✍️ The sweeping powers of the Board of Peace and the sidelining of Palestinian decision-making and sovereignty risk shaping Gaza’s institutions, legal system and economy according to external, rather than Palestinian, interests, writes @boppenheim.bsky.social buff.ly/5LrYJ1R

🌟As 2025 draws to a close, it's time to review this year's @ecfr.eu analysis on the Middle East & North Africa, from ways forward in Gaza after a ceasefire, to Syria's political transition, regional escalation risks post-12 Day War and energy politics across the region.🧵👇

🎧 Following early December's Doha Forum, Mark Leonard brings together Ellie Geranmayeh and @hlovatt.bsky.social to discuss the geopolitical changes and diplomatic efforts shaping Middle Eastern politics, from Gaza's fragile future and Iran's nuclear conundrum. ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

🎙️ On the latest Arab Digest podcast episode, @kellyp90.bsky.social discusses the challenges facing refugees and IDPs in Syria, Sudan and Palestine 👇 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Reminder to join Atlantic Council Middle East's virtual conversation on European and US approaches to MENA this afternoon (14:00 London/15:00 Berlin) featuring @jbdacey.bsky.social 👇 www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/europe...

Iran is literally running out of water - a major emergency. My @ecfrmena.bsky.social paper says how European actors can actively and operationally support effective environmental cooperation between Iran and Gulf Arab states — linking climate adaptation with regional stability: tinyurl.com/3z7v5sey

✍️ The sweeping powers of the Board of Peace and the sidelining of Palestinian decision-making and sovereignty risk shaping Gaza’s institutions, legal system and economy according to external, rather than Palestinian, interests, writes Beth Oppenheim ecfr.eu/article/tami...

✍️ Rather than falling into passivity, Europeans must seize the initiative by working with Arab partners to shape US Gaza plans to ensure Palestinian ownership and a political track towards a two-state solution, writes Beth Oppenheim for @ecfr.eu ecfr.eu/article/tami...

✍️ The UNSC has passed a resolution to enact Trump’s Gaza plan. To sustain the fragile ceasefire, Europeans need to work with Arab partners to implement it in a way that addresses its flaws and secures Palestinian sovereignty, writes Beth Oppenheim ecfr.eu/article/tami...

🗓️ Sign up for Atlantic Council Middle East's Transatlantic Project virtual panel event on 17th December (14:00 London/15:00 Berlin) on "European and US approaches to MENA: Convergences and divergences” featuring @jbdacey.bsky.social 👇 www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/europe...

Glad to be represented at #DohaForum2025 with a panel on new transatlantic ties and evolving global order. With @ecfr.eu's Majda Ruge, Fred Fleitz, Mabel Lu Miao and Ebtisam Alketbi, moderated by Robin Wright.

A year after Assad’s fall, Syria has undergone major transformations, but huge challenges remain. In ECFR's latest WOMENP episode, Ellie Geranmayeh interviews Minister Hind Kabawat on political reforms, security challenges, and what meaningful stability now requires. ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

Political renewal is needed to argue Palestinian positions internationally, build consensus and apply pressure on actors that deviate from this. Until Palestinians have legitimate institutions that speak for them, some will be driven to violence to make themselves heard. ecfr.eu/publication/...

✍️ A year after Assad's fall, Europe must engage more decisively and on a higher level with Syria, while Damascus should see the value of Europe’s offer alongside the contributions of other key international stakeholders, writes @jbdacey.bsky.social 👇 karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

What does rebuilding Syria look like from inside the new government? On the WOMENP podcast, Minister Hind Kabawat—the only woman in the cabinet—discusses the country’s fragile transition and her mission to bring more women into positions of power. ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

ECFR podcast with Syrian Minister Hind Kabawat as part of our ongoing Women of Middle East Network for Peacebuilding project - One year after Assad: Syria’s struggle for security, recovery and reform @ecfr.eu @ecfrmena.bsky.social ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

A year after Assad’s fall, Syria has undergone major transformations, but huge challenges remain. In ECFR's latest WOMENP episode, Ellie Geranmayeh interviews Minister Hind Kabawat about Syria's fragile transition and what meaningful stability now requires ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

📰 @muhammadshehada.bsky.social speaks to @aljazeera.com about Israel's continued killing and starvation in Gaza, as well as destruction of its infrastructure despite the ceasefire agreement 👇 www.aljazeera.com/features/202...

