The Iraq Uprising: Where Does It Go From Here?

Ofra Bengio
January 10, 2020
Paper No. 1398

The killing of Qassem Soleimani could prove to be a turning point in the history of the Middle East as a whole, but first and foremost in Iraq. That country has been contending for months with a popular uprising that has produced chaos and turned it into an arena for a titanic battle between Iran and the US.

Iran Seeks to End Direct Clash with US and Return to Asymmetric Comfort Zone

Tehran doesn’t want outright war. It is sticking to the long game in its goal of ejecting US forces from the region and completing its takeover of neighboring Iraq.

The Soleimani Affair Reveals Turkey’s Directionless Regional Policy

Burak Bekdil
January 8, 2020
Paper No. 1396

The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s belated statement in response to the Soleimani killing was dry in its language, reflecting the government’s confusion over what position to take. While the government is expressing itself with caution, the Islamist pro-Erdoğan press is expressing a wide range of often contradictory responses. The lack of clarity in Ankara over the Soleimani affair betrays Turkey’s directionless regional policy.

Soleimani Killing Hailed by Arabs—But Not by Palestinians

The killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani is being celebrated across the Arab world by Muslims who were cruelly victimized by him in the service of Iran’s imperialist ambitions. The Palestinians’ fulsome praise for Soleimani and accompanying support for Iran are raising eyebrows across the Arab world.

2019 Was Marked By Defiance and Dissent. 2020 Will Probably Be No Different

Like 2019, the new year—and perhaps the new decade—is likely to continue to be marked by popular protest, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Protests are likely to produce uncertain and fragile outcomes at best, irrespective of whether the protesters or vested interests gain the immediate upper hand.

Don’t Confuse Me With Facts. It’s Always About the “Occupation”

The American Jewish Left has once again fallen in line with the Palestinian demand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict always be conflated to a problem of “occupation,” regardless of facts or history. By leaping to condemn Mike Pompeo’s factual statement that Israeli West Bank “settlements” do not violate international law, American Jewish leftists joined forces with the BDS movement, which views the entirety of Israel as “occupied.”

How Will the IAEA’s New DG Cope with Iran?

The new DG of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, charged upon taking office on December 3 that Iran has not yet provided an explanation for uranium particles found at a Tehran warehouse. He also protested the abusive behavior of the Iranian authorities toward the IAEA inspector at the end of 2019. However, he has not addressed Iran’s violations of the 2015 nuclear agreement, suggesting that he would like to avoid an antagonistic relationship with Tehran.

BESA’s Top Ten of 2019

BESA Center
January 2, 2020
Paper No. 1390

Below are the ten most widely read articles published by the BESA Center in 2019. The selections reflect strong reader interest in Israeli national security, especially the looming possibility of direct confrontation with Iran; rising world antisemitism; and Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbors.

Israel Could Be Key to 2020 Middle East Geopolitics

Israel's geographical position means it must stay agile and manage complex relations with its Muslim neighbors through quiet collaboration and smart use of its technological and economic advantages. Over the past two decades, Israel has discovered offshore gas, begun extensive seawater desalination, and dramatically expanded its navy’s platforms and missions. Ten years ago, Israel depended on Egypt's natural gas; nowadays, Israel exports natural gas to Egypt and Jordan.

Trump’s Higher Price Tag Makes Japan and South Korea Weigh Their Options

President Donald Trump is quadrupling the price tag on US troop deployment in South Korea and Japan, a demand Seoul and Tokyo find overwhelming. Should they consider alternatives to their defense dependency on Washington, they will need to bear in mind that doing without US protection could prove even more costly than Trump’s raised price.

Perspectives Papers