Changing Democratic Party Views on Israel and Palestine Boost US Democratic Socialists

The Israeli war on Gaza that has resulted in at least 73,000 Palestinian deaths, more than half of whom have been women and children, has made Democrats in general much more critical of Israel and sympathetic toward the Palestinian people than in prior years. Indicative of this sentiment, on July 15, 2026, 103 Democrats in the House of Representatives voted […]

arabcenterdc.org

Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Dilemma

On July 13, 2026, bombs struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport as an Iranian plane arrived carrying a Houthi delegation that had attended the funeral of Iran’s assassinated supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although Yemen’s internationally recognized government publicly claimed responsibility for the operation, saying that its patience with Iranian aircraft in Yemeni airspace had run out, the Houthis […]

arabcenterdc.org

Washington Policy Weekly: Trump Announces Gaza Disarmament and Israeli Withdrawal Agreement

President Trump announced an agreement for Hamas’s complete disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, calling it a step toward establishing a new Palestinian government. Trump said that the agreement was reached by the Board of Peace, the body he established to oversee the 20-point Gaza plan.

arabcenterdc.org

Trump’s War on the ICC is an Attack on Global Justice

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a political campaign aimed at dismantling what the United States Department of State (DOS) formally characterized as “an intolerable threat to U.S. sovereignty” presented by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The official announcement issued by the Office of the Spokesperson at the State Department explained that the campaign in question “will feature a […]

arabcenterdc.org

How to Fail at Preventing Atrocities: Sudan’s Unlearned Lessons

Since June 2026, the United Nations, the United States, several European governments, and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have warned of an imminent risk of mass atrocities in el-Obeid. The city is a strategic turf for the belligerents in Sudan’s war, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Besieged […]

arabcenterdc.org

What Algeria’s Elections Really Revealed

The results of Algeria’s July 2, 2026, parliamentary elections were entirely predictable. The National Liberation Front (FLN), the party that has dominated political life since independence in 1962, emerged in first position with 91 of the 407 seats in the People’s National Assembly. The pro-establishment National Democratic Rally (RND) followed with 74 seats, and the centrist Future Front came in […]

arabcenterdc.org

Neither Iran nor Israel: Saudi Arabia’s Vision for Lebanon

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS)’s recent reaffirmation of support for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun underscores an increasingly important feature of Riyadh’s regional strategy. During a July 20, 2026, telephone conversation with Aoun, MBS reiterated Saudi support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial dignity, and emphasized Riyadh’s readiness to assist the country’s recovery. The call came […]

arabcenterdc.org

Washington Policy Weekly: House Passes FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, Despite Concerns over US-Israeli Technology Integration

The House passed the $1.15 trillion FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 216 to 212. The bill retains Section 219, which would integrate the US and Israeli militaries, despite attempts by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) to remove it.

arabcenterdc.org

Bloomsbury Collections

bloomsburycollections.com

Trump Threatens “Major Military Punishment” for Yemen’s Houthis

Until this week, the Houthis had been waiting to see whether their military involvement might be needed or called for in the conflict between the United States and Iran, and had largely kept their powder dry apart from a limited number of attacks targeting Israel. But the recent internal flare-up between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government, as well […]

arabcenterdc.org

Wars of Terror: Review of Azmi Bishara’s ISIS, The March to Dystopia

​There was worldwide sigh of relief when the ninety-member ‘Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS’, founded under US leadership in September 2014, announced the vanquishing of the notorious insurgency in Syria and Iraq towards the end of 2017. However, the Coalition is still alive and well, continuing to acquire new members and publish statements on its ongoing war to this day. […]

arabcenterdc.org

What's holding up the Gaza stabilization mission?

