📺WEBCAST TODAY: Join us at 9am ET for a timely conversation with Amb. James Jeffrey, Anna Borshchevskaya, Michael Herzog, and Amb. Michael Jacobson previewing President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House. Andrew Tabler will moderate the event.

ICYMI: In June, Institute expert Anna Borshchevskaya told the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs that the fall of Assad presents a once in a generation opportunity to reshape the balance of power in the Mideast.

"Today, the main barriers to redeveloping Syrian energy appear to be escalating internal political tensions and an unclear payment and contracting authority," wrote Audrey Kost and Andrew Tabler in August.

Russia has been quietly reconsolidating its influence in Syria. The West needs to counter this and present Damascus with better alternatives, writes Anna Borshchevskaya in RealClearWorld.

New from @mattlevitt.bsky.social and Michael Jacobson in @foreignpolicy.com: "If the past is precedent, then Hezbollah will rely heavily on those international networks to bounce back from its recent setbacks."

📺WEBCAST TODAY: Join us at 12pm ET for a keynote conversation with Lebanese Member of Parliament Fouad Makhzoumi followed by a panel w/ Hanin Ghaddar and Eran Lerman, all moderated by Robert Satloff.

"For Rabin, integrity was not a posture; it was the baseline of leadership," writes Institute expert David Makovsky in Times of Israel.

Read the new study “A Roadmap for Israel-Lebanon Peace" by Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari. 🔗https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/roadmap-israel-lebanon-peace

For the first time in decades, newspapers, talk shows, and cafes in Lebanon are buzzing with talk about the possibility of peace w/ Israel. Tune in on November 6 at 12pm ET for a keynote conversation w/ Lebanese Member of Parliament Fouad Makhzoumi followed by a panel w/ Hanin Ghaddar & Eran Lerman.

"Once Rabin had thought through a decision, you couldn’t argue him out of it. But he had the courage to admit his mistakes," writes Amb. Dennis Ross in @theatlantic.com.

📺Next week, President Trump will host President Ahmed al-Sharaa for a meeting that will reportedly include Syria’s induction into the Global Coalition to Defeat IS. Tune in on Friday, November 7 at 9am ET for an expert conversation examining critical bilateral issues.

New from David Makovsky in Times of Israel: "Rabin’s legacy reminds us that strength is measured not only by deterrence or resolve, but by the moral courage to confront one’s own failures."

"In nearly every category of national interest, what happens in the Middle East is of direct concern to the people of the United States," said former Vice President Richard Cheney in a special address to the Institute's annual conference in 2007. The following is a transcript of his remarks:

#Hezbollah Is Rearming, Putting Cease-Fire at Risk. Some of those weapons are coming in via seaports and weakened but still functional smuggling routes through Syria, some of the people said. Hezbollah is manufacturing some new weapons itself www.wsj.com/world/middle...

For full context, see my piece in CTC Sentinel Hamas Plots in Europe: A Shift Toward External Operations? www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy... @washinstitute.bsky.social

📺UPCOMING WEBCAST: Is There a Pathway for Lebanon-Israel Peace? Featuring keynote remarks by Lebanese MP Fouad Makhzoumi followed by a panel w/ Hanin Ghaddar and Eran Lerman. Watch live starting at 12pm ET on Thursday, November 6.

"Thirty years after Rabin’s assassination, Israel is ignoring the lessons of the most honest statesman I’ve ever known," writes Amb. Dennis Ross in @theatlantic.com.

"China understands that deepening ties helps fuel its satellite industry’s rise; the United States should too. And the Middle East is key to both," writes Henry Tugendhat.

For those who want to seize the moment, now is the time to produce a UNSC resolution that empowers the Board of Peace and thus the ISF, write Amb. Dennis Ross and Assaf Orion.

"Syria’s immediate challenge is internal unity," writes Amb. James Jeffrey in Al Majalla.

📺Next week, Iraq will go to the polls for an election that will ultimately determine the composition of the next government. Tune in on Tuesday, November 4 at 12pm ET for a discussion with three top experts in Iraqi affairs.

New from Amb. Dennis Ross and Assaf Orion: Now is the time to craft a UNSC resolution that empowers the Board of Peace to oversee a “technocratic” Palestinian administration and the ISF.

From water and energy cooperation to opening the Ras Naqoura/Rosh Hanikra crossing to foreign tourist traffic, Israel and Lebanon can take incremental peacemaking steps even in advance of an agreement, write Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari.

📺Tune in on Thursday, November 6 at 12pm ET for a webcast consisting of two separate, sequential video discussions: a keynote conversation with Lebanese MP Fouad Makhzoumi, followed by a panel with Hanin Ghaddar and Eran Lerman. Watch: www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

"For now, the only thing that seems to unite China’s intended global audience around the GGI is a shared sense that reforms are needed. But that doesn’t mean it’s weak," writes Henry Tugendhat in @foreignpolicy.com.

