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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Jul 17, 2025

Facing scarcity, the Gulf’s ‘smart water’ future lies in desalination

By Hany Ghanem

Desalination-enhanced regenerative data centers can help tackle the challenges of limited water resources and the post-oil economic shift.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

MENASource

Jul 17, 2025

Five years on, the Abraham Accords need a multilateral mission

By Joseph Epstein

As the Trump administration pushes for “commerce, not chaos” in the region, the Abraham Accords ideology is the most powerful tool to achieve that goal.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Jul 16, 2025

How Mauritania-Israel normalization may boost US posture in the Sahel

By Sarah Zaaimi

If Mauritania is nearing a deal with Israel, this could be the beginning of a wider re-engagement with Sahel countries.

Israel Middle East
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Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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Content

In the News

Mar 22, 2024

Panikoff on Scripps News “Morning Rush”
Israel Middle East

IranSource

Mar 22, 2024

‘Unification of the arenas’ might turn from an opportunity for Iran into a threat

By Raz Zimmt

Hamas’s decision to start a war at a time not determined by Iran created a situation of escalating risks.

Conflict Iran

IranSource

Mar 21, 2024

It’s morally imperative that the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran be extended. Here’s why.

By Rose Parris Richter and Azadeh Pourzand

The need for the FFMI's mandate to be extended for an additional year lies in the gravity and scope of its findings and the ongoing and escalating atrocities documented since the initial report.

Civil Society Conflict

In the News

Mar 21, 2024

Lipner quoted in Politico: With Schumer’s Israel remarks, the American gloves are off

“It reflects a serious downturn for Israel’s standing in the U.S. when prominent members of the Democratic Party’s proverbial Old Guard feel comfortable to lash out publicly at the elected government in Jerusalem,” said Shalom Lipner, who has served in the office of numerous Israeli prime ministers.

Israel Security & Defense

In the News

Mar 20, 2024

Kroenig spoke on the Congressional Commission on US Strategic Posture at ExchangeMonitor Nuclear Deterrence Summit

By Atlantic Council

Matthew Kroenig spoke at the ExchangeMonitor Nuclear Deterrence Summit as a member of the Congressional Commission on U.S. Strategic Posture.

China Iran

MENASource

Mar 20, 2024

Tony Pfaff: The ethics of proxy relationships applies to everyone

By Holly Dagres

The academic and former US government official was interviewed by our MENASource editor to discuss his most recent book and its implications for US foreign policy.

Defense Policy Iran

In the News

Mar 20, 2024

Braw in Politico on abandonment of sailors

By Elisabeth Braw

On March 20, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw wrote an article in Politico discussing the abandonment of sailors by shipping companies   

Economy & Business Maritime Security

IranSource

Mar 20, 2024

Iran targeted human rights sanctions series: Understanding ‘terrorist organization’ designations in relation to the IRGC

By Celeste Kmiotek, Lisandra Novo

This post looks at how terrorist organization listings are decided, the consequences, and how these are related to targeted human rights sanctions.

Economic Sanctions Iran
Blue Globe viewing from space at night with connections between cities

Econographics

Mar 20, 2024

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Ryan Murphy, and Alessandra Magazzino

How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money; How sanctions are used to counter Hamas and combat the financing of terrorism; Where governments align and diverge in their approaches to combat this activity.

Economic Sanctions European Union

Event Recap

Mar 19, 2024

Justice and accountability in the MENA region: The importance of women’s stories

By Charles Johnson

On Wednesday, February 14, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project hosted a hybrid panel event about the crucial role women and their testimonies play in pursuit of justice and accountability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Human Rights Lebanon
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Experts

Fellow

Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Hany Ghanem

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Americas Arabic

Fellow

Newton Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Artificial Intelligence English

Fellow

Len Khodorkovsky

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Marie Forestier 

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic French

Fellow

Thomas Storch

Distinguished fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance
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Events

Online Event Tue, July 22, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Israel’s Noach Hacker on the resilience of the Israeli economy in times of war
Conflict Economy & Business International Markets Israel
Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

Eleven years on: The Yezidi genocide and the road to recovery
Civil Society Crisis Management Human Rights Iraq