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Palestinian Territories

Israel
commentary
The Real Tragedy of Israel's Wars in Gaza
Raphael S. Cohen
Jun 22, 2021
The National Interest
Israel's strategy in Gaza of repeatedly cutting back Hamas's military capabilities before it gets strong enough to do Israel any serious harm is known as “mowing the grass.” Unfortunately this approach offers no alternative to continued bloodshed.
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Low-Intensity Conflict
blog
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, COVID-19 Variants, Myanmar: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 12, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on alternatives in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, how couples can sleep better during the pandemic, and more.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Why Israel-UAE Deal Doesn't Merit the Hype
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Aug 18, 2020
Al-Monitor
Some have called the Israel-UAE normalization agreement a geopolitical earthquake. But the hyperbole is not warranted; this deal is unlikely to be a strategic game changer in the Middle East.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
COVID-19 and the Economy, America's Blood Supply, 10 Years of the ACA: RAND Weekly Recap
Mar 27, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on COVID-19 and the economy, strengthening the U.S. blood supply, 10 years of the Affordable Care Act, and more.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Peace with the Region Is Not a Peace Plan
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Feb 13, 2020
Al-Monitor
Acceptance of Israel from the broader Arab world will not resolve the dilemma of how the Israelis and the Palestinians can agree to live on the same land together. A viable plan for the future, one that is about real peace and not a one-sided political gambit, must recognize these realities.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Carter's Compromise: Cowardice or Calculation?
Alexandra T. Evans
Dec 20, 2019
Texas National Security Review
Jørgen Jensehaugen's Arab-Israeli Diplomacy Under Carter is a valuable addition to the literature on American peacemaking efforts that deepens our understanding of the difficult choices future administrations will confront in their effort to defuse the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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Palestinian Territories
commentary
Development with No Political Framework Is a Car Without an Engine
C. Ross Anthony, Charles P. Ries @charles_ries
Jul 9, 2019
RealClearWorld
Pushing an economic development plan for the Middle East without addressing the political issues specific to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is like trying to sell a car without an engine. Why? Because an economic strategy that doesn't address core political issues would have no governing entity to put it into effect.
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Gaza Strip
commentary
Five Thoughts on Jerusalem, Gaza, and What's in Between
Shira Efron
May 15, 2018
The Hill
Dozens of people have been killed and over 2,000 injured in protests in the Gaza Strip along the border with Israel. Continued clashes are expected until the fundamental problems of the strip are solved, including the governance vacuum, the Palestinian Authority-Hamas rift, and the conflict with Israel.
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Gaza Strip
commentary
Gaza on the Brink
Shira Efron
Mar 9, 2018
U.S. News & World Report
The combined risk of violence and pandemic in Gaza makes this small coastal enclave a ticking time bomb. While neither Israel nor the U.S. has the solutions to all of Gaza's water and health woes, the United States' decision to withhold funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency could only make things worse.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
What to Make of Trump's Decision on Jerusalem
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Dec 28, 2017
Jewish Journal
While the Israeli-Palestinian issue is not a high priority in the Arab world today with all the other turmoil engulfing the region, not even the Trump administration's closest allies support the president's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. And it risks inflaming regional tension and increasing anti-American sentiment.
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Gaza Strip
commentary
How Salafism's Rise Threatens Gaza
Colin P. Clarke
Oct 11, 2017
Foreign Affairs
The rise of hardline Salafism is a worrisome trend in Gaza, where Salafists could surpass Hamas as the most dangerous threat to other Palestinians and the state of Israel. Such a result could signal the sabotage of yet another chance for progress in one of the world's longest-running conflicts.
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Asymmetric Warfare
commentary
Five Lessons from Israel's Wars in Gaza
Raphael S. Cohen
Aug 3, 2017
War on the Rocks
After a decade of operating against Hamas in Gaza, the Israel Defense Force has learned many lessons about urban warfare against hybrid adversaries. The last confrontation teaches five basic lessons that apply well beyond Gaza.