📰 For Formiche, @cinziabianco.bsky.social comments that Italian PM Melon's invitation to the GCC Summit should be read a strategic gesture from the Gulf aimed at encouraging more Italian involvement in the region 👇 formiche.net/2025/12/il-g...

Are Europeans prematurely taking their eye off Syria and does Damascus undervalue the European role? Some thoughts on evolving Euro-Syrian ties for the excellent monthly Syria in Figures by Karam Shaar Advisory karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

✍️ A year after Assad's fall, Europe must engage more decisively and on a higher level with Syria, while Damascus should see the value of Europe’s offer alongside the contributions of other key international stakeholders, writes @jbdacey.bsky.social 👇 karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

One year after Assad’s departure, Europe’s role in Syria remains vital—yet undervalued. Both sides must deepen strategic engagement to support stability, reform, and lasting recovery, writes @jbdacey.bsky.social karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

✍️ The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act could offer a useful framework for Europeans and Gulf partners to work together on AI development, write @cinziabianco.bsky.social & Herman Quarles for @ecfrpower.bsky.social buff.ly/fZmFYEq

✍️ Squeezed by a brutal occupation, the dysfunctionality of the PA and the broader political system is apparent to all and each want a different fix. What is often ignored in this is what Palestinians want. @hlovatt.bsky.social & @tahanimustafa.bsky.social for @ecfr.eu ecfr.eu/publication/...

📰 @muhammadshehada.bsky.social speaks to @972mag.com about how Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza is helping Israel to engineer a new reality on the ground. Tune in here 👇 www.972mag.com/podcast-isra...

"Empowering and re-legitimising the PA is an urgent and necessary part of any deescalation strategy in the West Bank, efforts to secure a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, and the revival of credible Israeli-Palestinian peace talks" @hlovatt.bsky.social & @tahanimustafa.bsky.social

✍️ The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act could offer a useful framework for Europeans and Gulf partners to work together, argue @cinziabianco.bsky.social & Herman Quarles for @ECFRPower ecfr.eu/article/trum...

📖 NEW policy brief by @hlovatt.bsky.social & @tahanimustafa.bsky.social: Genuine political renewal for Palestine must begin with an end to the authoritarianism & impunity that have defined Abbas's rule, as well as to Israel’s annexationist ambitions and violence 👇 buff.ly/vMeQaYr

Big & important new @ecfr.eu read: Averting West Bank collapse: How to revive Palestinian politics - by @hlovatt.bsky.social & @tahanimustafa.bsky.social ecfr.eu/publication/... @ecfrmena.bsky.social

📰 Following the recent UNSC resolution endorsing a new plan for Western Sahara, @hlovatt.bsky.social speaks to @Euractiv.com about the need for a shift in EU policy 👇 buff.ly/ItAazCV

📰 @cinziabianco.bsky.social speaks to La Repubblica about the role Saudi Arabia can play on the global stage in a post-oil era 👇 www.repubblica.it/esteri/2025/...

As the UN Security Council votes to endorse Trump's 20-point peace plan, explore @ecfr.eu's expert analysis of the plan's shortcomings, expected challenges, and the necessity of its fine-tuning 👇

🧵 Ahead of MbS White House visit, @ecfr.eu's Ellie Geranmayeh, @camillelons.bsky.social & @cinziabianco.bsky.social unpack how 12-day war, backfiring of Iran's nuclear threshold status & Israel's Doha strikes impact Saudi nuclear calculus for @warontherocks.bsky.social

Investing in long-term stability and maritime security in the Middle East remains essential for Europeans, especially amid uncertainty over the American role, writes @camillelons.bsky.social buff.ly/sFCXka9

A power-sharing arrangement that exists between outright independence and integration into Morocco as envisaged by the autonomy plan could be negotiated, writes @hlovatt.bsky.social for @ecfr.eu 👇 ecfr.eu/article/west...

