirus to spread rapidly throughout the Middle East, but save for Turkey and Iran, most countries in the region had the pandemic under control early on, thanks to aggressive containment measures. However, the drop in oil prices will be felt keenly in the area, potentially leading to ...
Lebanon’s dilemma
In October 2019, after two weeks of protests against endemic corruption, widespread unemployment and Iranian influence, Lebanon’s prime minister tendered his resignation. His successor must now pull back the economy from the brink of collapse. However, the coronavirus crisis could prevent him from taking the necessary measures, condemning the country ...
The Red Sea becomes a dangerous flash point
Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen have come together to create a council meant, among other aims, to prevent the escalation of conflicts in the Red Sea basin. However, the intricate net of regional conflicts could prevent the organization from collaborating effectively, and a spark in ...
Oman’s new ruler pledges to fulfill his predecessor’s legacy
The peaceful power transition that followed the death of Oman’s long-reigning sultan, Qaboos bin Said, is a testimony to the stability of the Al Said regime, especially in such a volatile region. However, the new sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, will face significant challenges if he wants to turn the country ...
