Policy Analysis

The long, tortuous history of the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts has witnessed numerous tragic episodes, but rarely a moment as hopeful as the handshake between the leaders of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on September 13, 1993. Sadly, however, the conflict lives on and terror still

As Israelis mourn the death of Yitzhak Rabin and contemplate the renewal of a peace process that has divided their nation, Arab states and leaders will play a critical role in shaping Israel's decision. Nothing so persuades Israelis of the merits of risk-taking for peace than visible signs of Arab

Prime Minister Tansu Ciller faces a parliamentary vote-of-confidence this Sunday likely -- but not certain -- to win approval for her renewed coalition government. This would be a notable turn-around for Ciller, who has been struggling to assemble a new government since her first government collapsed six weeks ago. In

As Secretary Christopher meets Syrian Foreign Minister Shar'a in New York, it is clear that a deep chill has descended over Syrian-Israeli peacemaking in just the few weeks since the chorus of calls, at the Oslo B signing ceremonies, for President Assad to join the expanding "circle of peace." Encouraging

One year ago last week, Iraq's military buildup near its border with Kuwait triggered the deployment of nearly 30,000 solders, sailors, and airmen to the Persian Gulf. This robust reaction to threatened Iraqi aggression underscored the high degree of commitment, flexibility and readiness that characterizes U.S. defense policy in the

Download this conference report, featuring remarks by Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan bin Talal.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Amman for this policy conference. Many of you have come a long way to be here with us, which is entirely appropriate, for the whole Middle East has come a long way in the past five years. The very fact that

In his televised address Wednesday, King Hussein defined a new policy toward Iraq that underscores his connection to the Iraqi people and armed forces, puts him at the forefront of the anti-Saddam coalition, and lays down a clear marker to Saddam that one false move would trigger the shutting down

The Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing, the Islamic Action Front, represent the most powerful political movement in Jordan today. Their statements and actions over the past five years—in government and in opposition—offer insight into how the Islamists might conduct domestic and foreign affairs if they come to power. To

On July 26, 1995, Dr. Emre Gönensay, ambassador-at-large and chief advisor to Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, addressed a session of The Washington Institute's Policy Forum on Turkey's foreign policy and security interests. The following is a rapporteur's summary of his remarks. Turkey's New Geo-Politics When Mustafa Kemal Attaturk founded

On July 18, 1995, Terence Adams, president of the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC), and Gregory Rich, president of the AIOC Pipeline Group, addressed a session of The Washington Institute's Policy Forum on the energy potential of the Caspian Sea region and efforts to extract and export Azerbaijan's oil and

On July 13, 1995, Lt. General Malcolm R. O'Neill, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, addressed a session of the The Washington Institute's Policy Forum on U.S. theater missile defense and missile proliferation in the Middle East. The following is a rapporteur's summary of his remarks. The Threat of

On, July 10, 1995, Samuel Lewis, counselor to the Washington Institute, and Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute, addressed a session of the The Washington Institute's Policy Forum on the status of the peace process and its future development. The following is a rapporteur's summary of their remarks

On June 16, 1995, Ambassador Vafa Guluzade, principal foreign policy advisor to Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, addressed a session of The Washington Institute's Policy Forum on Azerbaijan's relations with Russia and the Middle East. The following is a rapporteur's summary of his remarks. Although Azerbaijan is now an independent state

The More than three years after Algeria's military-backed government annulled the results of the first round of parliamentary elections, the country remains locked in a bloody civil war with insurgents seeking to establish a sharia-based Islamic regime. While by no means assured, an Islamist takeover could occur in one of

In recent weeks, President Clinton has taken unilateral action against Iran (imposing a ban on U.S. private investment and trade) and has attempted bilateral diplomacy (with Russia) to curtail Tehran's efforts to acquire nuclear power and technology. Because neither of these two initiatives can by themselves succeed in "containing" Iran

NEW DELHI -- President Rafsanjani's trip here last week received widespread publicity largely because it coincided with -- and reportedly upstaged -- Treasury Secretary Rubin's visit to India. In a larger sense, though, as Washington seeks to contain Iran's growing ties with Russia and China, Rafsanjani's trip to this other

This week's announcement of the cancellation of Iran's participation in the Azerbaijan oil consortium -- partly as a result of U.S. pressure on both Azerbaijan and U.S. oil companies -- is the latest result of U.S. efforts to strengthen the "containment" of Iran's Islamic regime. So far, Iran has responded

Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu arrives tonight as part of a tour of major Allied capitals to explain Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq. In Washington--far more sympathetic to the Turkish action than European capitals, yet nevertheless insistent that it be "limited in duration and scope"--Inonu probably hopes to focus

It is truly my honor to be here with you on this occasion. It is hard to believe that The Washington Institute is already ten years old. It does not seem like that long ago that it was created. But it has been a splendid decade not only for the