A multinational stabilization mission is supposed to ensure the reconstruction of Gaza. Without political consensus among Israel, Hamas and the Arab states, its implementation remains uncertain.

dw.com

Israel’s Policy of Irreversible Occupation

Since October 2023, Israel’s quest to establish itself as the preeminent power in the Middle East and to expand its territory at the expense of its neighbors has moved into overdrive. In East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, Israel has implemented a bloody drive to conquer territory and ethnically cleanse indigenous inhabitants in the name of a […]

arabcenterdc.org

Marc Lynch, America’s Middle East: The Ruination of a Region

Marc Lynch, America’s Middle East: The Ruination of a Region (New York: Oxford University Press, 2025, 272 pp.) For decades, Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, has been a pioneer among US political scientists working on the Middle East. This book attests not only to his expertise, knowledge, and analytical skills, but also to his […]

arabcenterdc.org

Washington Policy Weekly: Nearly Half of House Democrats Vote to End Aid to Israel

A total of 103 Democrats, nearly half of the caucus, supported an amendment that would have cut $3.3 billion in foreign military aid for Israel., while 98 voted against it and 10 voted present.

arabcenterdc.org

Sexual Violence as a Tool of Domination and Displacement in Palestine

In May 2026, the State of Israel was added to the United Nations (UN) blacklist of governments that commit sexual violence in conflict zones. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported that the agency had verified at least 31 cases from 2023 to 2025, emphasizing that the report should not be seen as comprehensive but instead as “indicative of incidents and patterns.” […]

arabcenterdc.org

Hamas Dissolves its Government in Gaza, but the Board of Peace Remains the Problem

On July 6, 2026, Hamas’s Gaza government announced that it had dissolved its Emergency Committee, the body that has run the enclave since October 2023, and would fully transfer its administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The NCAG was established in January 2026 under the Board of Peace (BoP) mandate. It consists of 15 […]

arabcenterdc.org

Israel’s Election and Eisenkot’s Arab Coalition Dilemma

Israelis are set to head to the polls on October 27, 2026, for what some have touted as the most consequential election in the country’s history. Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff and leader of the Yashar (Straight) Party, has surged in the polls, overtaking Beyachad (Together), the opposition alliance of Naftali Bennett and Yair […]

arabcenterdc.org

From Lexington to Hormuz, US foreign policy at 250

Interview: At 250, America faces a crisis of empire and democracy, Dr.Khalil Jahshan warns, as foreign wars, support for Israel and Trumpism erode the republic.

newarab.com

Washington Policy Weekly: Trump Declares Iran MOU “Over”

President Trump said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran was “over,” calling Iranian leaders “scum,” though he added that he would still allow negotiations to continue.

arabcenterdc.org

Opposition Parties Offer No Alternative Political Visions in Israel’s Elections

Israel is preparing for new elections, whether they take place on time at the end of October 2026 or are brought forward to an earlier date in September. In recent weeks, there has been a significant escalation in the pace of preparations by Israeli parties, especially those of the opposition, as they seek to reorganize their ranks and internal affairs. […]

arabcenterdc.org

Tunisia, Turkey, and the New Authoritarian Playbook

On May 21, 2026, an Ankara appeals court annulled the 2023 congress of Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). It removed the chairman who had led the party to its first nationwide victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2024 and reinstated the deeply unpopular predecessor the party had voted to replace. […]

arabcenterdc.org

Washington Policy Weekly: US-Iran Talks Advance Amid Congressional Scrutiny of Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey

Ingie Gohar reports on indirect US-Iran talks in Qatar, congressional efforts on Syria’s terrorism designation and TPS protections, and renewed scrutiny of US policy toward Lebanon and Turkey. The week’s developments show Washington balancing postwar diplomacy with Iran against unresolved regional disputes over sanctions, arms transfers, and military authorization.

arabcenterdc.org

How Drone Warfare Prolongs Conflicts in South-West Asia and North Africa

Drone warfare in South-West Asia and North Africa has expanded dramatically in recent years. For many belligerents, drones have become the weapon of choice, not only because they are relatively inexpensive, hit targets with precision, and can terrorize troops and civilians, but also because they can shift power dynamics, giving the weaker party the ability to outlast the stronger one. […]

arabcenterdc.org

Washington Policy Weekly: Israel and Lebanon Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered 14-point framework agreement aimed at ending the Lebanon war. In his remarks that day, Secretary Rubio said that the deal was only the “first step” in further n...

arabcenterdc.org

The Trilateral Framework Agreement: Drivers and Implications for Lebanon

On 26 June, the United States announced that a “trilateral framework” had been agreed between Lebanon and Israel – with US support, redefining the nature of the conflict between them.1 This followed five rounds of US-sponsored direct negotiations since 14 April. The text of the agreement, announced by the US State Department and signed by the Lebanese side, stipulates that […]

arabcenterdc.org