About the center

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East examines the barriers preventing many people in the region from reaching their fullest potential. Our work also highlights success stories of individuals and institutions who overcame significant challenges in pursuit of social, economic, and political progress. Inspired by these examples, we delineate practical and implementable policy recommendations that policymakers in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East can implement to unleash the region’s economic and human potential.

Featured commentary & analysis

Featured in-depth research & reports

Leadership

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Events

We convene the most important stakeholders on issues of primary concern to the transatlantic community when it comes the Middle East and North Africa, from senior US and Middle East government officials to civil society activists and budding entrepreneurs.

Past events

Content

MENASource

May 21, 2019

What’s new, and what’s not, in the Kushner Middle East peace plan

By Ambassador Richard LeBaron

On May 19, The White House announced a “Peace to Prosperity” workshop to be held in Bahrain June 25-26 as the first step in its plan for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The meeting was described as “a pivotal opportunity to convene government, civil society, and business leaders to share ideas, discuss strategies, and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement.” 

Israel Middle East

MENASource

May 21, 2019

Kuwait’s apprehension about normalizing relations with Syria

By Theodore Karasik and Tristan Ober

With the Syrian civil war winding down, politicians and observers alike recognize that President Bashar al-Assad has managed to retain his position as Syria’s head-of-state. Some countries have moved swiftly in acknowledging the outcome of the conflict by reinstating diplomatic ties with the Assad regime and reopening embassies in Damascus. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, which, to varying degrees, opposed Assad after the civil war erupted, are two salient examples of this trend.

Middle East Syria

SyriaSource

May 17, 2019

The risks of ignoring former ISIS women members

By Feras Hanoush

Rehabilitating former ISIS members—including women—in former ISIS territories is a necessary step to prevent the extremist organization from resurging and put an end to the violence and extremism it represented.

Extremism Syria

IranSource

May 15, 2019

A week of looming conflict between the United States and Iran

By Nader Uskowi

May 8 was the first anniversary of US President Donald Trump’s exit from the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Islamic Republic marked the occasion by announcing that it would defy the JCPOA’s limits on the amounts of enriched uranium and heavy water in its inventory.

Iran

SyriaSource

May 14, 2019

‘A slow death’ : Syrians continue to suffer in Idlib

By Tesbih Habbal

An estimated three million people live in Idlib, many of whom have already been forced to leave their homes many times. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that the recent escalation has displaced some 152,000 people between April 29 and May 5 to the north. But Turkish forces, occupying areas of northern Syria including the city of Afrin and Azaz, are stopping Syrians from entering into these areas. And Syrians have no place to go.

Syria

MENASource

May 14, 2019

How climate change could exacerbate conflict in the Middle East

By Sagatom Saha

Global warming will do the Middle East no favors. Evidence abounds it will be the region that climate change will hit hardest. Summer temperatures across the region are expected to increase more than twice the global average.

Climate Change & Climate Action

IranSource

May 13, 2019

On Iran, Europeans caught between multilateral and transatlantic realities

By Tarja Cronberg

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran may reduce its compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if the non-US parties to the deal don’t find a way to provide Tehran with promised economic benefits.

Iran

MENASource

May 9, 2019

Xi Jinping’s promise of an open BRI bodes well for Chinese-Gulf relations

By Dan Katz

Promises made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the biennial Belt and Road Forum about opening the Belt and Road Initiative to multilateral and third-party investment could bode well for Gulf-China relations and the Middle East more broadly by creating new opportunities for energy and economic cooperation.

China International Organizations

SyriaSource

May 9, 2019

Constant attacks continue to displace thousands in Syria

By Rana Riziq

The Syrian government along with its Russian allies launched a brutal assault on Idlib province, the last rebel-held areas, on Monday 30 April. The United Nations said the attacks included the worst use of barrel bombs by the Syrian army in 15 months. It said an estimated 323,000 people have been displaced in northwest Syria since last year.

Syria

MENASource

May 9, 2019

Can there be a peaceful solution for Libya’s conflict?

By Mustafa A.G. Abushagur

If the international community continues to stay on the sidelines, watching and allowing Haftar’s international allies to continue providing him with support, this war will continue with no foreseeable end and at a heavy price

Libya