Israel-Palestine
Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan: What’s There to Be Upset About?
Salam Fayyad Mon, Mar 2, 2020, 8:00 AM
A lot, if you are Palestinian.
Latest in Middle East and North Africa
Foreign Fighters
Will SDF-Affiliated Courts Try European Foreign Fighters?
Jacob Schulz Fri, Feb 21, 2020, 12:59 PM
The local administration in northeastern Syria wants to try foreign fighters. Will European countries support the plan?
counterterrorism
Redefining Victory in Democracy’s War on Terror
Ami Ayalon, Ayal Hayut-man Tue, Feb 18, 2020, 8:00 AM
In the fight against terrorism, victory should be defined as a continuous process of providing security and maintaining society’s core values in the face of terrorist threats.
Iran Deal
How U.S. Sanctions Affect Europe’s Leverage in the Iran Deal Dispute Resolution Mechanism
Darya Dolzikova Thu, Feb 13, 2020, 8:14 AM
The reapplication of U.S. secondary sanctions measures following the American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has been at the heart of current challenges facing the nuclear deal.
Iraq
The Irresistible Resiliency of Iraq’s Protesters
Ranj Alaaldin Thu, Feb 6, 2020, 9:00 AM
The odds are stacked against reform, but protesters have withstood tumultuous events and waves of repression.
Iran
Three Key Insights for U.S. Policy in Light of Recent Escalation with Iran
Mara Karlin Mon, Feb 3, 2020, 8:00 AM
The United States could start by clarifying its objectives.
Middle East and North Africa
What to Expect from a New Lebanese Government
Jeffrey Feltman Mon, Jan 27, 2020, 8:00 AM
Lebanon's new cabinet is in need of popular support, so it is taking on endemic corruption in the country. But in practice, this government’s anti-corruption slogans will be designed to mask an ugly witch hunt.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
The ICC’s Prosecutor Decision to Investigate the ‘Situation in Palestine’ and Palestinian Statehood
Liron Libman Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 8:31 AM
The ICC prosecutor’s determination of jurisdiction relies on a controversial and legally problematic recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Middle East
Remembering Oman’s Sultan Qaboos, a Critical Interlocutor for the U.S. in the Middle East
Bruce Riedel Tue, Jan 14, 2020, 8:00 AM
The Omani ruler's role in regional politics will be difficult to fill.
Podcasts
Lawfare Podcast Special Edition: The Soleimani Strike and Its Fallout
Benjamin Wittes Fri, Jan 3, 2020, 2:01 PM
The American drone strike last night that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, is a seismic event in U.S.-Iranian relations—and for the broader Middle East. We put together an emergency podcast, drawing on the resources of both Lawfare and the Brookings Institution and reflecting the depth of the remarkable collaboration between the two.