Middle East/North Africa
Yemen conflict reveals shortcomings of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy
With its vast oil riches and status as custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia has long practiced conservative and discreet foreign relations. But since his ascent to the throne, King Salman has
Iran tests Saudi, American resolve in the Gulf of Aden
Last week, an Iranian humanitarian vessel departed from the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, heading for the Houthi-held port of Hudaydah in Yemen. The manifest claimed a cargo of humanitarian
Netanyahu’s fragile coalition could leave the Prime Minister powerless
The Israeli Knesset, newly dominated by right wing, religious political parties, could hamper Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s progress on crucial economic and security issues. The Israeli Knesset approved Benjamin Netanyahu’s
Will Jabhat al-Nusra eclipse Islamic State in Syria?
Jihadist groups have made some recent military gains against the regime forces in Syria. Both the Assad regime and Islamic State are under extreme political and economic pressure. Could Jabhat
Two ways WWII’s legacy still links Europe to the Middle East
This May 7th marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe (VE Day). Just a short distance away, the Middle East still remains a major source of
Saudi Arabia’s new foreign policy is assertive, but risky
When King Salman assumed the throne in January, most regional commentators expected continuity in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen shows, however, that Riyadh is
Russia-Iran weapons sale a deal of mutual opportunity
The Kremlin’s decision last week to lift a ban on the sale of the S-300 air-defense missile system to Iran has sparked widespread political backlash from those who fear Iran’s growing
Iran’s pilgrimage boycott threatens more than Saudi tourism revenues
Iran’s cancellation of pilgrimage flights to Saudi Arabia is an indication of deteriorating relations, using lucrative religious tourism as a foreign policy tool. The moves by Tehran come in wake of
Can Israel become the world’s next tech capital?
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to a rapid influx of Jewish immigration, with no fewer than 1.6 million new residents settling in Israel. Many had been trained in engineering and