Trump’s Jerusalem Decision and the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry

by Giorgio Cafiero It is too early to assess the long-term impact of Donald Trump’s incendiary decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and upend US foreign policy by moving Washington’s embassy. Nonetheless, one close US ally—Saudi Arabia—may pay a… Continue Reading

Jerusalem: A High Price for an Unnecessary Move

by Rana Allam As the lights in the building of the Arab League in Cairo remain off, the streets of many Arab cities are alight with protests. In Cairo as in Palestine, security forces used force to disperse protesters, and… Continue Reading

Palestinian Reconciliation, in the Hands of Israel

by Paul R. Pillar The latest attempt at reconciliation between the competing Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas has produced a preliminary agreement that Egypt brokered and that was announced earlier this month. Movement on this subject at this time is… Continue Reading

Egypt and US Share Counterproductive Anti-Terrorism Strategies

by Rana Allam Brett McGurk, the US special presidential envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, met with Egypt’s foreign affairs minister on October 4 to discuss “shared efforts in defeating” the Islamic State (ISIS or IS), according to… Continue Reading

The Enduring Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

by Paul R. Pillar President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, whom the president has entrusted with, among many other things, searching for an Israeli-Palestinian peace, said regarding that task: “We don’t want a history lesson. How does that help us get… Continue Reading