The Middle East is on the brink of a new crisis. Here’s where it could start.

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
The Middle East is on the brink of a new crisis. Here’s where it could start.

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
The Middle East is on the brink of a new crisis. Here’s where it could start.

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.

Learn more

Content

Dispatches

Dec 24, 2025

The Middle East is on the brink of a new crisis. Here’s where it could start.

By Alex Plitsas

No one should confuse the patchwork of temporary cease-fire agreements in place throughout the Middle East for sustainable deterrence and peace.

Conflict
Crisis Management

MENASource

Dec 22, 2025

The potential of the Abraham Accords won’t be realized without Turkey

By Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi

Turkey seeks to ensure it is not pushed to the margins, while Israel and the Arab countries that signed the Abraham Accords fear excessive Turkish influence.

Europe & Eurasia
Israel

Report

Dec 12, 2025

Inside Trump’s peace plans  

By Atlantic Council experts

From Rwanda to Cambodia, US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts mix economic pressure, trade deals, and high-profile ceremonies. His unorthodox style produces rapid results—but can it achieve lasting peace?

Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

It’s all about Hamas’s disarmament

By Daniel B. Shapiro

A US-brokered cease-fire ended the Israel-Hamas war, but the next phase depends on the group’s disarmament. Until that happens, Gaza’s reconstruction, regional diplomacy, and political future hang in the balance.

Israel
Middle East

MENASource

Dec 3, 2025

All West Bank annexation proposals are illegal—and put core international principles at risk

By Elise Baker

States agreed to respect territorial integrity because they knew the deadly consequences of wars of aggression and annexation.

International Norms
International Organizations

In the News

Nov 27, 2025

Rich Outzen interview with ILTV/YNet News on US/ISR tensions over strained Gaza ceasefire 
Conflict
Israel

In the News

Nov 26, 2025

Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: Truth Has Finally Defeated Fear

By Atlantic Council

Israel
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Nov 18, 2025

How Trump can leverage the Saudi crown prince’s visit to help secure Gaza’s future

By Melanie Robbins 

Trump should work with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on a Gaza stabilization fund and a more cohesive plan for implementation.

Israel
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Nov 17, 2025

As elections loom, can Netanyahu balance Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, and his political future?

By Daniel B. Shapiro

The Israeli prime minister’s preferred path to survive a treacherous election will be to show Israeli voters that he is advancing their country’s regional integration and staying within the US president’s embrace.

Israel
Middle East

Dispatches

Nov 17, 2025

As elections loom, can Netanyahu balance Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, and his political future?

By Daniel B. Shapiro

The Israeli prime minister wants show Israeli voters that he is advancing their country’s regional integration and staying within the US president’s embrace.

Israel
Middle East
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Experts

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Staff

Melanie Robbins 

Deputy Director, Realign for Palestine

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Itai Melchior

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Artificial Intelligence Economy & Business

Fellow

Robert Fardi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Israel

Fellow

Dan Rothem

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Hebrew

Fellow

Samantha Sutton

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Israel
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