Policy Analysis

Preliminary negotiations and changing political realities have catalyzed the opening of new talks, but even a two-state agreement would not guarantee an imminent end to the conflict.

The Strategic Framework Agreement offers an unspectacular but important roadmap for the recapitalization of U.S. influence in Iraq, particularly in terms of security, energy, and capacity-building commitments.

If Israel continues to act as Cairo's proxy terrorist hunter, it could erode the Egyptian military's reputation, undermine General Sisi's popularity, and attract even more militants looking to wage jihad from the Sinai.

Tension is peaking in Bahrain, where some opposition groups have called for huge protests that could turn violent.

Reaching an agreement may require deep involvement not just in the Israeli-Palestinian talks, but in the conflicts, politics, and alliances of a region from which Washington has appeared keen to disengage of late.

Although Washington cannot dispel the existential fight between the military and the Brotherhood, it can exert influence in other ways.

The government's total failure to deliver security or basic services has given Ansar al-Sharia in Libya ample room to recover from the backlash that followed last year's consulate attack.

Despite apparent strategic shifts among Moroccan Salafists and the king's "wait and see" policy toward them, it remains unclear whether they will truly moderate as part of the political integration process.

Although aggressive military action could yield stability in the short term, the long-term consequences may not bode well for meaningful democratic transition.

Leaked videos show that although ASL's public image has been tied to its missionary work in recent months, the group is also still active in training individuals to fight in Syria.

If Riyadh concludes a major arms deal with Moscow in return for reduced Russian backing of the Assad regime, it will come at the expense of U.S. influence in the Middle East and possibly across the world.

Nicholas Heras, a contributing editor and analyst at Fair Observer, speaks with Washington Institute fellow Aaron Zelin about the Syrian civil war and foreign jihadi fighters.

Although counterterrorism operations are essential to defeating al-Qaeda, they must be complemented by a low-cost, low-visibility campaign to help the Yemeni government extend its reach in the provinces.

Egypt's army chief is not an Islamist -- in fact, his work at the U.S. Army War College suggests he may be a Mubarak clone.

The Guardian website recently launched a new feature asking readers to weigh in on current affairs, then having an expert respond to them. In this edition, the editors asked Washington Institute fellow Eric Trager to assess the viability of a detailed plan (submitted by reader "2cents") for putting Egypt on

Spillover from Egypt remains limited in Morocco due to discord in the country's most salient opposition movement and differences in its political culture, political economy, and security apparatus.

The endgame in Syria might be a weak state with jihadists left roaming around, so Turkey should work more closely with allies to monitor the situation.

The director of the Institute's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence addressed a House hearing on Iran's longstanding efforts to establish terrorist networks in the Americas. The following is an excerpt from his prepared remarks ; download the PDF to read the full testimony. The same day the State Department

Although Washington can help boost the capabilities of Iraq's counterterrorism forces, Baghdad cannot kill its way out of the current security crisis, so sectarian reconciliation remains a priority.

An in-depth study on how past and current developments in Syria have affected relations between Israel and Turkey, offering lessons on how the two countries might renew their deep strategic cooperation.