President Trump’s initiative for the Gaza Strip, which received the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and of Arab states, represents an important attempt both to break the deadlock in which Israel has found itself in its war against Hamas and to move from a bilateral confrontation framework to a multilateral process involving the United States and Arab states. The initiative also signals a welcome intention to integrate political and military efforts—through the reconstruction of the Strip and the cultivation of a...
Israel’s standing with the American public has plunged to an unprecedented nadir. Traditional support among Democrats has collapsed, and support among Republicans has eroded. The decline is most pronounced among young people on both sides of the political map. Within the Jewish community as well, support has declined and criticism has mounted. American sentiment toward Israel has been directly and negatively affected by Israel’s conduct in the war against Hamas, and particularly by the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Israel...
In what may herald a broader transformation within the Democratic Party—and a shift that could raise concern in Israel—Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. His victory makes him a strong favorite for November’s general election. The current Democratic leadership still demonstrates a basic appreciation for Israel and a willingness to defend it from criticism—even when disagreeing with its policies—and will continue doing so for some time. Whether he wins the mayoralty or...
American President Donald Trump has apparently made the acquisition of mineral rich Greenland a key part of American foreign policy. However, the Greenlandic people, following mixed experiences under Danish rule, want to be independent. If Greenland is acquired by the United States, it will set a dangerous precedent for Israel, while not doing much to help Israeli high tech’s resource security.
The Trump administration has made combatting antisemitism a centerpiece of its domestic policy, focusing especially on the climate for Jewish and Israeli students at institutions of higher education. The administration’s policies to pressure university’s to adopt reforms have included severe cuts to research funding, limits on enrollment of international students, and attempts to deport pro-Palestinian activists. Perhaps surprisingly given the scope of the problem of antisemitism, Jewish communal responses to the Trump administration...
Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 signaled dramatic changes in how the United States addresses threats of foreign influence and interference in the digital realm. The administration swiftly moved to dismantle government mechanisms that had been established in previous years to protect the United States from hostile foreign influence. These steps—from the dismissal of senior security officials to the shutdown of dedicated teams in government departments—raise concerns about the West’s overall capacity to...
This article reframes the current global landscape: the United States faces not a regional conflict but a decisive struggle for its established world order. Five states—Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Qatar—are coordinately challenging American hegemony, using economic, cyber, and cognitive warfare, a dynamic the United States often struggles to fully grasp. Iran, the most vulnerable yet dangerous link, looms as a nuclear threat that would irreversibly shift global power and constrain US influence. With Europe largely...
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published two alarming reports regarding Iran’s nuclear program. One report addresses Iran’s past activities at sites not declared to the IAEA, for which Tehran has failed to provide satisfactory explanations. The second report concerns the current status of the program and indicates an acceleration in the accumulation of highly enriched uranium, enabling Iran to enrich to military grade for 10 nuclear bombs within days. Both reports are expected to be discussed at the upcoming IAEA Board...
The domestic American, regional, and global reality is currently undergoing dramatic changes. Will Israeli–US relations remain immune to these upheavals and their diverse consequences? Will the relations continue as they have (subject to circumstantial adjustments)? Will Israel’s value as an asset outweigh the burden it may pose for the United States? In answering these questions, the significant erosion in the pillars of the “special relationship”—the shared ethos and mutual interests, as well as cracks in the bridge connecting the...
President Donald Trump completed his first diplomatic visit of his second term in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling that these countries hold personal significance for him—not just for the United States. The outcomes of the visit provided the leaders of these states with an opportunity to showcase a broad convergence of interests, particularly those that are visible. This visit, along with recent moves by the US administration in the Middle East, has contributed to a growing sense that Israel is being...
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...
The nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States are continuing, with both sides expressing a preference for an agreement over military confrontation—even though, at this stage, it is impossible to assess whether they will succeed in bridging existing gaps or those that may arise later. For now, both parties have expressed optimism and appear to believe that there is value in deepening the talks. The meeting that was supposed to take place on May 3 will likely be held in the coming days. According to President Trump, who...
