Israel and the Palestinian Territories
For over seven decades, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shaped Middle East politics. Hamas’ terror attack on October 7, 2023, and the Israeli military response in Gaza, have sparked a new phase in the conflict’s trajectory and efforts to resolve it, with lasting impacts that will transform Israeli and Palestinian societies, as well as regional dynamics. Building on over 30 years of partnering with Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders; facilitating confidence building steps between the parties; and informing policy considerations of U.S. and international mediators, USIP is supporting Israeli and Palestinian civil society partners seeking to foster trust within and between their traumatized societies and take joint action to prevent the spread of violent deterioration. The Institute also contributes to policy deliberations, with an emphasis on convening Israeli, Palestinian and regional partners to ensure insights from the ground inform the pursuit of a regionally-supported, just, peaceful and sustainable solution to the conflict.
Featured Publications
Palestinian Factions Pledge Unity: Another Diplomatic Win for China?
Hamas, Fatah and a dozen smaller Palestinian factions signed on Tuesday in Beijing a joint statement calling for, among other things, the formation of a national unity government. Fatah, the secular party that controls the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which perpetrated the October 7 terrorist attack that led to the ongoing war in Gaza, have been divided since 2007. Their rivalry has long been a thorn in the side of the Palestinian cause and numerous attempts at reconciliation have failed. This latest attempt comes as efforts to devise a post-war governance system for Gaza are picking up steam.
What the Houthi-Israel Exchange Might Mean for Escalation in the Middle East
The Middle East saw yet another escalatory episode over the weekend, as Israel and Yemen’s Houthis exchanged fire. On July 19, the Iran-backed Houthis launched an unprecedented drone attack on Israel, which hit an apartment building in downtown Tel Aviv, killing one and injuring at least 10 others. It was the first time that the Houthis killed or even harmed an Israeli, despite launching dozens of missile attacks on Israel since October 7. The next day, Israel struck back with an airstrike on the strategic port of Hodeida, marking the first time it attacked Yemen. The Israeli attack killed six, injured dozens more and left ablaze key oil facilities in the area.
Israel and Hezbollah Change the Rules, Test Redlines — Will it lead to War?
Tensions between Israel and the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah are at their highest point since their 2006 war. They have exchanged tit-for-tat attacks since October, displacing tens of thousands from northern Israel and southern Lebanon. But in recent weeks, both sides have escalated the violence and rhetoric. USIP’s Mona Yacoubian looks at what’s driving this escalation, what each side is trying to tell the other and the diplomatic efforts underway to lower the temperature.