The notion that an American president, in consultation with two Israeli leaders, could decide on the future of Palestinians without any Palestinian involvement seems to epitomize Trump’s overall approach to the conflict.
So far, disproportionate violence by security forces against the civilian protesters has led to the exact opposite of what they sought to achieve, causing protesters’ numbers to swell.
It seems that both the right and the left in Israel are missing the main point.
The new government is politically aligned with the pro-Hezbollah and pro-Syrian axis in Lebanon, and is very unlikely to drum up international and regional support.
The latest talks in Washington brought about some concrete, and cautiously welcome, results.
In the aftermath of the Berlin conference, there is little sign that Hifter is backing off on his efforts to take Tripoli by force.
While these latest protests will likely also be repressed, the anger against Khamenei and his foot soldiers in the Revolutionary Guards will not go away.
It is profoundly in the interest of the U.S. to help all three countries arrive at an amicable working solution.
It is increasingly the case that the Russian-Turkish decisions on Idlib or Syria need to be understood as part of a broader Russian-Turkish partnership.
The Taliban still apparently balk at an accord that makes any provision for the retention of an American counter-terrorism force.
The Iranian pattern of ‘strategic patience’ has evidently transferred to its cyber activity, justifying vigilance, but not panic.
Fourteen MEI scholars weigh in on the key Middle East policy issues and developments for the year ahead.
Trump has taken such a forward-leaning and aggressive position now that he has set himself, and the U.S., in a conflict trap that he might not be able to defuse.
To the west, the rapidly evolving situation in Libya is causing a major governmental migraine.
Thus far, the reaction to Soleimani’s assassination among the Gulf states has been cautious.