The Azerbaijani model is not an anomaly. It is a...
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Topics: Post-Soviet Geopolitics; Global and regional powers; Inter-state conflicts; FSU states domestic political and social affairs;
Kazakhstan Today: Economy, Society, and Demographic Transformation. Part II
The analysis below examines statistical data on contemporary Kazakhstan, focusing...
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Central Asia Leaves Russia’s Orbit and Becomes a Focus of American Strategy
Russia no longer sets the terms. What remains of its...
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The Sausage and the Latte: Two Worlds Within One Language
At first glance, the social anthropology of Israeli society appears...
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“Perished Civilization”: A Historical Investigation That Offers a New Perspective on the Caucasus
In September 2026, the book “Znykla tsyvilizatsiia — nepomichena katastrofa”...
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Kazakhstan Today: Economy, Society, and Demographic Transformation. Part I.
The analysis below examines statistical data on contemporary Kazakhstan, focusing...
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Herzog’s Visit to Baku and the Hijab Controversy: Who Was Behind the “Israeli Connection” Narrative?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Azerbaijan to attend the Seventh...
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Competing Islams in Central Asia
More than three decades after the Soviet collapse, analysts still...
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The Kremlin Stays Silent: Russia’s Neighbors Are Building a Region Without It
On October 2, Ilham Aliyev told the congress of his...
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Minority Voters in Latvia’s 2026 Election
The 2026 Saeima election again offered Latvia’s Russophone electorate several...
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Can Israel Connect to Syria’s New Oil Routes?
Dr. Elai Rettig
September 7, 2026
Syria is reviving plans for major oil pipelines linking Iraq and other Gulf oil producers to the Mediterranean Sea. At first glance, such projects may appear to compete with Israel’s
Power Without Integration:
A Cautious Model for Electricity Cooperation Between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon
Dr. Elai Rettig
August 16, 2026
Electricity cooperation between Israel and Syria is technically possible, but would be considerably more difficult than the indirect gas exports that are already taking place via Jordan. Unlike natural gas,
Israeli Gas Exports to Syria:
The Dilemma of Formalizing Direct Gas Cooperation
Dr. Elai Rettig
July 2, 2026
Israeli gas exports to Syria are already a reality, but they are conducted indirectly, through swap deals and resale arrangements with Jordan and Egypt rather than through a formal Israel-Syria
Azerbaijan’s Entry into Israeli Waters May Open New Export Routes with Turkey
Dr. Elai Rettig
April 9, 2025
The decision by SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, to press ahead with a gas exploration license in Israeli waters marks another significant step in the ever-deepening partnership between Israel and
The Syrian Pipeline Game: How Turkey’s Plans Affect Israel’s Regional Ambitions
Dr. Elai Rettig
January 13, 2025
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has revived Turkey’s plans to construct oil and gas pipelines through the country, turning it into a regional “energy corridor” for neighboring
Is the Aphrodite Gas Field
Politically Viable?
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
October 15, 2024
The companies that share ownership of the Aphrodite gas field announced on September 1, 2024 that they have submitted an updated development plan to the Cypriot government and are awaiting
Relieving Gaza’s Electricity Burden After the War
Dr. Elai Rettig
September 9, 2024
The Gaza Strip’s heavy dependence on electricity and diesel supplied by Israel has turned from an Israeli strategic advantage into an economic and humanitarian burden for Israel. The reconstruction of
The Great Sea Interconnector: Prospects for an Electrical Cable Connecting Greece, Cyprus, and Israel
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
July 25, 2024
In recent years, energy security has become a central issue for many countries, not least those that suffer from political and energy isolation. The Iron Swords War has greatly
Fuel Supply in Gaza – Needs and Uses
Dr. Elai Rettig
November 16, 2023
This article provides an overview of the current fuel supply situation in the Gaza Strip. It examines how much fuel is needed for Gaza’s basic humanitarian needs, how much fuel
The War in Gaza and the Implications for Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
November 15, 2023
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2,231, November 15, 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The war with Hamas in Gaza and the clashes in the north against Hezbollah are inevitably affecting both the
Can Israel Connect to Syria’s New Oil Routes?
Dr. Elai Rettig
September 7, 2026
Syria is reviving plans for major oil pipelines linking Iraq and other Gulf oil producers to the Mediterranean Sea. At first glance, such projects may appear to compete with Israel’s
Power Without Integration:
A Cautious Model for Electricity Cooperation Between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon
Dr. Elai Rettig
August 16, 2026
Electricity cooperation between Israel and Syria is technically possible, but would be considerably more difficult than the indirect gas exports that are already taking place via Jordan. Unlike natural gas,
Israeli Gas Exports to Syria:
The Dilemma of Formalizing Direct Gas Cooperation
Dr. Elai Rettig
July 2, 2026
Israeli gas exports to Syria are already a reality, but they are conducted indirectly, through swap deals and resale arrangements with Jordan and Egypt rather than through a formal Israel-Syria
Azerbaijan’s Entry into Israeli Waters May Open New Export Routes with Turkey
Dr. Elai Rettig
April 9, 2025
The decision by SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, to press ahead with a gas exploration license in Israeli waters marks another significant step in the ever-deepening partnership between Israel and
The Syrian Pipeline Game: How Turkey’s Plans Affect Israel’s Regional Ambitions
Dr. Elai Rettig
January 13, 2025
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has revived Turkey’s plans to construct oil and gas pipelines through the country, turning it into a regional “energy corridor” for neighboring
Is the Aphrodite Gas Field
Politically Viable?
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
October 15, 2024
The companies that share ownership of the Aphrodite gas field announced on September 1, 2024 that they have submitted an updated development plan to the Cypriot government and are awaiting
Relieving Gaza’s Electricity Burden After the War
Dr. Elai Rettig
September 9, 2024
The Gaza Strip’s heavy dependence on electricity and diesel supplied by Israel has turned from an Israeli strategic advantage into an economic and humanitarian burden for Israel. The reconstruction of
The Great Sea Interconnector: Prospects for an Electrical Cable Connecting Greece, Cyprus, and Israel
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
July 25, 2024
In recent years, energy security has become a central issue for many countries, not least those that suffer from political and energy isolation. The Iron Swords War has greatly
Fuel Supply in Gaza – Needs and Uses
Dr. Elai Rettig
November 16, 2023
This article provides an overview of the current fuel supply situation in the Gaza Strip. It examines how much fuel is needed for Gaza’s basic humanitarian needs, how much fuel
The War in Gaza and the Implications for Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean
Ambassador (ret.) Michael Harari
November 15, 2023
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2,231, November 15, 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The war with Hamas in Gaza and the clashes in the north against Hezbollah are inevitably affecting both the