Fatah’s Seventh General Congress gave Mamoud Abbas renewed public legitimacy, following the ongoing erosion in his status among the Palestinian public. A decisive majority of Fatah united behind Abbas, the sole candidate, and his reelection to another five-year term as leader of the movement. Whatever little internal opposition there was found itself neutralized, and it was clear throughout the congress who controls the movement. The reelection of Abbas highlights Fatah’s stagnation and its structural, functional, and ideological...
Recent security incidents to Israel’s north and south brought the country’s attention back to its most explosive fronts. On both fronts the IDF faces terror organizations, Hezbollah and Hamas, that have institutionalized and taken on characteristics of states. Despite the lack of interest in escalation on the part of all relevant parties, deterioration on both fronts could lead to an outbreak of hostilities. Israel’s supreme interest is security and quiet on its borders. Hezbollah and Hamas have not given up on the intent to...
The scope and complexity of the wave of “lone wolf” terrorist attacks that have plagued Israel over the past year do not seem to reflect a single, principal phenomenon. Different actions by individuals have different motivations, although many of the actions share an underlying set of reasons and factors. Israel cannot address all of the fundamental problems motivating “lone wolf” terrorism, but it can moderate some of these factors with the goal of partially addressing the causes of the phenomenon and not just its...
In September 2016, an agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to regulate Palestinian debt payment to the Israel Electric Corporation. This agreement is important for its institutionalizing patterns of cooperation between the Israeli government and the PA during a period when the political process is completely frozen. It demonstrates the potential for cooperation between Israel and the PA, and the ability of professionals from both sides to advance significant collaborations, even while the peace process is...
Russia is taking action to promote a political initiative regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on an attempt to convene a summit in Moscow between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. From the outset Israel was not enthusiastic about the Russian initiative, but was compelled to respond favorably to the proposal, in order not to be perceived as being anti-peace and due to its concern about disturbing its fragile relationship with Russia. Yet in any event, there is skepticism whether both the Palestinians and...
On August 17, 2016, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman unveiled his “carrot and stick” plan as a response to the wave of terrorism in the West Bank. The plan rests on four pillars: (a) a distinction between the population involved and the population not involved in terrorism; (b) positive reinforcement for the latter population through infrastructure and economic development and a generous attitude to work permits in Israel; (c) sanctions and restrictions in areas from which terrorists set out and where violent incidents occur; and...
On July 1, 2016, the Middle East Quartet published its latest report, focusing on major threats to achievement of a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and offering recommenda- tions to advance the two-state solution. Despite the criticism of Israel, from Israel’s perspective the report includes three central positive elements. First, it frames the situation as a political conflict in which both sides carry a sizable share of the blame. In this respect the report is a refreshing change from international reports,...
On June 3, 2016, after several months of intensive diplomatic activity, France held an international summit designed to lay the groundwork for restarting the Israeli-Palestinian political process by means of an international conference to take place before the end of the year. The summit reflects a growing sense of frustration in the international community and the Middle East with the long-lasting political deadlock. It likewise bespeaks the growing sense that the status quo furthers instability and endangers the potential viability...
Meir Elran suggests that robust intelligence, strong resistance and protection measures, with enhanced societal resilience, are key lessons that Europe can take from Israel’s counter-terrorism experience.
For full article see in Crisis Response Journal
In recent years, much has been said about the need for Israel to identify opportunities that can be leveraged toward improvement of its strategic position in the midst of the regional turmoil. It seems that the renewed international and especially the regional interest in reviving the political process is just such an opportunity that, if exploited, can be a way for Israel to promote its relations with the pragmatic Arab states and serve as a channel to make progress toward resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. However, this...
Exactly one hundred years ago, two diplomats, one British and one French, concluded the Sykes-Picot agreement, which divided the Middle East into two zones of influence. The agreement became one of the cornerstones of the region, and gave the core area of the Middle East the shape it has assumed since the end of World War I. However, the political order founded a century ago by what were then British and French superpowers, including the regimes created and the borders delineated, is currently under serious challenge. The article...