Oil prices barely flinched after June's 12-day war, but it would be a mistake to conclude Gulf producers have lost their leverage. Investing in long-term stability and maritime security in the region remains essential for Europeans, writes @camillelons.bsky.social buff.ly/8jwEoKB

✍️ Europeans should capitalise on the Polisario’s willingness to engage in renewed negotiations that would preserve the current economic interests of Morocco relating to Western Sahara’s natural resources, writes @hlovatt.bsky.social buff.ly/9ducliL

✍️ If European actors adjust their policies on navigating the diverse challenges and interests in Tunisia’s energy transition, a picture of green connectivity between Tunisia and its northerly neighbours may really begin to take shape 👇 @philippwa.bsky.social buff.ly/Bvl0eX2

✍️ If Europe wants credibility when invoking international law in Ukraine, Gaza or elsewhere, it cannot ignore the atrocities happening in Sudan. Though the options are limited, there are ways to hold the responsible accountable @cinziabianco.bsky.social @willbrownecfr.bsky.social buff.ly/B7uIpW9

"El-Fasher in North Darfur is now the epicentre of the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophe. Europe’s options are limited, but there are still ways to hold the responsible accountable" ecfr.eu/article/suda...

Our publications @ecfr.eu have been going gangbusters recently. This past month we have published a series of must-read policy briefs on Europe's southern flank: ecfr.eu

Glad to see this out! In my latest policy brief with @ecfr.eu, I argue that Europe needs a more coherent, horizontal and context-sensitive approach in its green energy relations with Tunisia to create mutual benefits and people-centered cooperation. #EU #Tunisia #COP30 #energytransition

✍️ A new approach to European-Tunisian clean energy cooperation could not only boost Tunisia’s economic development, but also act as a litmus test for the EU’s green diplomacy in other challenging political environments, writes @philippwa.bsky.social buff.ly/3wrcgvl

📰 For @cnn.com, @muhammadshehada.bsky.social comments on the challenge of isolated Hamas cells with no contact with its remaining leadership 👇 buff.ly/cxIh2t2

✍️ Serious diplomatic efforts from Europeans could help translate Hamas's current pragmatism into a concrete political and ideological shift, but they must move rapidly, writes @muhammadshehada.bsky.social for @ecfr.eu buff.ly/JURYNkm

✍️ Oil prices barely flinched after June's 12-day war, but it would be a mistake to conclude Gulf producers have lost their leverage. Investing in long-term stability and maritime security in the region remains essential for Europeans, writes @camillelons.bsky.social buff.ly/8jwEoKB

✍️ Germany’s policy towards Israel and its adherence to "Staatsräson" undermines its commitment to international law and the EU’s capacity to act as a geopolitical actor, writes Nele Anders @ecfr.eu 👇 buff.ly/ThBSYPE

📰 @tahanimustafa.bsky.social on the US plan to split Gaza into separate zones, for @wsj.com: “Gaza has represented the only patch of territorial contiguity for a Palestinian state. A plan like this could end up creating what Palestinians feared” 👇 buff.ly/nsKim1j

Positive news to see Polisario updating its 2007 peace proposal -- long overdue and something we @ecfr have been advocating for the past 4 years. On why this is needed, and how it can advance a Trump deal, here is my most recent piece: cidob.org/en/publicati...

New by @muhammadshehada.bsky.social @ecfr.eu on internal Hamas dynamics after the ceasefire: “The question is not whether Hamas will change overnight but whether diplomacy can evolve fast enough to meet Hamas at its most flexible before it returns to logic of perpetual war” ecfr.eu/article/dipl...