Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Normalization Can Inject New Life into the Arab Peace Initiative

With careful diplomacy, blunt discussion of national interests, and reciprocal steps on the ground, a group of like-minded Arab states could advance Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking while still preserving the API’s core.

Aug 31, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Peace for Warplanes?

How domestic and foreign disputes over the potential sale of F-35 jets to the UAE could complicate the country's normalization deal with Israel.

Aug 31, 2020

◆

Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

The Israel-UAE Deal Proves the One-State Solution Is Delusion

Far from producing a melting pot of coexistence and equality, forcing Israelis and Palestinians into a single state would only inflame the conflict and trigger an endless struggle over dominance.

Aug 20, 2020

◆

Isaac Herzog
Michael Herzog

Brief Analysis

Normalization Is Making Cairo Uncomfortable

The UAE’s deal with Israel may render Egypt a junior partner in future peace diplomacy, aggravating its existing frustration over years of financial dependence on the small Gulf state and a string of foreign policy setbacks.

Aug 19, 2020

◆

Haisam Hassanein

Multimedia

Decision Points Season Two

The new season of the Decision Points podcast with host David Makovsky focuses on key Israeli and Arab leaders.

Aug 19, 2020

◆

David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Why the Israel-UAE Agreement Is Actually a Very Big Deal

It shows the Palestinians that their longstanding paradigm for isolating Israel has failed, partly due to converging regional interests, and partly because it was based on incorrect assumptions.

Aug 18, 2020

◆

David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

The Normalization Deal Splits the Gulf States—for Now

Some Gulf governments have welcomed the paradigm-changing Israel-UAE agreement while others have not, and those who follow Abu Dhabi’s path will do so based on their own interests and timetables.

Aug 18, 2020

◆

Elana DeLozier

Articles & Testimony

Putting the UAE-Israel Agreement in Its Proper Perspective

Like all good policy decisions, the deal emerged from the enlightened self-interest of the key parties, but the stakes are not as high as with Israel’s previous two Arab peace treaties.

Aug 18, 2020

◆

Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Lessons of the UAE Breakthrough: How We Got Here, and Why the U.S. Role Remains Central

Statements and actions by Israel and the UAE show how much regional decisionmaking is still shaped by U.S. assurances that enable parties to calibrate their cost-benefit analyses—an approach that could serve as a template for potential future Israel-Gulf ties.

Aug 17, 2020

◆

David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

The Slow but Steady Progress to Israel’s Peace with the UAE

Years of burgeoning trade and quiet U.S. diplomacy helped lay the groundwork for a move that is only partly focused on improving the bilateral relationship.

Aug 14, 2020

◆

Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

The Israel-UAE Agreement Is a Key Step for Peace and Sends a Crucial Message to Palestinians

Emirati leaders apparently understood that this move would preserve the two-state option and preempt Iran from exploiting the annexation issue—while also opening access to previously off-limits U.S. weaponry.

Aug 13, 2020

◆

Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Israel-UAE Deal Achieves a Middle East Rarity: It’s Win-Win-Win, Palestinians Included

Arab countries that have official relations with Israel are more effective at advancing Palestinian interests, and now Abu Dhabi has joined their ranks.

Aug 13, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari

Video

Brief Analysis

Palestinians and the Two-State Solution: Hard Data on the Hardest Questions

Three experts on Palestinian and Israeli public opinion discuss recent poll results, sociopolitical trends, and potential avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation on smaller ‘non-narrative’ issues.

Jul 28, 2020

◆

David Pollock
Tamar Hermann
Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Don’t Give Up on the Two-State Solution

Unilateral Israeli annexation would be a mistake, but a one-state solution or an unconditional declaration of Palestinian statehood would just compound the error.

Jul 14, 2020

◆

Dennis Ross
David Makovsky

Video

Brief Analysis

How the Contest to Succeed Abbas Is Shaping Palestinian Options

Israeli and Palestinian experts and former negotiators explore the lack of clarity surrounding the next PA leader, including the potential effects succession might have on internal politics, annexation responses, U.S. policy, and more.

Jul 6, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari
Ehud Yaari
Michael Herzog

Articles & Testimony

Israelis and Palestinians Must Realize That Each Needs to Give, Not Just Take

Netanyahu is treating the Trump plan like a buffet where he can choose only the parts he likes.

Jul 6, 2020

◆

David Makovsky
Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

I’m an Ardent Zionist. But Israel’s Annexation Makes No Sense.

If Netanyahu decides to throw prudence aside and proceed with the move, it would impose impossibly high costs and deliver few benefits.

Jun 25, 2020

◆

Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

The Ghost of Annexation Past

King Abdullah's 1950 annexation of “Arab Palestine” shows that a bold leader can play his advantages well, redraw the map, gain some recognition, and still leave only regrets.

Jun 25, 2020

◆

Martin Kramer

Video

Brief Analysis

Israeli Annexation in the West Bank? Scenarios and Implications

What factors will shape Israel's decisionmaking, and how would unilateral annexation affect its relations with the Palestinians, Arab neighbors, Europe, and U.S. legislators?

Jun 23, 2020

◆

David Makovsky
Ghaith al-Omari
Dana Stroul
Dennis Ross

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

A Nation Divided: Palestinian Views on War and Peace with Israel

Polling shows that Palestinian public opinion is moving away from prior support for a compromise peace deal with Israel.

Jun 22, 2020

◆

David Pollock

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.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

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.

Regions & Countries

Issues

Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

Peace Process

Policy Analysis on Peace Process

Koret Program on Arab-Israel Relations

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Featured experts