ISTANBUL— Even in an otherwise remarkable year for the broader Middle East, the most recent developments have underscored the degree to which the strategic realities of the region have changed. The death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was the latest consequence of the tumultuous Arab Awakening. The United States’ announcement of a final withdrawal from [...]

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BRUSSELS—The United States, European Union, United Nations, and NATO may soon be confronted with a new reality in the eastern Mediterranean, one characterized by heightened tensions, possible naval incidents, and the risk of escalation. Competition over what are likely to be enormous oil and gas reserves is a major reason for this new dynamic, but [...]

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WASHINGTON — Despite last-minute maneuvering on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, the tortuous Israel-Palestinian peace process is set to reach another critical juncture on Friday when the Palestinians submit a bid to seek full UN membership. Although polls indicate widespread support in the international community for a two-state [...]

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As events in Syria take an increasingly violent turn, the potential for the Assad regime being driven from power grows by the day. This is not yet a likely outcome – the ability of the Syrian authorities to suppress the uprising is substantial. But a straightforward return to pre-revolt conditions in Syria is probably the [...]

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My colleague Joseph Wood has nicely captured one aspect of the recent tumult in Egypt that has gone mostly unnoticed in Western commentary. “Part of the difficulty we have in seeing the next surprise is the “social science” mentality of the West and our policy processes,” he writes. “We want empirically validated conclusions with which [...]

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WASHINGTON — Once again, European and American policymakers are surprised by a sweeping popular uprising. The outcomes and implications of what is currently happening in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Algeria, Syria, and other countries of the Middle East are far from clear, and the circumstances in all the affected countries are different.  But the surprise [...]

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The year 2011 started with mixed signals in the Middle East.  While the outcome of change in Tunisia remains unclear, the revolution has nevertheless sparked debates  about the future of many Arab regimes in the region.  The Israeli-Palestinian conflict appears as deadlocked as ever, while Lebanon stands (once more) at the brink of renewed conflict [...]

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LONDON/ISTANBUL — When disaster strikes, whether it is a hurricane, a flood, or a tsunami, the people affected need assistance—and they need it fast.  If there is a positive byproduct of these catastrophic events, it is the potential to bring people, nations, and countries closer together. So was the case last weekend when Israel faced [...]

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WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a formal end to the American combat role in Iraq. Although a very substantial military presence of around 50,000 troops will remain for training and more limited counterterrorism operations, the shift in mission marks a turning point in the almost eight-year-long U.S. engagement. As America heads [...]

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BRUSSELS — After a 20-month stalemate, direct Middle East peace talks are about to resume this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak meeting in Washington at the invitation of the Obama administration. The talks are a welcome opportunity to set the [...]

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