Israel/Palestine Conflict

The fighting that erupted between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 was no ordinary flare-up. It shattered the relative calm observed in the Middle East over the past few of years – a result of Israel’s efforts to reclaim its international status; of Iran’s efforts to reconcile with its neighbors; and of new alignments slowly forming among erstwhile enemies. Regional leadership and power dynamics are directly at stake, as is the potential shape of the Middle East itself.

Featured Content

The State of the Israeli-Gaza Conflict

The origins of the modern Arab-Israeli conflict are pretty well known. Gaza, the narrow strip of land running to the Sinai Peninsula, was originally...

The Drumbeat of War in the Middle East

Threats of impending war have permeated the Middle East since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Though Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978 and Jordan...

The Eclipse of the Palestinian Question

Until the 1970s, the Palestinian question had preoccupied the Arab world since the creation of Israel in 1948. Public figures and ordinary Arabs were...

West Bank Violence Stalls Arab-Israeli Normalization

Last month, three senior U.S. officials visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories to try to avert a third Palestinian intifada. National Security Adviser Jake...

Special Collection on the Middle East

This complete work consists of several dozen essays spread out over 8 parts tackling the region’s conflicts and historical evolution, relating them to contemporary issues. Divided into distinct regions and critical issues, the Special Collection of the Middle East is your source to better understand this volatile region and to be prepared for what comes next.

Recent Analysis: Israel & Palestine

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Daily Memo: US-Iran Negotiations Underway, Armenia and Russia Discuss Ties

Meeting in Muscat. Nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran have begun in Oman. The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi,...

Daily Memo: Central Asian Affairs, Xi-Putin Meeting

Focus on Central Asia. The U.S. envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, is visiting Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan this week. In Bishkek, Gor...

Daily Memo: US-Iran Escalation, Cuba on the Brink

External input. The Trump administration held meetings with senior Israeli and Saudi officials in Washington this week to discuss possible military strikes against Iran,...

Daily Memo: Russia-India Ties, Putin’s Invitation

Plane cooperation. Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics signed an agreement pledging cooperation in the production of the Superjet 100. Under the...

Daily Memo: Ukraine Peace Talks, Trade Uncertainty

Terms of a deal. The Trump administration has reportedly made clear to Ukrainian officials that U.S. security guarantees would depend on Kyiv’s willingness to...

Daily Memo: Chinese Corruption Probe Targets Top Military Officials

Reshuffle. China has launched an investigation into two senior military officials for suspected violations of “discipline and law.” Zhang Youxia is the first-ranked vice...

Daily Memo: On Reviving Ukraine Talks

Renewed dialogue. Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the first trilateral dialogue since Russia’s full-scale invasion...

Turkey, Israel and the New US Geostrategy

The United States is rolling out its new geostrategy, centered on burden-sharing and burden-shifting, across the globe. The Middle East is its proving ground....

Daily Memo: Islamic State Militants Escape Prison in Syria

Chaos in Syria. Clashes erupted between armed groups and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces around Shaddadi prison, which holds thousands of Islamic State fighters,...

Daily Memo: Chinese Economic Results, Developments in Syria

Hitting the target. China’s economy grew by 5 percent year over year in 2025, reaching 140.19 trillion yuan ($20.15 trillion) and meeting Beijing’s target...

Daily Memo: US-Peru Cooperation, Houthis Eye Somalia

Naval assets. The United States has approved the sale of up to $1.5 billion in equipment and services for the expansion of a naval...

Daily Memo: Hamas Disarmament, Venezuelan Oil

Next steps. Hamas has privately signaled that it is ready to disarm, two U.S. officials said after Washington's announcement on Wednesday of the opening...

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Audio & Video

Will Trump’s Gaza Plan Work? George Friedman on Israel, Palestine and the Geopolitics of Peace

FREE
Two years ago this week, Hamas' October 7 attacks stunned Israel and the world. And now for the first time there is palpable excitement that the war in Gaza may be on the path to an end. The first part of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan seems to have been agreed by Israel and Hamas, though the plan still faces many hurdles. Geopolitical Futures Chairman and Founder George Friedman has joined host Christian Smith on this week's episode of Talking Geopolitics to discuss how we got here, whether the plan will work and also why the Gulf states are so important to the plan's success. This interview was recorded on Thursday, October 9th 2025.

Will Trump’s Gaza Plan Work? George Friedman on Israel, Palestine and the Geopolitics of Peace

FREE
Two years ago this week, Hamas' October 7 attacks stunned Israel and the world. And now for the first time there is palpable excitement that the war in Gaza may be on the path to an end. The first part of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan seems to have been agreed by Israel and Hamas, though the plan still faces many hurdles. Geopolitical Futures Chairman and Founder George Friedman has joined host Christian Smith on this week's episode of Talking Geopolitics to discuss how we got here, whether the plan will work and also why the Gulf states are so important to the plan's success. This interview was recorded on Thursday, October 9th 2025.