Azerbaijan’s conduct in the 2026 Iran war is better described as alignment tempered by restraint than as neutrality. Beneath an official insistence that it stood outside the conflict, Baku remained a close energy, arms and intelligence partner of Israel and a state whose strengthening ties to Washington — embodied in the U.S.-brokered Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which Tehran openly opposes — placed it on the side Iran was fighting. That alignment made Azerbaijan a target, as demonstrated in the Iranian...
Evidence of a shift in Saudi Arabia’s approach toward Israel and the normalization process emerges from an analysis of public opinion in the kingdom, the positions of the Saudi leadership, the intellectual discourse within it, and the diplomatic steps it has taken. This reflects a Saudi effort to shape a new agenda in which distancing from Israel serves both the leadership’s domestic legitimacy and its aspiration to consolidate regional leadership. The implication is not only that Saudi–Israeli normalization is currently off the...
If the rising expectations for a breakthrough in Israel–Indonesia relations are realized, it would be possible to harness Indonesia’s potential contribution to “the day after” in the Gaza Strip, particularly in advancing processes of deradicalization and combating religious extremism there. However, before that, it is worth recognizing Indonesia’s longstanding commitment to promoting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as well as the internal stability considerations that limit its ability to soften its policy...
The Abraham Accords are a significant milestone in Israel’s diplomatic history and in its integration into the region. The accords have proven unexpectedly resilient in the face of the war in the Gaza Strip, particularly given the negative public opinion toward Israel in Arab states. In fact, cooperation in the security and economic spheres has even accelerated. While the war has caused considerable damage to the accords, this damage is not irreversible. A gradual restoration of ties—and even an expansion of the accords, potentially...
During Israel’s ongoing war, the Arab peace states—especially Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates—have expressed deep mistrust, frustration, and even bewilderment over Israel’s conduct. These sentiments have recently intensified and appear to have reached a peak. While these countries acknowledge Israel’s military achievements and recognize that they could have a positive impact on the Middle East, they are also profoundly disturbed by what they perceive as Israel’s rigid, one-dimensional militaristic approach—namely, the...
The continuation of the détente trend in the Middle East, coupled with the war between Israel and Hamas, is contributing to Israel’s isolation in the region. In this article, we assess the regional détente implications for Arab countries and highlight the importance of advancing normalization between Israel and these countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, to counterbalance Iran’s growing influence and that of its allies, which could endanger Israel.
Since October 7, Jordan has been facing two escalating challenges: First, Iran and its affiliated regional militias are challenging Jordanian sovereignty, as they aim to turn the kingdom’s airspace and territory into a battleground for smuggling weapons and launching attacks against Israel. Second, Islamist forces, both domestic and foreign, are pressuring the kingdom to cancel the peace treaty and normalization with Israel and align with Hamas. The palace’s ability to face both challenges is likely to shape relations between Israel...
In an effort to advance normalization with Israel, Saudi Arabia faces muted but significant public opposition, which has been exacerbated following the war in Gaza. The popular rejection takes many forms: There is a religious dimension, which views a peace with Israel as contrary to Islamic law; a pro-Palestinian dimension, which regards opposition to normalization as a demonstration of support for the Palestinians; and a liberal perspective, which cautions that ties with Israel could empower the Saudi regime to further violate human...
As part of the American-led efforts to use diplomatic means to end the fighting that has been ongoing for nearly five months between Israel and Hezbollah, the need to demarcate an agreed-upon border between Israel and Lebanon was also on the agenda. The Lebanese government is eager to include border demarcation in any ceasefire agreement and has adopted the same policy on this matter as Hezbollah, linking an end to the fighting to the cessation of Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip and presenting a hardline maximalist approach to...
As part of the preparations for “the day after” the war in the Gaza Strip, the United States aims to formulate a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and to involve Saudi Arabia in the Palestinian arena, including the Gaza Strip. Against this backdrop, and considering the time that has elapsed since the Arab Peace Initiative was issued as well as the increasing significance of the Palestinian issue in the Arab region, there is a need for a renewed and updated Arab peace initiative. A new initiative would bridge...
The war in the Gaza Strip impacts relations between Israel and Morocco in several contradictory ways. On the one hand, the conflict has not harmed their shared political, security, or economic interests. Nor has it undermined the reality that both countries are part of a regional axis intent on promoting regional stability based on economic cooperation and development. On the other hand, the royal palace in Rabat faces significant domestic and regional pressure to do more for the Palestinian cause and even to reassess its relations...
The surprise attack on Israel and the ensuing Swords of Iron war have created a dangerous geopolitical security crisis, which inter alia challenges the processes of reconciliation and normalization between Israel and Arab countries. However, the crisis could also provide a historic window of opportunity for a joint agreement between Israel, the United States, and the pragmatic Sunni states who seek the best for the Middle East and prefer to cooperate for the sake of regional calm and stability. The climate crisis is among the...
