Policy Analysis

Testimony before the House Committee on International Relations The U.S. sanctions on Iran have imposed costs on the U.S. economy, but those have been small compared to the benefits. When the sanctions were adopted, the weight of expert opinion was that they would have little effect on Iran. The Financial

In order to assess policy implications of war crimes tribunals, it is essential to understand the nature of these crimes. The term "war crimes" refers to a body of law more than five hundred years old, though it is profoundly shaped by World War II and the Holocaust. When in

Just days after America's two most powerful men -- the President and the Vice President -- celebrated Israel's fiftieth anniversary in special ceremonies in Washington and Jerusalem, America's two most powerful women -- the First Lady and the Secretary of State -- offered a very different coda to Israel's jubilee

The recent series of nuclear weapons tests in South Asia -- reportedly five bombs by India last week and five by Pakistan yesterday -- are likely to have reverberations for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, though the impact of these tests may not be evident for some time. A

Russia's foreign policy is a complicated issue because Russia is still in transition. Foreign Minister Primakov has succeeded, for the first time, in bringing the foreign policy under the control of the foreign ministry. However, there still remain some important players such as private industry groups and the Ministry of

Turkey's global role, in the post-Cold War era, is more significant than ever. During the Cold War years, Turkey's primary role was to halt communist expansion in the region. In return, Turkey, under the NATO umbrella, enjoyed the protection of its Western allies. The end of the Cold War removed

With headlines both here and in the Middle East focused on the U.S.-Israel confrontation over "further redeployments," little attention has been paid in recent weeks to the lost opportunity to close the file on two items left from Oslo's interim agenda: the Gaza Airport and the Gaza Industrial Estate at

The Interim Period and Final Status. There is a real crisis; we should recognize it. And I would like here to say that the American administration has tried since a long time to put an end to this crisis. . . . They are doing all their best efforts, but

Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Near East and South Asian Affairs The May 1997 election of Mohammad Khatami as president of Iran has raised hopes and expectations of change in Iran's domestic and foreign policy. In the foreign policy arena, it is possible to discern a

Security and Peace: "...We are now discussing in Washington a critical passage to complete the closing of the circle of peace around Israel. The territorial aspects of this discussion are very important—the knowledge of what land is vital and what land is less vital for our security... First, a small

On May 14, 1998, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed The Washington Institute at the Mayflower Hotel. Following is a full transcript of his speech and the subsequent question-and-answer session. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Good morning. Thank you. I am very pleased, along with my wife, Sara, to acknowledge old friends

(a) Hostility and hatred. Fifty years after the creation of Israel hostility, hatred and suspicion still characterize the political landscape of the Middle East. On the most basic level, Palestinians and Arabs have still not fully accepted the legitimacy of a non-Arab, non-Moslem entity like the state of Israel in

On May 6, 1998, Bruce Riedel, special assistant to the president and senior director of Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council, addressed The Washington Institute's Soref Symposium. The following are excerpts from his speech. Read a full transcript. When President Clinton was elected in 1992

The United States played an important supporting role in the quiet drama of re-building Jordan-Israel ties by holding an official signing ceremony two weeks ago to recognize the Al Hassan Industrial Zone in Irbid, Jordan as a "Qualifying Industrial Zone" (QIZ). The QIZ agreement, first signed at the Doha conference

This presentation will expound on security and coexistence, an alternative approach to breaking the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians. But first, a discussion of the strategic conflict is needed. This conflict stems from the strength and development in the Middle East, coupled with the existence of hostility and hatred

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Satloff:, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen. Please allow me to say first that I changed my mind three times before this meeting so as to engineer a successful meeting for this institute and its anniversary of the foundation, which we highly appreciate. And I hope, I'm sure

Remarks last week by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Yahya Rahim Safavi during a closed meeting with IRGC officers -- leaked to the Iranian press -- underscore the growing impatience of the country's conservative hardliners with the liberal trend of the Khatami government, Iran's declared intention to adhere to

Keynote address by Bruce Riedel. With Ariel Sharon, Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala), Dori Shadmon, Khalil Shikaki, Daniel Schorr, and Morton M. Kondracke.

It is a great pleasure to be here this evening to speak to this audience on the subject of U.S. policy in the Gulf. I would especially like to thank Rob Satloff for inviting me. Five years ago, of course, my predecessor, Martin Indyk, addressed the Institute on our policy

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says, is "in grave danger." Why? There are two main reasons. The first should be obvious: The Oslo accords have yet to produce very much peace. More Israelis have died in the 4 1/2 years since Oslo than did during the