In many ways, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the war in Gaza that preceded it seem transformative. After decades of shadow warfare, Iran and Israel have now attacked each other’s homelands directly. And Israel and the United States have joined forces in a genuinely novel way to wage war against Iran.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM), one of the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) six geographical combatant commands, is responsible for countering threats, responding to crises, and strengthening regional stability in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
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.
Introduction
This Opinion first appeared in Foreign Policy’s “Middle East Channel” on July 17, 2012
Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, a self-proclaimed religious authority with a bushy long beard, is no stranger on the Lebanese scene. His latest incarnation, from his mosque in the coastal town of Sidon, is as a firebrand political Salafist whose objectives transcend the confines of Lebanon.
The appointment of a political figure as ambassador often signals the level of importance attached to bilateral relations, more so if the person in question was a career military officer and current cabinet minister. This was the case in February 2012 when Israel named Matan Vilnai as its next ambassador to China. Beijing was more than happy to accept the appointment of then-Israeli Minister of Home Front Defense, seeing it as a signal for further improvement.
Originally posted September 2010
Originally posted: September, 2010
Turkey’s growing links with the Arab world are evolving on multiple levels and reflect key shifts in the diplomacy, economy, and society of much of the Middle East. They also reflect Turkey’s desire to utilize its close links to Western nations, its neighbors, and other nations to expand its economy and to have greater influence in global politics.
The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.
The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.
The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.
The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.
The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.
Senator John McCain was uncharacteristically subdued in a key note address yesterday to the Middle East Institute/Institute of Turkish Studies conference on Turkey. He prodded President Obama to be more outspoken in denouncing the Assad regime and advocated a “safe zone” inside Syria along the Turkish border, but only in response to a question. He discounted the likelihood of NATO action, which the Europeans oppose, and suggested that the U.S. and Turkey should form the core of a coalition of the willing to support the Syrian opposition with arms and training.
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.
