What Happens to Israel-Azerbaijan Bilateral Relations If the Partnership Actually Succeeds in Ending Iran’s Islamic Republic?
The Flotilla to Gaza Is Designed to Create a Media Spectacle, Not to Deliver Aid
Qatar’s Activities in the Middle East Have Handily Been Described as Combining the Functions of the Arsonist and the Firefighter
Judging by Its Operations, the Israel Defense Forces Believes It Has Total Control over the Area
Numerous Reports Have Surfaced of Militias Sent to Fight on Russia’s Side in Ukraine, Drawn from Countries Under Iran’s Influence
Sahwa Activists Have Decentralized and Are Strewn Across Universities, Charities and Cyberspace, Making the Movement Difficult to Uproot
Reports Indicate Saudi Intelligence Has Arrested Alimi’s Brother-in-Law, the Deputy Director of His Office, for Cooperating with the Terrorist Group
Spotlight: Israel and Hamas Make a Deal
Israel and Hamas have entered into the first phase of a peace agreement for Gaza. If approved by the Knesset, Israel will withdraw to a predetermined line and the Israeli hostages held by Hamas—20 living and 28 dead—would be freed within 72 hours. Israel also would release an agreed-upon list of Palestinian prisoners.
What’s next? Even if an internally divided Hamas releases the hostages, will it agree to disarm and refrain from participating in any new Gazan government? Will events proceed so that Israel believes it can withdraw from Gaza, even partially? What security measures are possible under such circumstances? Ending incipient hostilities is a necessary first step, but only if these and other seemingly intransigent problems still under negotiation are solved.
What’s next? Even if an internally divided Hamas releases the hostages, will it agree to disarm and refrain from participating in any new Gazan government? Will events proceed so that Israel believes it can withdraw from Gaza, even partially? What security measures are possible under such circumstances? Ending incipient hostilities is a necessary first step, but only if these and other seemingly intransigent problems still under negotiation are solved.
Israel’s Capacity, Once Roused, for the Application of Hard Power Has Been Amply Demonstrated
Middle East Quarterly - Current Issue
Founded in 1994 by Daniel Pipes, MEQ is the Middle East Forum’s journal intended for both scholars and the educated public. Policymakers, opinion-makers, academics, and journalists write for and read the Quarterly, which is known for exclusive interviews, in-depth historical articles, and book reviews on subjects ranging from archaeology to politics and on countries from Morocco to Iran.
Fall 2025 Volume 32: Number 4
Fall 2025 Volume 32: Number 4
Middle East Forum Observer
Founded in 2024, the Observer provides rapid analysis on leading Middle East developments, from Marrakech to Mashhad and the Bab el-Mandeb to the Black Sea.
Launched in 2006, Islamist Watch is a project of the Middle East Forum. We work to combat the ideas and institutions of lawful Islamism in the United States and throughout the West. Arguing that “radical Islam is the problem, moderate Islam is the solution,” we seek to expose the Islamist organizations that currently dominate the debate, while identifying and promoting the work of moderate Muslims.
CAMPUS WATCH, a project of the Middle East Forum, reviews and critiques Middle East studies in North America with an aim to improving them. The project mainly addresses five problems: analytical failures, the mixing of politics with scholarship, intolerance of alternative views, apologetics, and the abuse of power over students. Campus Watch fully respects the freedom of speech of those it debates while insisting on its own freedom to comment on their words and deeds.
Antisemitism
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PHILADELPHIA – August 20, 2024 – A member of Maryland’s “Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention” is out of a job. Ayman Nassar, the second Islamist commissioner to get tossed from the hate crimes board within three months, resigned on August 19 amid public outrage over his role in terror-linked organizations and his history of anti-American, antisemitic, and homophobic hate speech.
Nassar has accused Israel of harvesting the organs of living Palestinians and shared posts referring to Gaza as a “Holocaust.” He is chairman of the Aafia Foundation, a “terrorist support group” that seeks to free “Lady Al Qaeda” Aafia Siddiqui and other convicted terrorists from prison.