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Gaza Strip
commentary
Hamas's Strategic Rebranding
Colin P. Clarke
May 17, 2017
Foreign Affairs
Hamas has unveiled a revised version of its charter that appears to soften the group's stance toward Israel. Does this represent a shift away from violence and toward a more lasting and peaceful political presence? Or is it a ploy to buy time to rearm?
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commentary
Toward a Renewed Middle East Peace Process
Shira Efron
May 11, 2017
The Jewish Journal
Momentum is building toward resumption of the dormant Middle East peace process. But there will need to be a clear, consistent plan that delivers quick, tangible results to both sides and helps restore trust between them in order for a peace plan to succeed.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Hidden Dangers of Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Dec 28, 2016
Newsweek
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would antagonize partners in the Islamic world who are key to fighting ISIS. And any potential cooperation that might have developed between Israel and Arab states over common concerns about Iran could suffer.
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Refugees
commentary
Will Today's Refugees Become the 'New Palestinians'?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Oct 9, 2015
The Hill
The conflicts in Syria and Iraq have generated the greatest volume of refugees since World War II. If the international community is to avoid seeing the emergence of a population of new Palestinians lasting decades into the future, it will have to craft a more coherent approach.
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Nation Building
commentary
One State Over the Status Quo
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 18, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
If the next U.S. administration were to conclude that perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian status quo for another eight years was unacceptable or unachievable, it might begin speaking of the one-state solution not as its preferred outcome, but as one more acceptable than no solution at all.
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Low-Intensity Conflict
essay
The Price of Peace
Jun 24, 2015
Groundbreaking analysis by a team of RAND economists and policy experts reveals how much Israelis and Palestinians stand to lose from the enduring conflict, and how much they could gain in peace.
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Low-Intensity Conflict
commentary
War or Peace? Putting a Price on the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse
Charles P. Ries @charles_ries, C. Ross Anthony
Jun 9, 2015
Newsweek
Today, more than 90 percent of Israelis and Palestinians were born after 1948 and have known nothing other than some version of the impasse. Both sides could be better off with a stable two-state solution. Prolonging the impasse for another generation would have real costs.
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Petroleum
commentary
The Upside of Lower Oil Prices
Charles Wolf, Jr.
Oct 17, 2014
The Weekly Standard
Movement toward sharply lower oil prices should be a prominent component of any strategy directed at disabling many of the world's most disruptive threats: Iran's nuclear development, ISIS, Hamas attacks on Israel, and Russia's threat to Ukraine.
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Warfare and Military Operations
commentary
The Gaza Conflict: Tunnel Warfare's Latest Chapter
Scott Savitz
Sep 5, 2014
The RAND Blog
Despite its long history as an effective combat tool, tunneling rarely garners much attention, perhaps because it is inherently clandestine, tedious, and dirty. However, as the conflict in Gaza indicates, tunneling remains effective, and will likely persist as long as conflict itself.
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Military Strategy
commentary
The Grim Lessons of 'Protective Edge'
Raphael S. Cohen, Gabriel Scheinmann
Sep 3, 2014
The American Interest
For all the attempts to find technological quick fixes or enforce a permanent settlement, Operation Protective Edge has highlighted that a war of attrition, known as a 'long war,' remains the only viable strategy in the current environment.
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Nuclear Disarmament
commentary
Gaza and the Nuclear Negotiations
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Jul 28, 2014
Foreign Affairs
Whether a deal materializes that meets Iranian demands for a civilian nuclear program, but is limited enough to satisfy the United States and its partners remains to be seen. But the longer the Gaza conflict continues, the harder it'll be to insulate the negotiations from broader regional trends, which doesn't bode well for a successful outcome.
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Gaza Strip
blog
With the Death Toll Rising in Gaza, Is There Any Hope for Peace?
