Since the outbreak of the war with Iran in February 2026, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz which led to a decline in global oil supply, the demand for solar energy has grown at an unprecedented rate. In March, at the height of the war, China exported solar panels with a total rated capacity of 68 gigawatts (GW) — twice China’s solar exports in February, and 49% higher than the previous record set in August 2025. Oil-dependent countries around the world are accelerating their renewable energy programs, and in the Middle...
Recently, Ukraine has been emerging as a more prominent and assertive actor in the Middle East. While this trend does not suggest that Kyiv has become a system-shaping power in the region, it does indicate that its role is no longer limited to merely seeking aid and political solidarity. Against the backdrop of the war in Iran, Ukraine is offering regional states practical and unique operational experience in confronting the Russian-Iranian aerial threat. At the same time, Kyiv is increasing pressure on Russian interests in maritime...
Since the beginning of the war against Iran on February 28, the pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for hundreds of missile and drone attacks against local and regional targets, including Israel. These attacks are a clear indication of the severity of two security challenges: the growing political, economic, and military power of the militias in Iraq, and their operations in service of the Iranian regime, from which they continued to receive military support throughout the war. The new government...
In recent years, a growing trend has emerged in the West toward advancing legislation and public policy that define and address antisemitism and Islamophobia simultaneously and, at times, even jointly. While these initiatives are presented as a means to protect minorities, promote equality, and strengthen relations and dialogue between Jews and Muslims, addressing these two phenomena within a single legal framework might carry unintended consequences—specifically, blurring the lines between combating racism and normalizing...
The war with Iran has highlighted Pakistan’s role as an actor with growing potential for influence in the Middle East. Pakistan has sought to position itself both as a mediator between Iran and the United States and as a security guarantor for Saudi Arabia, while maintaining a delicate balance between preserving its strategic ties with Riyadh and the need to avoid a deterioration in relations with Tehran. From the perspective of some Gulf states, Pakistan has an important role to play in the regional security architecture that...
A decade after its launch, Vision 2030 remains the defining framework for Saudi Arabia’s political and economic transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While the initiative has delivered significant social change and political centralization, its economic achievements remain mixed, and the kingdom continues to rely heavily on oil revenues. The recent regional war with Iran further complicates the project, forcing Riyadh to divert resources toward security and risk management while undermining investor confidence. As a...
The war between the United States and Israel against Iran and its regional consequences have significantly shifted regional and international attention toward securing global energy sources and supply, curbing Iran, and shaping a new regional balance of power. This comes after many years in which resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was perceived as the key to ensuring regional stability. However, this shift does not necessarily indicate declining interest in the conflict itself, but rather a change in approach: the prolonged...
The question “When does anti-Zionism become antisemitism?” has become one of the most common ways of framing contemporary debates about Jews, Israel, and discrimination. Yet for policymakers, this may not be the most useful question. It assumes that the central task is to classify anti-Zionism as an idea before addressing its consequences. A more practical approach would ask how anti-Zionism operates in contemporary political life: whom it targets, what burdens it places on Jews and Israelis, and whether it denies Jews forms of...
Camera networks in Israel are vulnerable to infiltration attempts by hostile actors, including Iran. The head of the National Cyber Directorate noted that since the beginning of the war, Iran and Hezbollah have been working jointly to hack security cameras across Israel for intelligence-gathering purposes. The information is used, among other things, to pinpoint missile strikes and target specific individuals. This highlights the dual-use nature of advanced cameras, particularly Chinese cameras originally designed for civilian needs...
The visit of United States President Donald Trump to Beijing took place against the backdrop of intensifying great-power competition and the war in Iran. Trump sought to present concrete diplomatic and economic achievements and to demonstrate that the United States continues to manage its competition with China from a position of initiative. For its part, Beijing aimed to stabilize relations with Washington and shape a framework that would reflect recognition of its status as an equal great power, while setting clear boundaries...
On April 25, 2026, local elections were held across the Palestinian Authority territories—in the West Bank and in Deir al-Balah within the Gaza Strip. The elections took place across 403 cities and local municipalities, yielding a relatively low overall voter turnout of approximately 53%. Hamas boycotted the elections and did not officially participate, despite being the most popular political organization among the Palestinian public. An analysis of the elections reveals a complex picture of a society attempting to maintain a...
While Pakistan led mediation efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, Egypt also played an active, albeit secondary, role in the process. Faced with concerns over the war’s negative impact on its economic stability and on the regional balance of power, Egypt participated in mediation efforts within a new quadrilateral coordination mechanism alongside Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Its aim was to consolidate this framework into an Arab-Islamic Quartet capable of leveraging the member states’...
