N7 Initiative

In the wake of the Abraham Accords signed in September 2020, the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, in partnership with the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, launched the N7 Initiative to help accelerate and strengthen normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries, and to drive bipartisan support in the US for normalization.

Experts

Past events

Latest analysis

TURKEYSource

Oct 12, 2021

Turkey has flipped the script on its regional isolation. But will it amount to real change?

By Karel Valansi

Over the past year, Turkey has launched efforts to normalize its strained relations with several states in the Middle East. While the countries have successfully managed to de-escalate tensions, doubts remain as to how far the efforts will lead.

Conflict Crisis Management

IranSource

Sep 1, 2021

An escalating Israel-Iran conflict could sink the JCPOA

By Sina Azodi and Mohsen Solhdoost

Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have reached an alarming stage in recent weeks. What used to be a shadow war of covert operations, sabotage, and proxy conflict is turning into a more direct military confrontation between the long-time regional adversaries.

Iran Israel

MENASource

Aug 31, 2021

Biden and Bennett turned the page on US-Israel ties. But not many were paying attention.

By Jonathan H. Ferziger

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s first visit to the White House on August 27 occurred just as President Joe Biden was absorbing the horror of the Kabul airport suicide bombing, lending poignancy to their efforts at resetting relations between the United States and its closest Middle East ally.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Aug 13, 2021

It’s been one year since the Abraham Accords. Gulf-Israel ties are still far from normal.

By Jonathan H. Ferziger

One year after former President Donald Trump coaxed the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize relations, ties between the two countries and other signatories to the Abraham Accords have a distance to go before they can be considered an enduring success.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Aug 12, 2021

Hezbollah walks tightrope between two opposing goals to deter Israel

By David Daoud

On August 5, an Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon—targeting an open area from which rockets had been launched at Israel by unidentified militants in the third such incident since May 19—prompted Hezbollah’s rocket attack.

Israel Lebanon

MENASource

Aug 11, 2021

Rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel again. Another game of brinkmanship?

By Nicholas Blanford

While Lebanon descends into ever greater political, economic, and social turmoil, a new dynamic appears to be emerging along Lebanon’s simmering southern border with Israel. It potentially threatens the balance of deterrence that has helped prevent a major escalation of hostilities for fifteen years.

Israel Lebanon

MENASource

Jul 20, 2021

As Israel and Jordan face an environmental squeeze, they must rebuild trust

By Gabriel Mitchell

Since signing a peace treaty in 1994, the two Middle Eastern neighbors have enjoyed several decades of economic and security cooperation. But today, the Israel-Jordan relationship is in dire straits.

Israel Middle East

Fast Thinking

Jun 2, 2021

FAST THINKING: Israel after Bibi

By Atlantic Council

The “change government,” which must still be confirmed by a vote in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, would bring together a broad array of Netanyahu foes from the far left to the far right. But can a new government really end the political chaos of recent years?

Elections Israel

MENASource

Jun 2, 2021

Experts React: Israel might have a new government. What’s next?

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council experts react to the news of Israel’s new government and assess the significance of the coalition’s push to oust Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Democratic Transitions Israel

MENASource

May 26, 2021

For all its ‘achievements’ in battle, Israel is losing the war

By Carmiel Arbit

After eleven days of fighting between Israel and Hamas, the latest round of violence has come to a welcome, if anticlimactic, halt. As was expected, both sides proclaimed victory.

Israel Middle East

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