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Israel and Hamas Reach a Ceasefire

Middle East Program director Jon B. Alterman answers critical questions about the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Critical Questions by Jon B. Alterman — January 21, 2025

Lebanon Finally Elects a President

On January 9, Lebanon’s parliament elected General Joseph Aoun as president following 12 failed attempts to elect a president. Middle East Program deputy director and senior fellow Will Todman answers critical questions about Lebanon’s latest political developments.

Critical Questions by Will Todman — January 10, 2025

Syrian Rebels’ Surprise Offensive Highlights Assad Regime’s Weakness

In a lightning-fast offensive, Syrian rebels took hundreds of kilometers of territory, including Aleppo, that took the Assad regime years to capture. Who are the key players, and can the rebels hold on to their gains? Natasha Hall explains.

Critical Questions by Natasha Hall — December 2, 2024

Emerging Trends in Chemical Weapons Usage in the Middle East

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons has emboldened other states to pursue similar strategies. In a new brief, Natasha Hall assesses the risks of chemical weapons proliferation and usage after the Syrian conflict.

Report by Natasha Hall — October 16, 2024

Syria: Iran and Hezbollah’s Savior and Achilles’ Heel

Without a political solution to the Middle East’s protracted conflicts, Israel’s tactical gains and Iran’s losses will be ephemeral. The consequences to civilians and U.S. interests will be permanent. The experience with Syria’s civil war provides a case in point.

Commentary by Natasha Hall — October 16, 2024

Lebanon’s Dangerous Campaign against Refugees

Surging anti-refugee rhetoric in Lebanon could spiral into further regional violence and outward migration. To prevent a conflict, the EU and the U.S. must step up resettlement efforts and condition their aid to Lebanon to stop forced deportations and growing violence.

Commentary by Natasha Hall and Will Todman — June 4, 2024

Israel’s Not-Quite-Founder’s Syndrome

As Israel becomes increasingly bogged down in Gaza, Jon Alterman argues that Israeli leadership does not have a strategy to exit the conflict.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — March 11, 2024

A Different Two-State Solution

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has brought the two-state solution back to the forefront. Jon Alterman explains that reviving the solution will require expanding definitions and reimagining relations between Israel and Palestine.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — January 10, 2024

What Comes after War in Gaza

Jon Alterman looks beyond the immediate dynamics of the Israel-Hamas war to break down the long-term implications of the war. The war will destroy Hamas’s organizational capacity, raising questions about who will control Gaza and what will happen to Gazans if Hamas falls.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — October 12, 2023