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MENASource

Jun 24, 2016

What Was in the Egyptian Court’s Reasoning in the Tiran and Sanafir Case?

By Mohamed Elgohari

On June 21, in an unexpected move, the first circuit of the Egyptian State Council’s administrative court, headed by State Council Vice President Yahya al-Dakrouri, annulled a Saudi-Egyptian maritime agreement, ceding sovereignty of the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir to the Gulf kingdom. The Egyptian government, at the time, said that Saudi Arabia had […]

North Africa Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2016

Memo to Next US President: Don’t Squander Opportunity with Iran

By Mitch Hulse

The nuclear deal with Iran has laid the foundation for a stable relationship between the United States and Iran, and the next US administration must prioritize ties with the Islamic Republic, panelists agreed at a conference at the Atlantic Council in Washington on June 16.

Elections Iran

In the News

Jun 15, 2016

Slavin in Al Monitor: Boeing Deal Would Reverse 1993 Decision to Sell to Saudis, Not Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here.

Iran Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Jun 7, 2016

New Pressure on Saudi Arabia is Changing the Logic of the Yemeni Peace Talks

By Jillian Schwedler

Two developments in Yemen over the past week illustrate both promise and concern for Yemen’s peace talks. Escalated fighting in the Marib and Shabwa provinces took more than a hundred lives, but the latest prisoner swap of pro-Hadi and Houthi fighters indicates that the peace process has not collapsed. With increased US pressure on Saudi […]

Saudi Arabia Yemen

In the News

May 31, 2016

Seznec Quoted by Wall Street Journal on Generational Change in Saudi Arabia

By Jean-Francois Seznec

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2016

A ‘Shortsighted’ US Embrace

By Ashish Kumar Sen

For Obama administration, anti-terrorism agenda comes at the cost of human rights when picking partners, says Human Rights Watch’s Kenneth Roth The Obama administration has, in the conduct of its war against terrorism, embraced a “shortsighted” approach that sets aside a democratic agenda and overlooks human rights abuses committed by some of its closest allies […]

North Africa Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 18, 2016

Rosenblum in Politico: Improving Saudi-Israeli Relations Offers an Opportunity for the United States—and a Big Risk

By Todd Rosenblum

Read the full article here.

Israel Saudi Arabia

MENASource

May 17, 2016

Yemen’s Peace Talks: A Progress Report

By Daniel R. DePetris

On May 11, Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri — the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen for over a year — briefed reporters in Washington with a clear message: if the Houthis and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh continue to insist on unreasonable demands at the negotiating […]

Saudi Arabia Yemen

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

A New Saudi Oil Minister: Tactical Continuation, Strategic Revolution

By Jean-François Seznec

The appointment of Khalid al-Falih as Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy, industry and mineral resources comes as no surprise. He is the most qualified person to replace the brilliant Ali al-Naimi who served as minister of petroleum and mineral resources for over twenty years.  Both men are petroleum engineers steeped in the oil business and […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2016

Give (Arab) Peace (Initiative) a Chance

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Deal would elevate Arab-Israeli cooperation to take on challenges posed by ISIS, Iran, says Atlantic Council’s Bilal Y. Saab In the absence of a credible Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Gulf Arab states and Israel will find it hard to elevate their security cooperation to deal with the threats posed by Iran and the Islamic State of […]

Israel Saudi Arabia

Experts