Programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our 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.

Libya

Content

MENASource

Sep 29, 2015

Will Tunisia’s Economic Reconciliation Law “Turn the Page”?

By Elissa Miller and Katherine Wolff

The bill has provoked considerable mistrust at a time when Tunisia, plagued by a spiraling economy and relentless security challenges, desperately needs unity. Trust is needed among the Tunisian people and the country’s political parties as the government prepares to embark on challenging reforms that may be its only hope for economic survival.

Democratic Transitions Middle East

MENASource

Sep 29, 2015

Libya’s Only Viable Option

By Karim Mezran

Libya’s UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon announced on September 21 that the text of the UN agreement for a unity government based on Libya’s political dialogue is final and closed to revisions. It is now up to the parties to accept or reject the proposal.

Libya

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Mezran on Libya After Qaddafi

By Karim Mezran

PBS quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran on life in Libya after the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi:

Libya

EconoGraphics

Sep 22, 2015

Migrant Flows and the Future of Europe

By Global Business and Economics

As Europe confronts the migrant crisis, much of the current coverage remains fixed on short run trends, but in order to have a comprehensive perspective it is necessary to project these trends into the future. In spite of commonly held concerns of migrants' effect on European identity, many of these nations' birthrates and outflows of migrants will actually be higher than their intake of migrants. Negative flows of migrants could further weaken pension plans, as aging European populations struggle to balance social welfare models with demographic realities.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

MENASource

Sep 18, 2015

Egypt Downplays Reopening of Israeli Embassy

By Khaled Dawoud

All announcements on the official reopening of the Israeli embassy in Cairo last week came from Israel, while Egyptian officials were either silent or appeared to downplay the event. Egypt’s stance was likely an effort to avoid a backlash from the generally anti-Israeli public opinion. The announcement, nonetheless, was criticized by staunch opponents of President […]

North Africa

MENASource

Sep 16, 2015

What to Expect from Egypt’s Impending Migration Law

By Tom Rollins

Egypt is now one step closer to passing a migration law that would, for the first time in the country’s history, outlaw and proscribe penalties for the crime of people smuggling.

North Africa

MENASource

Sep 15, 2015

Where the Church Ends and the Citizen Begins

By Jayson Casper

Accusations against the Coptic Orthodox Church are many. It is in bed with the regime. It desires a political role. It monopolizes the Coptic voice, keeping the faithful within its walls. It is not difficult to find evidence that can fit the accusations. But as the church talks to its own people, not only is […]

North Africa

MENASource

Sep 14, 2015

Factbox: Security Forces Mistakenly Kill Eight Mexicans, Four Egyptians

By EgyptSource

A tourist convoy of twenty-two people was mistakenly attacked by Egyptian security forces in the Western Desert on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of eight Mexicans and four Egyptians. Ten others were injured, and according to Egypt’s prosecution, two Egyptian officers who fired at the convoy were among those injured.

North Africa

MENASource

Sep 13, 2015

Libya’s Political Agreement: What’s Next?

By Azza K. Maghur

At a modest gathering in July in Skhirat, Morocco, Libyan dialogue participants initialed a long negotiated United Nations Support Mission in Libya’s (UNSMIL) facilitated political agreement. Not present at the gathering was the dialogue team representing the General National Congress (GNC)—the political body that reinstated its authority after the Libya Dawn militias took control of […]

Libya

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Tanchum on Israel’s Natural Gas Being Exported Via Turkey

By Micha'el Tanchum

Turkish-language Yeni Şafak quotes Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Micha’el Tanchum on what Egypt’s recent gas discovery means for Israel and Turkey: Read the full article here.

Israel North Africa

Experts