Israel

As a strong ally in the Middle East, Israel’s domestic politics and geopolitical role are of primary concern for the United States. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has confounded one administration after the other, with various attempts at brokering a peace process falling short of success. As Israel inches closer to the east with increased economic cooperation with India and China, as well as semi-discreet displays of engagement with Gulf neighbors, Israel’s independent foreign policy and controversial domestic policies continue to shape its relationship with the United States.

Fulfilling the requirements: Israel’s entry into the US Visa Waiver Program

MENASource Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from the Gulf: Finding middle ground amid Israel-Iran war

By Allison Minor

Congressional delegation visit coincided with Israel and Iran squaring off in a direct military confrontation.
Iran Israel
Fulfilling the requirements: Israel’s entry into the US Visa Waiver Program

MENASource Jun 18, 2025

Dispatch from Jerusalem: Inside Israel’s bunkers as Iran war erupts

By Sarah Zaaimi

The stakes are higher as two opposing rhetorics about the region’s future are at play: Pan-Abrahamism and Revolutionary Islamism.
Civil Society Iran
Fulfilling the requirements: Israel’s entry into the US Visa Waiver Program

Inflection Points Jun 14, 2025

Israel’s Iran strike provides a historic chance for Middle East realignment

By Frederick Kempe

History will remember this moment less for the Israeli strikes themselves and more for what follows.
Iran Israel

Israel-Hamas war

Experts from across the Atlantic Council are providing insight and analysis at speed and in depth on the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Israel’s response, and how the emerging conflict is upending the Middle East and the world.

Programs

The N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, seeks to broaden and deepen normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. It works with governments to produce actionable recommendations to deliver tangible benefits to their people.

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Content

Issue Brief

Oct 12, 2022

Fulfilling the requirements: Israel’s entry into the US Visa Waiver Program

By Ruth Marks Eglash and Scott Lasensky

A little-discussed, yet far-reaching issue on the US-Israel bilateral agenda is Israel’s long-running quest to join the United States’ Visa Waiver Program (VWP). In his first year and a half in office, US President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has elevated the issue, and efforts to achieve Israel’s entry are gaining momentum after remaining stagnant during the Trump presidency.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Oct 4, 2022

Iran’s new demands to revive the nuclear deal are a sigh of relief for Israel. Here’s why.

By Amichai Stein

Israel knows very well that Iranian demands are impossible to meet.

Iran Israel

Event Recap

Sep 29, 2022

Two years since the Abraham Accords: How the region is transforming

By Yulia Shalomov, Mariah Smith

On September 8, the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs hosted a virtual eventon the second anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and regional neighbors.

Economy & Business Israel

In the News

Sep 22, 2022

The Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Fellow Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro provides testimony for the House Foreign Affairs Committee

By Atlantic Council

Middle East programs Distinguished Fellow Daniel B. Shapiro testifies for Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

Israel Middle East

Press Release

Sep 12, 2022

Ambassador Marcy Grossman, Former Canadian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, joins the Atlantic Council as nonresident senior fellow

By Atlantic Council

Ambassador Grossman will contribute regional and government experience to the Council's work on the Israeli-Arab normalization process and regional conflict resolution initiatives.

Conflict English

In the News

Sep 9, 2022

Ferziger in Circuit News: UAE-Israel cyber intelligence firm grows with its perch in the Gulf

By Atlantic Council

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Sep 9, 2022

Bryza quoted in the Daily Sabah on Israel-Turkey relations
Israel Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Sep 9, 2022

Iran helped Turkey and Israel mend ties. Here’s how.

By Ksenia Svetlova

Ankara and Jerusalem will continue to work jointly to prevent terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens in Turkey and explore the possibility of pursuing common goals vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic and its many regional proxies. 

Israel Middle East

In the News

Aug 30, 2022

Shaffer in Mosaic Magazine: Turkish-Israel Normalization Is Good News for the U.S.
Conflict Israel

MENASource

Aug 23, 2022

Middle Eastern nations should learn from history and back Sudan’s democratic forces

By Nasredeen Abdulbari and Mutasim Ali

The Middle Eastern countries that are interested in establishing political relations with Sudan, such as Israel, and those that are interested in investing, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, should stand on the side of pro-democracy civilian forces.

Israel Middle East
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Experts

Fellow

Shalom Lipner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Crisis Management English

Fellow

Itai Melchior

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Artificial Intelligence Economy & Business

Fellow

Daniel E. Mouton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Fellow

Alex Plitsas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Crisis Management

Staff

Melanie Robbins 

Deputy Director, Realign for Palestine

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism
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Events

Online Event Tue, March 24, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The future of Iran’s axis of resistance
Iran Iraq Israel Lebanon