Watch an expert forum on the new realities of the Middle East and Israel's strategic position amid deepening ties with Arab countries, Iran's regional ambitions, Palestinian political crisis, and renewed great-power competition.
Brief Analysis
Has the two-year quiet between Israel and Hamas ended, and will violence spill into the West Bank? Join us for an expert webcast to explore the situation and what Washington can do to help de-escalate the situation. Watch live starting at 12:00 noon EDT on Friday, May 14, 2021.
Amid days of tensions in Jerusalem, mass rocket launches by Hamas, and widespread violence encompassing Tel Aviv, Gaza, and other areas, many are wondering what caused this resurgence in conflict and where it might lead. Has the two-year quiet between Israel and Hamas ended, and will the violence spill over into the West Bank? What can the United States and regional governments do to de-escalate the situation? To discuss these questions, The Washington Institute will hold a virtual Policy Forum with Ghaith al-Omari, Ehud Yaari, and Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, to be moderated by Institute Ziegler Distinguished Fellow David Makovsky.
Throughout his tenure as leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas has studiously avoided grooming a successor, instead consolidating his control over numerous Palestinian entities and sidelining officials he perceived as threatening to his rule. When he eventually exits the scene, Abbas will leave many leadership roles to be filled including in the PLO, Fatah movement, and national security agencies.
The Washington Institute has been sponsoring a series of discussions about sudden succession in the Middle East. Each session focuses on scenarios that might unfold if a specific ruler or leader departed the scene tomorrow. Questions include these: Would the sudden change lead to different policies? Would it affect the stability of the respective countries involved, or the region as a whole? What would be the impact on U.S. interests? Would the manner of a leader s departure make a difference? The discussions also probe how the U.S. government might adjust to the new situatio