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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Daily Memo: US and Israel Likely to Pause Iran War Until After Elections

Strategic pause. The U.S. and Israel are unlikely to take major steps against Iran or the Gaza Strip until the Israeli elections and the...

Iran’s Unfinished War: Tehran’s Race Against Time

More than four months into the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran, it is easy to lose sight of Iran’s strategic position among the...

Daily Memo: Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Agree to Mutual Defense Pact

New alliance. Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a joint defense pact, pledging to defend each other in case of an attack. Saudi Crown...

Daily Memo: Russia Leans on Belarus, DRC Restricts Cobalt and Copper Exports

Russia's energy problem. Belarusian gasoline and diesel fuel exports to Russia reached a record high in July amid fuel shortages driven by repeated Ukrainian...

After Iran, a Security Transition by Committee

For years, the United States has projected power across the Middle East through a concentrated network of command, air, naval and logistics hubs. Bahrain...

Daily Memo: Receding Danube Levels, Negotiations With Iran

Energy crisis. Romania has declared a state of emergency for the entire month of August due to declining electricity generation caused by record-low water...

Daily Memo: US Considers Major Air Operation in Iran, Iraq Seethes After US-Saudi Strikes

Plan for escalation. The head of the U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a plan for a 10-...

Daily Memo: Israel Threatens Turkey Over Syria Presence

Israel versus Turkey. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his country will not allow Turkey to strengthen Syria and turn it against Israel. Katz...

Daily Memo: US Options for Escalation in Iran, Israeli Anxieties Over Saudi Nuclear Deal

Weighing escalation. The U.S. deployed more special operations forces to the Middle East from U.S. bases and shifted more than 150 medics to Landstuhl...

Daily Memo: Trump Approves US-Saudi Nuclear Deal

Nuclear cooperation deal. U.S. President Donald Trump approved a 30-year agreement with Saudi Arabia that paves the way for Riyadh to develop its own...

Daily Memo: Nuclear Developments, Chinese Coast Guard Activity Near Taiwan

Franco-German nuclear deterrence. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with French President Emmanuel Macron at an air base near Cologne to discuss cooperation on nuclear...

Daily Memo: US and Iran Continue Strikes, Poland to Host Joint Exercises

Trading blows. U.S. Central Command is conducting more strikes intended to degrade Iran’s ability to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to...

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Audio & Video

The Battle for Lebanon’s Future

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As war rages in the Middle East, the future of Iran remains an open question. The same can be said for Lebanon, where exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel have been taking place for more than a week. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, host Christian Smith is joined by Senior Analyst Hilal Khashan for a ground-level perspective on the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and to explore the broader regional impacts of the Iran war.

Hezbollah’s End Game: Hilal Khashan Reporting from Lebanon

FREE
As war rages in the Middle East, the future of Iran remains an open question. The same can be said for Lebanon, where exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel have been taking place for more than a week. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, host Christian Smith is joined by Senior Analyst Hilal Khashan for a ground-level perspective on the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and to explore the broader regional impacts of the Iran war.