Egypt, Israel, and the Levant

In the midst of the Israel-Hamas war, solar power has proved to be a lifeline for Gazans, revealing the resilience of small-scale systems in conflict zones. These systems, however, have also become new military targets.

In a new commentary, Jon Alterman explains that while Israel has the most formidable fighting force in the region, it needs to prioritize winning back global support, invigorating the Palestinian Authority, and splitting Hamas off from the population.

With an ailing economy and post-Arab Spring political turbulence, Egypt has become increasingly marginalized on the regional and global stage. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, however, underscores that Egypt is a vital regional partner to the United States. 

Jon Alterman argues that the Biden administration came into office with a pledge of normalcy, but its emphasis on Israel-Saudi ties is markedly different from its predecessors. Even so, the administration is determined not to let the Middle East become a distraction.

Jon Alterman argues that while the Biden administration’s efforts to broker a Saudi-Israeli agreement will take years to achieve, these talks are an important avenue for communication and relationship-building.

Jon B. Alterman, director of the Middle East Program, argues that Israel is facing a third juncture in its history. The current judicial reform bill will shape the kind of democracy it becomes and risks permanently disenfranchising millions of Israelis.

Senior fellow Natasha Hall underscores the need for water data in the Middle East to achieve a sustainable future. Conflict, corruption, and vested interests make attaining data difficult, but satellite imagery and international support could help meet this need.

In a new commentary, senior fellow and deputy director Will Todman explains how civil society holds the key to building more sustainable states in the Middle East, as governments in the region struggle to adequately respond to sharpening environmental challenges

The first Earth Day brought together Americans of all walks of life affected by environmental degradation. Fifty-three years later, the Middle East faces a similar need to bring people together on environmental issues, both within the region and globally.