- Prof. Hillel Frisch
- Paper No. 1931
In 2013, Mahmoud Abbas proclaimed that henceforth the Palestinian Authority would be called the “State of Palestine.” It is worth noting how successful he has been in popularizing the phrase, and among whom.
Perspectives Papers
Perspectives Papers provide analysis from BESA Center research associates and other outside experts on the most important issues pertaining to Israel and the Middle East.
- Col (Res.) Dr. Raphael G. Bouchnik-Chen
- Paper No. 1930
A Pavlovian resistance to government measures put in place to lower the COVID-19 infection rate in Israel is reaching the point that politicians and citizens are deliberately undermining public health for political ends masqueraded as civil rights.
- Erfan Fard
- Paper No. 1929
A recent television interview with Iranian Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi provides President Joe Biden’s national intelligence team with useful information as it assesses how to deal with the Iranian regime.
- Emil Avdaliani
- Paper No. 1928
The massive protests staged in Russia by supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny pose a serious threat to the country’s political elite. The Kremlin has a problem on its hands no matter what it does. Whether Navalny is kept in prison or released, his movement will be strengthened, and it has the potential to fuse to broader public dissent over Russia’s long-term economic performance and government ineffectiveness.
- Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Shaul Bartal
- Paper No. 1927
The decree signed on January 15 by Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas announcing elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council on May 22 and to the PA presidency on July 31 is an attempt to remind the international community, and especially the new US administration, of the continued relevance of the Palestinian problem.
- Prof. Eytan Gilboa
- Paper No. 1926
The decision of the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem is baseless but still dangerous. The ICC is yet another highly politicized UN institution, not a real court of justice. The decision and the prosecutor’s conduct have both violated the Court’s own rules. The ICC is also trying to investigate the US for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Israel and the US should coordinate an intensive campaign to delegitimize the Court and ensure that the next prosecutor, who is scheduled to begin service this summer, is professional, ethical, and honest.
- Dr. James M. Dorsey
- Paper No. 1925
A recent online survey by two Dutch universities of Iranian attitudes toward religion has revealed a stunning rejection of state-imposed adherence to conservative religious mores as well as the role of religion in public life.
- Dr. Ardavan Khoshnood
- Paper No. 1923
The FBI recently arrested an Iranian academic for failing to register as a foreign agent in accordance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Kaveh Afrasiabi was arrested in Massachusetts and is believed to have received more than $250,000 from the Iranian regime to disseminate its propaganda in the guise of objective analysis. Iranian agent-scholars are easy to recognize: they always oppose the overthrow of the regime and they oppose any form of sanctions. They criticize the regime on occasion as a means of concealing their role as agents.
- Yaakov Lappin
- Paper No. 1922
The fifth generation F-35 fighter jet is playing a game-changing role in Israel’s ongoing campaign to disrupt the activities of the radical Iranian axis in the Middle East.
- Rauf Baker
- Paper No. 1921
Former US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy legacy was, on the whole, a major success. From Asia to Europe and through the Middle East, he managed to achieve many notable “firsts.” He left behind peace deals and initiatives while eliminating terrorists and confronting strategic threats in an unprecedented and unorthodox manner.