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United States Institute of Peace

Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

Director, Israel, The Palestinian Territories, and the Region Program

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Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen is the director of the Israel, The Palestinian Territories, and the Region program at the U.S. Institute of Peace and frequently presents and publishes in a variety of media, policy and academic forums on political, diplomatic and civil society efforts related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Arab-Israeli relations. She has published on Israeli and Palestinian religious peacebuilding efforts and is co-author of a forthcoming USIP/Cornell University press volume examining the diplomatic efforts of successive U.S. administrations toward the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Proficient in Arabic and Hebrew, Kurtzer-Ellenbogen has previously worked with the U.S. Department of State as an Arabic language specialist, and as the program officer for the Kennedy School of Government’s Middle East Initiative at Harvard University.

Publications By Lucy

Is a Saudi-Israel Normalization Agreement on the Horizon?

Is a Saudi-Israel Normalization Agreement on the Horizon?

Thursday, September 28, 2023

By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen;  Ambassador Hesham Youssef;  Robert Barron;  Adam Gallagher

In recent months, a drumbeat has built around the U.S. effort to negotiate a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The deal would be a tectonic shift in Middle East geopolitics, but also carries major implications for other actors beyond the three negotiating parties. Israel would, of course, benefit from normalized relations with the Saudis — long seen as the “holy grail” of potential normalization agreements for the country. The Saudis, in turn, would see their interests advanced through strengthened U.S partnership in key areas. But this deal could also have serious implications for the future of the Palestinian national movement and, further afield, for the role of China in the Middle East.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Peace Processes

Regional Actors Seek to Douse Flames Fueled by Jerusalem Tensions

Regional Actors Seek to Douse Flames Fueled by Jerusalem Tensions

Thursday, April 13, 2023

By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen;  Ambassador Hesham Youssef

The saying that history doesn’t repeat, but rhymes is no truer than in Jerusalem. Two years have yet to pass since the large-scale escalation that took root in the city morphed into deadly violence between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel and an Israel-Hamas military escalation that claimed the lives of over 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. Now, once again, events in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan have become proximate cause for a cascading series of violent events that have victimized Palestinians and Israelis, and opened another chapter of contested narratives and mutual recriminations.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

Takeaways from Blinken’s Trip to the Middle East

Takeaways from Blinken’s Trip to the Middle East

Friday, February 3, 2023

By: Robert Barron;  Caroline Dibble;  Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen;  Garrett Nada;  Ambassador Hesham Youssef

The Middle East has not been a high priority for the Biden administration thus far, with issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and escalating tensions with China taking precedence. However, recent developments in the region are catching the administration’s attention, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank earlier this week sought to reaffirm U.S. engagement in the Middle East amid political turnover in Israel, spiraling violence in the Israeli-Palestinian arena, stepped-up Iran-Israel tensions and a deepening economic crisis in Egypt.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Peace Processes

What Does Israel’s New Government Mean for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

What Does Israel’s New Government Mean for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

Thursday, January 5, 2023

By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

As 2022 came to a close, Benjamin Netanyahu once again took the helm of Israel’s government just 18 months after losing power in the wake of a series of stalemated elections. Already Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu’s approach to foreign policy, and to the conflict with and occupation of the Palestinians, is to some extent a known quantity. However, with his comeback and governing coalition dependent on the support and partnership of once-fringe extremist parties and politicians, 2023 holds the potential for conflict-driving disruption. USIP’s Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen discusses the possible implications of Israel’s new government for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for Israel’s regional and foreign relations.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Peace Processes

Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen on Israel’s Election

Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen on Israel’s Election

Thursday, November 17, 2022

By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

A coalition involving several extreme right-wing parties has Benjamin Netanyahu poised to return as Israel’s prime minister. “In some sense he owes them a debt,” says USIP’s Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen. “What is the cost being extracted by these right-wing parties” as the government formation process begins?

Type: Podcast

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