Palestinians

Policy Analysis on Palestinians

Why a Weak Abbas Is Dangerous for Israel

To restore security and expand the Abraham Accords, Washington and its allies must take urgent steps to keep the PA from collapsing, such as organizing donor pressure to appoint a reformist prime minister and increasing employment opportunities for younger Palestinians who no longer see a reason to refrain from violence.

Jul 6, 2023

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Dennis Ross
Ghaith al-Omari

Palestinians throw stones near the West Bank border with Israel.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Danger of Violent Escalation in the West Bank

The West Bank is rapidly becoming Israel’s most active front, with terrorist incidents increasing, extremist settler groups rampaging in response to the murder of Jews, and near-daily clashes becoming more intense as Israeli forces arrest armed youths planning further attacks.

Jun 23, 2023

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Ehud Yaari

Articles & Testimony

The No-State Solution

A recent essay touting a “one-state” approach to Israeli-Palestinian issues is more about eliminating the world’s only Jewish state than offering real solutions to complex regional problems.

May 31, 2023

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

The Palestinian Succession Crisis

Over nearly two decades, President Abbas has consolidated power and scorned a consensus-based approach to governance, making a smooth eventual leadership handover unlikely.

May 17, 2023

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Ghaith al-Omari

Ships and a drilling platform in the Aphrodite offshore gas field near Cyprus

Brief Analysis

Increased Drilling Raises Hopes for East Mediterranean Natural Gas Production

Activity in Cyprus and Lebanon could have significant implications for regional energy and diplomacy.

May 10, 2023

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Simon Henderson

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Political Rights and Civil Liberties in the Middle East: Trends in Freedom House Data Since 2010

The organization’s latest report showed persistent backsliding last year and since the Arab Spring, along with dramatic drops in a handful of countries and warnings of further drops next year.

Apr 27, 2023

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Camille Jablonski

Brief Analysis

Jordanian Gun Arrest Underscores Israel’s Smuggling Problem

The case of a parliamentarian accused of weapons trafficking is grabbing headlines, but it is just one small part of the sharp increase in gun smuggling across Jordan and Israel’s frontiers.

Apr 25, 2023

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Matthew Levitt
Lauren von Thaden

Photo of Israelis in Tel Aviv protesting proposed judiciary changes, February 2023.

Brief Analysis

Regional Reactions to Israel’s Protests

Many Middle Eastern outlets have used the crisis to reinforce their inflammatory rhetoric, but some have provided nuanced analysis through the lenses of democratic principles and Arab-Israel peace.

Apr 12, 2023

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Frances McDonough

Fikra Forum

Surging Violence: Hamas Attempts to Reshape the West Bank’s Political Landscape

With an opportunity to subtly expand its influence in the West Bank, Hamas is less likely to risk an all-out war with Israel from Gaza as they did in 2021.

Apr 5, 2023

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Nasser Khdour

Brief Analysis

The “Quintet” Cannot Succeed Without Addressing Israeli-Palestinian Suspicions

Their latest gathering at Sharm al-Sheikh was a welcome opportunity to discuss de-escalation and establish closer ties between key civilian officials, but their efforts may not mean much in the end without visible movement on the security, economic, and political fronts.

Mar 22, 2023

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David Makovsky
Nickolay Mladenov

Brief Analysis

China’s Track Record on Middle East Diplomacy

Beijing has responded to regional conflicts with a bevy of multilateral forums, peace plans, and envoys, but without the deeper commitments and follow-through required to resolve them.

Mar 15, 2023

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Carol Silber

Brief Analysis

Youth Frustrations, PA Legitimacy Crisis Are Amplifying West Bank Violence

The PA’s weakening grip over its territory, coupled with the rise of a young generation frustrated with their political leaders, has helped accelerate the vicious cycle of Palestinian attacks and IDF crackdowns.

Mar 14, 2023

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Moran Stern

Protesters wave flags and placards in front of the Knesset to demonstrate their opposition to judicial reforms proposed by the coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

The National Security Implications of Israel's Judicial Debate

A panel of former senior Israeli officials discusses how the convulsive domestic debate may affect vital issues related to military preparedness, Iranian nuclear advancement, Palestinian terrorism, and more.

Mar 8, 2023

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David Makovsky
Shimrit Meir
Yaakov Amidror
Uzi Dayan
Zohar Palti

Map showing Israeli outposts approved in Feb. 2023.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Israel Expands Settlements as Smotrich Increases His Authority

Amid widening West Bank violence, the far-right minister is pursuing a policy leading to de facto annexation, and it is unclear whether Netanyahu will cap these ambitions.

Mar 1, 2023

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David Makovsky
David Patkin
Gabriel Epstein

Brief Analysis

To Prevent the PA from Unraveling, Address Internal Reform

Reversing the dangerous trends in Palestinian domestic dynamics is a complicated undertaking, but failure to address these issues will ultimately hobble any diplomatic and security understandings reached on West Bank de-escalation.

Feb 28, 2023

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Ghaith al-Omari

Biden, Jordan's King Abdullah, Crown Prince Hussein

Brief Analysis

Abdullah and Biden Need to Discuss Economics, Not Just Israeli-Palestinian Tensions

Finding ways to contain the mounting violence next door is crucial, but the two leaders should keep in mind that deteriorating economic conditions can pose threats of their own.

Feb 1, 2023

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David Schenker

Israeli and Arab foreign ministers, along with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, at the Negev Summit - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

Forty Percent of Saudis and Emiratis Still Accept Israeli Contacts, Even Under Netanyahu

Approval for contacts with Israelis remained steady through 2022, even as hesitancy on Abraham Accords continued.

Jan 19, 2023

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Israel’s Power Shift: To Bibi, or Not to Bibi

Once Netanyahu finds a way out of his legal troubles, he stands a realistic chance of balancing the demands of his most militant coalition partners with the expectations of the wider Israeli, Arab, and international community.

Jan 12, 2023

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu’s Potential Friction Points with Biden (Part 1): Palestinian Issues

Conversations with key officials and close reading of the coalition agreement that produced Israel’s new government indicate that the two allies need to confer closely and clearly to avoid public blowups over Jerusalem holy sites, West Bank settlements, and other hot-button issues.

Jan 6, 2023

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David Makovsky

Crown Prince Muhammad and President Xi walking in Riyadh.

Brief Analysis

Assessing Xi Jinping’s Middle East Trip

His discussions on nuclear proliferation, energy markets, defense cooperation, and other issues offered numerous contrasts with President Biden’s summer meetings in Saudi Arabia—as well as some unexpected criticism of Iran.

Dec 22, 2022

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Grant Rumley
Carol Silber
Eric Feely
Sarah Cahn
Sude Akgundogdu
Lauren von Thaden
Faris Almaari

Supported by the

Rubin Family Arab Politics Program

The Washington Institute's Rubin Family Arab Politics Program focuses on social, political, and economic developments in the Arab world, with an emphasis on the Arab countries of the Levant.

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Featured experts

Ghaith al-Omari

Ghaith al-Omari is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute's Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

David Makovsky

David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations.

Dennis Ross

Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Ehud Yaari

Ehud Yaari is a Lafer International Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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Policy Analysis on Palestinians

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