Skip to Content

Middle East Institute

The Human Story Behind Gaza: Jaser AbuMousa on the Costs of Survival for Palestinians
  • Podcast
  • The Human Story Behind Gaza: Jaser AbuMousa on the Costs of Survival for Palestinians

    Brian sits down with MEI Senior Fellow Jaser AbuMousa to assess the situation on the ground in Gaza three years after October 7 and a year into the ceasefire. Drawing on his own personal experience, Jaser explores the toll that the war and continued destruction have taken on Gaza’s residents, the implications of the recent Israeli and US elections, and the difficult path forward.

    Is This the End of the Netanyahu Era?
  • Podcast
  • Is This the End of the Netanyahu Era?

    Israelis turned out in their highest numbers in decades on October 27 for the country’s first election since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost 15 seats and its Knesset majority, but Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc also fell short, leaving Arab parties, with a record 19 seats, potentially decisive in forming the next government. MEI Senior Fellow Natan Sachs joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the results, the coalition math, and what comes next for Israel’s security policy, the wider region, and US-Israeli relations.

    November 5, 2026

    See More Research & Commentary

    The Latest on War with Iran

    Our Mission

    The Middle East Institute aims to enhance peace, security, and people-to-people ties between the US and the Middle East by providing actionable foreign policy recommendations, rich cultural and educational programming, and opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and exchange.

    Policy Experts

    Policy Experts

    MEI has a deep roster of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows with extensive experience in military, diplomatic, and policy leadership.

    Research & Analysis

    Research & Analysis

    Read in-depth research, analysis, and commentary from MEI’s fellows and experts on the Middle East.

    Arts & Culture

    Arts & Culture

    MEI’s Arts & Culture Center sits at the intersection of culture and policy, providing a platform for a deeper understanding of the Middle East. 

    Read the Middle East Journal

    The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, MEI’s flagship journal covers politics, society, and culture in the region.

    Featured Events

    New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap
  • Arts & Culture
  • New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap

    Co-produced by the Middle East Institute Arts & Culture Center and Abu Dhabi Festival

    December 4, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

    The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182

    Podcasts

    Backgrounders

    The Houthis
  • Backgrounder
  • The Houthis

    The Houthis are a political-military faction and Zaydi religious movement founded in northwestern Yemen in the 1980s. A key member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance with links to other militant organizations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the group has continued to pose a threat to Western interests on a global scale.

    May 15, 2026

    Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
  • Backgrounder
  • Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

    Since 1967, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contested feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ultimate disposition of the settlements and ongoing activity related to their growth have repeatedly defied agreement in negotiations over a resolution to the conflict.

    June 9, 2026