Jul 22, 2014
Casualties are rising in the conflict between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Are there any realistic expectations for peace in the region? Who could broker a settlement between Hamas and Israel?
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International Diplomacy
blog
Israel-Palestine Talks Offer New Prospects for Peace
Aug 1, 2013
After a five-year delay, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed this week to resume direct peace talks. RAND researchers have worked with Palestinians, Israelis, and the international community since 2002 to develop a comprehensive nation-building plan.
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commentary
Demonstration Effect
Warren Bass
Mar 25, 2013
Foreign Policy
The most encouraging thing about President Obama's Jerusalem speech may have been the audience applause. Like President Reagan, Obama went soaring over the heads of officials, elites, and pundits, directly to Israel's citizenry, says Warren Bass.
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Israel
commentary
What Does Israel's Election Mean for Israeli-Palestinian Peace?
Tova C. Norlen
Jan 25, 2013
The RAND Blog
While the two-state solution may indeed be dead, its death may not necessarily be a bad thing. Rather, it could lead to an opportunity to create a more appropriate formula that can better address the complexities of the current Israeli-Palestinian impasse writes Tova Norlén.
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International Diplomacy
blog
Intelligence Experts Discuss U.S. Role in Latest Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Dec 31, 2012
At RAND's Politics Aside event, former Saudi Intelligence chief Prince Turki Al Faisal, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Dobbins and others discuss ways the U.S. can help end the latest Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
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Gaza Strip
blog
Gaza: Hard Fighting Looms Without a Broader Peace Strategy
Nov 20, 2012
The United States and Israel should capitalize on Egypt's active role in mediating a cease-fire and thus revisit initiatives like the Arab Peace Initiative, which in the new regional strategic environment may be the best hope of reviving the moribund peace process before it is too late.
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Middle East
commentary
Spending Aid to Palestinians Wisely
David Aaron, C. Ross Anthony
Aug 16, 2007
International Herald Tribune
Spending Aid to Palestinians Wisely in the International Herald Tribune
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Middle East
commentary
Blair's Project for a New Palestine
Robert E. Hunter
Jul 7, 2007
Project Syndicate
Blair's Project for a New Palestine, in Project Syndicate--an associationthat distributes commentaries to 291 newspapers in 115 countries.
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commentary
Mideast Peace: Bush Has a Job to Do
Robert E. Hunter
Aug 30, 2006
International Herald Tribune
Published commentary by RAND staff: Mideast Peace: Bush Has a Job to Do, in International Herald Tribune.
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commentary
Bombing Boon...
David Aaron, Paul S. Miller
Jul 30, 2006
Washington Times
Published commentary by RAND staff: Bombing Boon... in the Washington Times.
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commentary
How to Deal with Hamas
David Aaron
Mar 15, 2006
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff: How to Deal with Hamas, in United Press International.
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Gaza Strip
commentary
Vision for a Successful Palestine
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
Dec 14, 2005
Washington Times
To turn the dream of a Palestinian state into a reality, Palestinians need a practical vision of a successful state that is safe, secure, economically viable, and at peace with Israel and its other neighbors.
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commentary
Palestinians Need More Cash
Robert E. Hunter
Jul 7, 2005
International Herald Tribune
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Planning for Palestine
Steven Simon, C. Ross Anthony
May 22, 2005
Baltimore Sun
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
A Chance to Clean Up the Palestinian Authority
Seth G. Jones
Jan 6, 2005
Financial Times
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Work with the PA for Peace
Steven Simon, Jonathan Stevenson
Dec 29, 2004
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Gaza pullout - a Cynic's Path to 'Peace'
Seth G. Jones
Apr 29, 2004
Christian Science Monitor
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Help the PA Push Out Hamas
Steven Simon, Jonathan Stevenson
Jan 16, 2004
Wall Street Journal, European Edition
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Sitting on the Sidelines Isn't Good Enough
Robert E. Hunter
Mar 11, 2002
Los Angeles Time
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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