Reports of Ambassador Zvi Mazel
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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 ...
Europe’s waning influence in the Middle East
Once a key player in the Middle East, Europe has gradually begun to ignore the region – even conflicts that had a direct impact on European states, like the 2015 refugee crisis caused by the war in Syria. The power vacuum left in Europe’s wake is now being filled by ...
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.
