Research Library

The Baker Institute is publishing the attached notional framework for Israel-Palestinian peace authored by Baker Institute nonresident fellows Gilead Sher and Samih al-Abed, prepared by them for the Toledo International Center for Peace (CITpax) as a contribution to the ongoing discussion of how this conflict could be addressed through negotiations leading to enduring peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Armed conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria have made millions reliant on humanitarian assistance. Kelsey Norman and Salah Ben Hammou joined Baker Briefing to discuss parallels between these dire situations and the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn regions.

The Middle East is in a new era of mass displacement, with millions uprooted after a year of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with a new front in Lebanon. In a recent commentary featured in The Conversation, Kelsey Norman and coauthor Nichols R. Micinski examine the long-lasting effects of the region’s humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire to enable displaced communities to return home and rebuild.

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, the Houthi Red Sea campaign has caused significant economic disruptions — underscoring geopolitical shifts in the region. A new brief from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and the Center for Energy Studies summarizes a conversation in which experts outline how the Houthi challenge has evolved over time and against the backdrop of Yemen’s ongoing conflicts.

Two specific issues — the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war — have propelled foreign policy to the forefront of this year’s election. Both conflicts are ongoing and have severely tested Biden and his foreign policy team, and ahead of November, Biden has little room for error.

President Biden’s announcement that the U.S. is preparing to open a maritime corridor to Gaza highlights a deteriorating relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attempts to address voter concerns ahead of the November election.

Yemen’s Houthi have mounted a selective counter-shipping campaign in the Red Sea that has disrupted global trade between Asia and Europe. In a new issue brief, fellow Jim Krane describes how the attacks have triggered major shipping delays and expenses for firms based in countries friendly to Israel — effectively acting as economic sanctions and demonstrating the power of a non-state actor to undermine global norms around freedom of navigation.

Fifty years after the 1973 oil embargo, Baker Institute Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and Center for Energy Studies hosted a conference to examine lessons learned from the embargo and their renewed relevance for today’s energy crises. Featuring remarks from His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, the conference also included expert panels with industry leaders, other former policymakers, and academics.

In a new brief, contributing expert Robert Barron explores the first phase of the Israel-Hamas war and what stakeholders must consider for a viable pathway to peace.

In a new commentary, fellow Joe Barnes lays out the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war, including President Joe Biden’s careful response to attacks by Iran-backed groups in the region.