Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

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

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz - source: Israeli Ministry of Defense

Video

Brief Analysis

Israel's Challenges at Home and Abroad: A View from the Opposition

Opposition leader and former defense minister Benny Gantz discusses Israel’s domestic political challenges, the triggers for action against Iran’s nuclear program, the prospects of normalization with Saudi Arabia, and more.

Jun 8, 2023

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Benny Gantz
Robert Satloff
David Makovsky

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

Elise Labott, Dennis Ross, David Schenker, and Zohar Palti speak at the Institute's 2023 Soref Symposium. Source: The Washington Institute

Video

Brief Analysis

2023 Soref Symposium Post-Keynote Panel

Watch as experts discuss National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's keynote address to the Institute's 2023 Soref Symposium.

May 4, 2023

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Zohar Palti
Dennis Ross
David Schenker
Elise Labott

◆ 2023 Soref Symposium

Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman, President Biden, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu (with backdrop of national flags)

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

Saudi Normalization with Israel, Domestic 'Transformation,' and U.S. Policy

A near-term breakthrough may be unlikely, but President Biden is well positioned to apply his energy toward negotiating a historic deal that establishes peace and advances American interests.

May 1, 2023

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Israeli Public’s Commitment to Democracy Shines as the Country Turns 75

Their willingness to stand against perceived threats to their democratic institutions is laudable, but allowing Israel to drift toward a de facto “one-state” peace solution poses serious threats of its own.

Apr 27, 2023

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Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

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

Articles & Testimony

Back to the Basics of Shared Values in the US-Israel Relationship

Because Netanyahu’s main objectives on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Abraham Accords all depend on U.S. support, he also needs a workable policy toward the Palestinians—but his coalition partners are threatening this tenet.

Apr 2023

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Dennis Ross

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

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

Supported by the

Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

Through moments of hope and challenge in the Middle East diplomacy, The Washington Institute's Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations is committed to providing America's policymakers with timely analysis on issues of critical concern to Israel and its Arab neighbors.

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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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