Israel/Palestine: What the Iran War Broke and What May Yet Be Salvaged
The 20-point plan for Gaza introduced before the war with Iran began has languished, with no meaningful recovery, reconstruction, Hamas disarmament, governance transition, or Israeli withdrawal. The diplomatic pivot back to Gaza in late July and early August suggests that the Iran war’s stubborn persistence may be causing the US and regional actors to seek wins on other fronts.
Reflections on a Diplomatic Career in the Middle East: A Conversation With Ambassador Yael Lempert
Brian is joined by Amb. (ret.) Yael Lempert, Vice President for Outreach at MEI, to discuss her career in diplomacy and the importance of US diplomatic efforts abroad. She shares stories from postings across the Middle East in Baghdad, Cairo, Tripoli, Jerusalem, and Amman and examines how her personal and professional experiences shaped her approach to the work. Together, Brian and Yael discuss the realities of life in the Foreign Service, the core tenets of American diplomacy, and why it matters in today’s Middle East.
This report considers the lack of Palestinian political agency as a driver of regional insecurity that must be resolved before wider conflicts can be settled. The author analyses the conditions that contributed to the destruction of Palestinian political capacity, including Israeli policies, Palestinian shortcomings, and exploitation by Iran, and makes recommendations for an Arab strategic initiative.
The Middle East Institute Remembers Anthony Shadid
The Middle East Institute is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Anthony Shadid, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who covered the Middle East for the Boston Globe, Washington Post, and most recently the New York Times. Shadid died of an apparent asthma attack while on assignment in Syria. His insightful, humane reporting on the Middle East painted an uncommonly nuanced portrait of a region and people in turmoil, and will be sorely missed. Shadid's death is a terrible loss for journalism and the Middle East community.