📺Iraq will go to the polls next week. Join us on Tuesday, November 4 at 12pm ET as three top experts in Iraqi affairs discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections, how the outcome might affect the country's trajectory, and more. Watch: www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

New from David Makovsky and Shira Efron in The National Interest: "Israel must make a major shift in mindset: the PA, which Netanyahu now defines as part of the problem, should become a key part of the solution."

New from Henry Tugendhat in @foreignpolicy.com: Beijing's Global Governance Initiative has an undefined time frame and vague objectives, but these qualities could yield diplomatic clout and unite countries whose interests may otherwise diverge from China's.

Who will decide the composition and authority of the the committee that will temporarily govern Gaza? Ghaith al-Omari explains why U.S. action is needed to ensure that Hamas does not find a backdoor into the various bodies that will govern the Strip.

"The main obstacle preventing the leap from rhetoric to peacemaking is Hezbollah and its allies in the Amal movement," write Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari Read more⬇️

"Failure to counter Russia in Syria will cost the West globally," writes Anna Borshchevskaya in RealClearWorld.

📺Tune in on Thursday, November 6 at 12pm ET for a keynote conversation with Lebanese Member of Parliament Fouad Makhzoumi, followed by a panel discussion with Hanin Ghaddar and Eran Lerman, all moderated by Robert Satloff.

📺Tune in on Tuesday, November 4 at 12pm ET for a timely discussion with Mina al-Oraibi, Munqith Dagher, and Amb. James Jeffrey on Iraq's parliamentary election. David Schenker will moderate the event.

Syria's internal unity is critical for the region's future, writes Amb. James Jeffrey in Al Majalla.

For the first time in decades, discussions have emerged about the possibility of Israel-Lebanon peace. Even in advance of an agreement, the two countries could take several peacemaking steps, write Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari. 🔗More: www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

Even in advance of an agreement, Lebanon and Israel can take incremental steps toward peace. This will be an uphill climb in a country long dominated by Iran’s chief regional proxy, write Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari.

For the first time in years, PM Netanyahu and President Aoun are articulating the possibility of ending the state of war between Israel and Lebanon. The two leaders have cracked the door open for future diplomacy, write Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari.

An Algeria-Morocco peace deal? Sabina Henneberg and Souhire Medini explain what such a deal might look like.

New from Sabina Henneberg: "After Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, the country became somewhat of a victim of its own success: the perception that its democratic transition was secure led to complacency in sustained economic assistance."

New from Hanin Ghaddar, Robert Satloff, and Ehud Yaari: "While global attention is focused on the potential for ending the Gaza war, a refreshingly positive discussion has also emerged about the possibility of peace on Israel’s northern front with Lebanon."

Washington, D.C. — The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is pleased to announce that Michael Jacobson has rejoined the organization as a senior fellow in the Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Press release: www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/press-...

There will be no peace, sovereignty, or reconstruction for postwar Lebanon until more of Hezbollah's weapons are confiscated, but Beirut appears unwilling to tackle the task beyond the southern border zone - new from David Schenker in The National Interest www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

An Algeria-Morocco "peace deal"? Although the two countries have very poor relations, they are not at war. Sabina Henneberg and @souhiremedini.bsky.social explain what a deal might look like.

On November 11, Iraq will go to the polls. What are the likely returns for incumbent PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other key candidates? Tune in on Tuesday, November 4 at 12pm ET for a discussion w/ Mina al-Oraibi, Munqith Dagher, and James Jeffrey. 📺: www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

New from Sabina Henneberg and @souhiremedini.bsky.social Souhire Medini: "The United States is well-positioned to help bridge the gap between Algeria and Morocco."

"At its core, the new counterterrorism strategy should make clear how it views the U.S. role in leading global CT efforts—a mantle that America has worn with considerable success since 9/11," writes Michael Jacobson.

“The critical issue right now is to begin to put in place the alternative administration. That starts with the Board of Peace," Amb. Dennis Ross told @cnn.com's @biannagolodryga.bsky.social.

New from Amb. James Jeffrey in Al Majalla: "Syria’s immediate challenge is internal unity."

On November 11, Iraq will go to the polls for an election that will determine the composition of the next government. Tune in on Tuesday, November 4 at 12pm ET for a discussion w/ Mina al-Oraibi, Munqith Dagher and Amb. James Jeffrey previewing the upcoming elections. David Schenker will moderate.

Amb. Dennis Ross spoke with @cbsnews.com about Hamas disarmament, Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel, the Gaza ceasefire, and more.