Eurasia

A Two-State Solution That Can Work

The Case for an Israeli-Palestinian Confederation In July, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war in Gaza and the future of the Middle East. Afterward, Harris stressed her commitment to a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians—in her words, “the only …

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Lebanon is rocked again by exploding devices as Israel declares a new phase of war

Walkie-talkies exploded in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Wednesday in a second wave of attacks targeting devices a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, state media and officials for the militant group said. At least 20 people were killed and more than 450 wounded in the …

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The New College of EU Commissioners: How Did Central and Southeast Europe Fare?

Von der Leyen’s ‘cabinet’ for the next five years did not quite achieve gender parity. Its makeup also reflects how Poland’s clout has improved in Brussels since the Tusk government took power, while Hungary’s star continues to wane. After weeks of intensive negotiations with the 27 EU member states – …

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The Soviet Roots of Putin’s Foreign Policy Toward the Middle East

Despite the dichotomy between ideological, Soviet-era support for anti-Western regimes and interest-driven Putin-era support, there are several similarities. There are significant differences between the former Soviet Union’s Middle East foreign policy and that of current Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the Soviet era, Moscow strongly supported revolutionary regimes at odds …

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The Iranian Regime Looks Westward To Achieve Its Goals; In A Tactical Move, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Prepares The Ground For Dialogue With U.S. And Europe

Introduction It appears that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Iranian leadership are headed towards tactical dialogue with the West, with the aim of accomplishing the regime’s strategic goals. These goals include: a) improving Iran’s economy by getting the Western sanctions lifted and advancing massive investment in the Iranian …

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Hezbollah has Suffered ‘Major and Unprecedented Blow,’ Nasrallah Admits

Latest Developments Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah admitted in a televised speech on September 19 that the Iran-backed terrorist organization has suffered a “major and unprecedented blow” during a week in which thousands of communications devices carried by its operatives detonated without warning. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Nasrallah said that …

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ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in August 2024

ISIS carried out at least 19 confirmed attacks in August in the Homs, Raqqa, and Deir Ez Zor governorates. These attacks killed at least 12 pro-Assad regime soldiers and seven civilians and wounded at least 25 others. There were also six high quality* attacks carried out during the month. The …

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Iran Update, September 17, 2024

Israel simultaneously detonated thousands of pagers used by Lebanese Hezbollah members across Lebanon and Syria on September 17.[1] Lebanese officials reported that around 2,800 individuals were injured, though some reports suggest that the number is closer to 4,000, most of whom are Hezbollah members.[2] The attack also injured the Iranian …

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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (September 9 – 16 , 2024)

This past week Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 65 attacks on military and civilian targets in Israel, including towns and villages which were attacked for the first time since the beginning of hostilities on October 8, 2023. Three IDF soldiers were injured, one of them in the reserves, and property damage …

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Kosovo: The Making Of A Strategic Maverick – OpEd

Albin Kurti’s government has shown a convincing propensity to explore new frontiers in global engagement, economic cooperation and leveraging recent geopolitical calibrations. Over the last three years, Kurti’s diplomatic endeavors, unflappable leadership and professional rigor in foreign policy have proved to be beneficial for the citizens of Kosovo. The ongoing …

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