Publications

As part of the reforms recently announced by Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO Central Council approved the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as deputy chairman of the organization—a position that did not previously exist. This step reflects Abbas’s response to pressure exerted by Arab states, chiefly Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries including the United States, in light of the complex ramifications of the war in the Gaza Strip and Abbas’s own intense anger—shared by Arab governments and Arab media—toward Hamas. This move is also likely...

Moves advanced by the Trump administration toward countries in Latin America—aimed at strengthening US security, particularly by accelerating the campaign against drug trafficking and illegal immigration into its territory—create a unique opportunity to mobilize the administration to take actions that challenge Iran’s expanding presence on the continent.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran in April and his meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, were intended to underscore and deepen the renewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the second anniversary of their restoration. The visit took place against the backdrop of talks between Iran and the United States aimed at reaching a nuclear agreement, along with reports of a possible Israeli and/or American strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Although both Saudi Arabia and Iran have an interest in...

Government spending on defence, particularly defence R&D, can have significant economic spillovers. This column argues that the forthcoming European defence build-up must include a long-term strategy to develop high-quality human capital. Military human capital development serves a dual-purpose role: it is crucial for the modern (largely non-combat) battlefield, and also valuable for long-run productivity growth. Israel provides a good example of how military service can become a driver of innovation, by giving recruits intensive...

The Israeli government has authorized the IDF to finalize preparations for “Gideon’s Chariots”—a plan to conquer the Gaza Strip and defeat Hamas, concentrate the population of the Strip in its southern region, and encourage emigration from it. The execution of this plan would come at a heavy cost: the killing of hostages and the loss of information regarding their whereabouts; additional casualties within the IDF; a decreasing likelihood of achieving normalization with Saudi Arabia; a deepening of internal divisions in Israel due to...

Tensions during the month of Ramadan, which took place from February 27 to March 29, stem from a number of factors that influenced the dynamics between Israel and the Palestinians. First, the religious importance of Ramadan leads to a significant increase in the number of Muslim worshippers seeking to access the holy sites, particularly the al-Aqsa Mosque. This increase in the number of worshippers creates complex logistical and security challenges. Second, the month of Ramadan is a time of a heightened emotional and religious...

Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the Institute for National Security Studies has been regularly conducting public opinion surveys to assess attitudes toward key national security issues, national resilience, and public trust.[1] Click here to download the complete survey data | Click here to view the trends among the Jewish public  | Click here to view the trends among the Arab public Trust in Individuals and Institutions Key Findings: Trust in the IDF and the incoming chief of staff continue to rise....

On December 8, 2024, Syria experienced a historic turning point with the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This dramatic development has ushered in a new phase of uncertainty and transition, offering both risks and opportunities. While it is still too early to determine Syria’s long-term trajectory, the new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has made cautious moves to stabilize the country. However, Israel’s initial reaction—shaped by security anxieties and the trauma of the October 7 attack—has resulted in a militarized and...

Hezbollah—now a defeated force—is under growing pressure from the IDF’s ongoing military campaign to erode its capabilities and hinder its recovery; the unraveling of the Shiite axis; and, most significantly, the growing internal and external calls for the organization to disarm. Yet Hezbollah, clinging to its identity as a resistance movement, refuses to give up its status or objectives and declares it will not disarm. At the same time, it is taking steps to secure a pause in hostilities that would allow time for its recovery. Given...

The talks that began in April 2025 between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff—with Oman’s mediation—are bringing Iran, the United States, and Israel closer to critical moments regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The results of the negotiations will largely determine whether the direction will be toward a political-diplomatic settlement on the nuclear issue or toward a military strike (Israeli, American, or joint) against Iran’s nuclear facilities. At this...