Amir al-Kaabi and Michael Knights write: Those Iran-backed groups with the most direct ties to Hezbollah and the Syrian theater – Nujaba and KSS – were strongly supportive of the Axis of Resistance but were also disciplined and stayed on-message about not broadening the war. This shows Iraqi muqawama players slotting into the extended deterrence system of Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah. – Washington Institute
Qatar, the energy-rich Middle East emirate, is emerging as both the U.S.’s partner and potential antagonist as Israel escalates its war against the militant Palestinian group Hamas. – Semafor
Alex Vatanka writes: Perhaps most urgently, the littoral Gulf States today do not have a forum that can enable crisis management in the event of escalation in territorial and resources disputes. The potential for such crises is significant, whether around the Iranian-Emirati dispute over three islands in the Gulf or the Iranian claim on the Dorra gas field that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia claim to be in their territorial waters. The stakes are high, and the Middle East would surely benefit from a more sober Iranian-Gulf dialogue. – War on the Rocks
Alex Vatanka writes: Perhaps most urgently, the littoral Gulf States today do not have a forum that can enable crisis management in the event of escalation in territorial and resources disputes. The potential for such crises is significant, whether around the Iranian-Emirati dispute over three islands in the Gulf or the Iranian claim on the Dorra gas field that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia claim to be in their territorial waters. The stakes are high, and the Middle East would surely benefit from a more sober Iranian-Gulf dialogue. – War on the Rocks
Devorah Margolin writes: Hamas is firmly aware that it cannot defeat Israel on its own — and aware of Israeli statements heralding a decapitation campaign against the group’s leadership — and thus is seeking to rally others in the hopes of achieving “horizontal escalation.” Such escalation could include a potential war with Hizballah in the north, uprisings in the West Bank, internal struggles fomented by Arab citizens of Israel, and targeting of both Israeli and Jewish targets abroad. In the immediate days after the attack, such trends appear to be surfacing. – War on the Rocks
- "Israel’s Outside-the-Box Options," Aaron MacLean, Mosaic
The Neglected History of Israel’s Independence by jonathan leaf
Israel's Declaration of Independence charted the course for the new state.
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Israel's Declaration of Independence charted the course for the new state.
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Robert Satloff, Dennis Ross, Michael Singh, and Patrick Clawson write: The fact that America faces urgent strategic challenges around the world does not mean we have the luxury of faltering in the vital work of protecting our interests in the Middle East—not least because the region’s resources and geographic centrality affect long-term global competition. Whether we like it or not, the Middle East demands our consistent attention and focus. – Washington Institute
Michael Eisenstadt and Michael Knights write: Media reports noting U.S. intelligence support for Israeli preparations to respond to a potential Houthi strike by hitting their missile and drone forces or leadership targets might help deter the Yemen-based group. And beyond the threat of a forceful U.S. military response to attacks on American personnel and interests in Syria and Iraq, the most useful way to keep Iraqi militias out of a war with Israel involves threats by the U.S. Treasury Department to prioritize and expedite the blacklisting of banks associated with such militias for abuses of the U.S. dollar. – Washington Institute
Michael Eisenstadt and Michael Knights write: Media reports noting U.S. intelligence support for Israeli preparations to respond to a potential Houthi strike by hitting their missile and drone forces or leadership targets might help deter the Yemen-based group. And beyond the threat of a forceful U.S. military response to attacks on American personnel and interests in Syria and Iraq, the most useful way to keep Iraqi militias out of a war with Israel involves threats by the U.S. Treasury Department to prioritize and expedite the blacklisting of banks associated with such militias for abuses of the U.S. dollar. – Washington Institute