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.

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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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Saudi Arabia and US Strategy for the Middle East

The United States has upgraded Saudi Arabia’s international standing as part of Washington’s broader strategy to rebalance power in the Middle East. The Trump...

Daily Memo: Trump Meets Syrian Leader

Support for Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a day after Trump announced he...

Daily Memo: US-China Trade Deal, Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

Compromise. The United States and China agreed to slash duties on imports for an initial 90-day period following high-level talks in Geneva over the...

Daily Memo: Iran Nuclear Negotiations, Syrian Diplomacy

Direct contact. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asked the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to agree to direct talks on...

Daily Memo: US-China Talks, US-Houthi Ceasefire

Trade negotiations. The U.S. and China will hold trade talks in Switzerland on May 9-12. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will represent Beijing, while...

Daily Memo: German Politics, Israeli Attack Plans

Surprise result. Friedrich Merz, who was expected to take over the German chancellorship after winning the election in February, failed to secure enough parliamentary...

Israel’s Druze Policy and Dismantling of Syria

Since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime last December, Israel has carried out more than 500 airstrikes to prevent the former regime's weapons from...

Daily Memo: India Bans Pakistani Imports

More escalation. India said on Sunday that it would ban all imports of goods coming from or transiting through Pakistan in response to the...

Daily Memo: US and Ukraine Sign Resources Agreement

Ukrainian bargaining. The United States and Ukraine agreed on Wednesday to a “historic economic partnership,” according to a statement from the U.S. Treasury Department,...

Daily Memo: Signs of Escalation in India-Pakistan Tensions

Making preparations? Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will convene a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on Wednesday to discuss the government’s response...

Daily Memo: Israel’s Plans for Gaza

Israel's deadline. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set a deadline of next October to end the Gaza war, Israel Hayom reported, citing a...

Daily Memo: Tensions in Kashmir

Exchanging fire. The Pakistani army on Friday reportedly opened fire across the Line of Control in India-controlled Kashmir amid escalating friction between the two...

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Who’s the Next Global Superpower? | ClubGPF Preview with George Friedman

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The next great power is in the making. Could the United States make room for the likes of China or even Iran as the next superpower? As GPF Chairman George Friedman explained in our recent ClubGPF live discussion, a great power not only has to have a great military, it also has to have a high level of technology and a strong geopolitical position.

What’s Next For Iran? ClubGPF Bonus with Kamran Bokhari

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Israel’s decimation of Hezbollah’s leadership and war-making capabilities has paved the way for a massive altering of the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. After decades on the offensive, Iran has suffered a major setback in its strategy for the region. GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari joined host Christian Smith on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss what’s next for Iran, its proxies, and the Middle East at large.

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