Middle East politics
The region, one of the cradles of civilization, is going through a turbulent period of historic realignment. Its powers are vying for political, military, economic and religious dominance with local players and outside actors. Armed conflicts, mainly civil wars, are challenging the permanence of states whose borders were drawn arbitrarily in the early 20th century, after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
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Iran’s choices in the Caucasus
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, recently halted by a Russia-backed cease-fire, exposed a new balance of foreign interests in the region. Iran has faced a difficult choice: whether to back a Shia Muslim Azerbaijan that is also receiving support from Israel and Turkey. The prospect of Israeli access to Iran’s northern border causes concern, as does agitation among the country’s sizable Azeri minority.
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 ...
The UAE’s next moves in Libya
The UAE is among a number of regional and global powers that have inserted themselves into the years long civil war in Libya. The small Gulf state has been keen to influence maritime dynamics, control energy infrastructure and preserve access to the Sahel. The UAE will likely follow a softer ...
Iranian terrorism, Lebanese tragedies and hope
In their struggle to oppose a corrupt, Iranian-backed government, the Lebanese have received little help from the West. In the aftermath of the explosion of August 4, more than financial assistance will be needed. Peace will remain elusive as long as the United States and Europe tolerate Iranian interventions in ...
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More Disruptions
Expanding state
A trend toward increased government influence in economies and personal life is curbing growth, and freedom, in many Western countries. The outsized role of government results in misplaced incentives, overregulation – which restrains markets and competition – and irresponsible budgetary ...
Russia resurgent
Russia’s incursion in Ukraine raised alarm about a new Cold War, deepened with the intervention in Syria and allegations of meddling in U.S. elections. But the Kremlin’s new assertiveness is largely defensive, while Ukraine’s emergence as a nation-state undermines Moscow’s ...
