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.

The State of the Israeli-Gaza Conflict

Analysis George Friedman - May 12, 2021

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

Analysis Hilal Khashan - June 22, 2023

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

Analysis Hilal Khashan - May 20, 2021

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

Analysis Hilal Khashan - February 9, 2023

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.

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Recent Analysis: Israel & Palestine

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Daily Memo: US Support for Europe, Chinese Purchases of American Goods

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - May 20, 2026

Shifting responsibility. The U.S. will inform NATO allies this week that it plans to reduce the number of U.S. forces available in case of...

Prospects for a New Middle East Order

Analysis Hilal Khashan - May 15, 2026

After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, a new Middle East order began emerging, defined by a precarious balance among Iran, Turkey,...

Daily Memo: US-China Trade Talks, Japan-Russia Relations

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - May 11, 2026

Trump-Xi preview. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit South Korea for economic and trade consultations with the United States on May 12-13, the...

Daily Memo: Drone Attack in Russia, US-Brazil Talks

Americas Geopolitical Futures - May 8, 2026

Ukrainian attack. Several airports in southern Russia were forced to close on Friday after a Ukrainian drone hit the air traffic control center for...

Daily Memo: Understandings and Defenses

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - May 1, 2026

Toward an economic understanding. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 30. He called on both...

Daily Memo: RIMPAC Preview, Israeli Pessimism

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - April 29, 2026

Major Pacific exercise. A record number of countries, 31, will participate in this year’s U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise. The five-week...

A Century of Lebanese-Israeli Talks Without Peace

Analysis Hilal Khashan - April 28, 2026

For a century, Lebanese-Israeli negotiations have failed to bring about peace. Since its founding in 1920, Lebanon has refused to recognize Israel or support...

Daily Memo: North Korea-Russia Ties, UAE Defense

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - April 27, 2026

Growing relationship. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met separately with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin in Pyongyang...

Arabian Peninsula Security Beyond the Iran War

Analysis Kamran Bokhari - April 23, 2026

The strategic environment that prevailed on the Arabian Peninsula prior to the outbreak of the war in Iran on Feb. 28 has been fundamentally...

Daily Memo: Plans for Second Round of Peace Talks in Pakistan

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - April 20, 2026

Mixed reports. The Iranian government has not yet made a decision on whether it will participate in a second round of peace talks with...

Daily Memo: On US and Iranian Weapons Production

Analysis Geopolitical Futures - April 16, 2026

Shifting focus. Top U.S. defense officials have held talks with executives of several major automakers, including General Motors and Ford Motor, about producing weapons...

Pakistan’s Emerging Role in the Middle East

Analysis Kamran Bokhari - April 16, 2026

One of the more overlooked consequences of the Iran war is the emergence of Pakistan as a third-party intermediary between Washington and Tehran. Iran...

Lingering Volatility in Energy Markets

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Weekly Graphic Geopolitical Futures - May 19, 2026

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Daily Memo: US Pressure on Cuba, Chinese Delay of Pentagon Visit

Americas Geopolitical Futures - May 21, 2026

America’s Obsession With Cuba

Americas George Friedman - May 21, 2026

Audio & Video

The Battle for Lebanon’s Future

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Video Geopolitical Futures - March 12, 2026

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.