Egypt, Israel, and the Levant

Political, economic, and security trends in Egypt, Israel and Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan

Syria’s decade-long conflict continues to destabilize the Levant. Syria remains an arena for proxy wars by external forces, millions of Syrians experience protracted displacement in the region, and compounding crises in Syria and Lebanon indicate prolonged economic hardship. Meanwhile, Israel’s new relationships with Arab states are creating new opportunities, while it seeks to manage enduring threats from Iran and its proxies in the Levant. The Middle East Program analyzes the evolving political, geopolitical, and humanitarian dynamics in the Levant and Egypt, providing analysis and recommendations for U.S. policy.

See the Middle East Program's publications and past events on Egypt and the Levant HERE.

 

Featured Projects

Photo: ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Photo: ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon’s Growing Humanitarian Crisis

A humanitarian emergency is growing among Lebanese. Overlaps in humanitarian responses risk fueling tensions and wasting limited aid resources. CSIS's Will Todman and Caleb Harper argue that an independent review is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of humanitarian aid.

Brief by Will Todman and Caleb Harper — December 16, 2021

Featured Analysis

Photo: ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images

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

See all analysis on Egypt, Israel, and the Levant

Featured Podcast

A tall tower stands in front of a desert.

Karim Haggag: Egypt's Balancing Act

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ambassador Karim Haggag about Egypt's complicated relationships with Israel and Hamas and Egypt's likely role in Gaza's "day after."

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — July 9, 2024

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Mixed Signals in the Middle East

The sudden flood of Israeli profiles on dating apps in Lebanon and Egypt have prompted rumors and conspiracies. The mishaps point to the growing impact of widespread GPS spoofing on key services in the region.

Blog Post by Lily Flick — August 27, 2024

Do Leaders Want Gaza Negotiations to Succeed?

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have called for Israel and Hamas to come together on Thursday to reach a ceasefire deal. While the meeting may take place, there is no good public evidence that either leadership believes it is done fighting.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — August 9, 2024

A Fishy Business in Port Said

As Egypt’s economic crisis continues, price hikes have hit the fish market especially hard. In response, Egyptians in Port Said have turned to a fishy boycott to express displeasure. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Blog Post by Salmah Elmasry — July 30, 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

Gaza's Solar Power in Wartime

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.

Commentary by Will Todman, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., and Jennifer Jun — November 21, 2023

Israel Could Lose

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.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — November 7, 2023