Issue Brief posted March 15, 2013 by James Phillips
Obama’s Middle East Trip: Security Goals Should Be the Highest Priority
President Obama’s upcoming trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan comes at a tense time in an increasingly turbulent region. High on his agenda will be halting Iran’s nuclear weapons efforts, forging a common policy on containing the destabilizing spillover effects of Syria’s meltdown, and reviving the long-stalled Israeli–Palestinian peace negotiations.
The…
Issue Brief posted November 21, 2012 by James Phillips
Gaza Crisis: U.S. Should Press Egypt to Rein in Hamas
Although the current Gaza crisis is in many ways reminiscent of the last flare-up in December 2008–January 2009, there are important differences this time around. Hamas’s terrorist reach now includes Israel’s heartland cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv due to long-range Iranian rockets. However, Israel’s new Iron Dome missile defense system has mitigated this threat. The…
Issue Brief posted September 28, 2012 by Brett D. Schaefer, James Phillips
The U.S. Must Oppose the Palestinian Statehood Effort at the U.N.
The Palestinians have announced their intent to use the United Nations once again to bolster their claims of statehood. Last year, the Obama Administration blocked their bid for full U.N. membership by threatening to use its Security Council veto. Now the Palestinians are seeking “non-member state” permanent observer status, which does not require Security Council…
Testimony posted September 21, 2012 by James Phillips
Safeguarding Israel’s Security in a Volatile Region
Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
September 20, 2012
My name is James Phillips. I am the Senior Research Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at The Heritage Foundation. The views I express in this testimony are my own, and should not be construed as representing any official…
Issue Brief posted August 22, 2012 by James Phillips
U.S. Should Insist Egypt’s Military Buildup Must Comply with Peace Treaty
Egypt is preparing a military offensive against Islamist militants in the Sinai who have launched a series of terrorist attacks against Egyptian border guards in an effort to weaken the central government and provoke a war with Israel. This campaign is expected to include armored forces and air strikes in the first major Egyptian military action in the demilitarized Sinai…
Issue Brief posted August 6, 2012 by Baker Spring
U.S.–Israeli Missile Defense Cooperation: Building on the Success of Iron Dome
On July 27, President Obama signed into law the United States–Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, which is designed to strengthen the qualitative edge of Israeli military forces over its current and future enemies. While the law serves to strengthen this edge in a variety of areas, it pays special attention to improving Israel’s capabilities for defending its…
Issue Brief posted April 4, 2012 by Brett D. Schaefer
ICC Prosecutor Makes Right Call on Palestinian Declaration, but Grave Concerns Remain
In an effort to bring international pressure on Israel, the Palestinian Authority declared in 2009 that it would submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes committed in its territory. Three years later, the ICC prosecutor concluded that he does not have the authority under the Rome Statute to initiate an investigation because…
Backgrounder posted March 15, 2012 by Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
How the U.S. Should Respond to Russia's Unhelpful Role in the Middle East
Abstract: Russia is pursuing a Middle Eastern policy that is designed to reduce U.S. and Western influence in the Middle East, even at the risk of Islamist terrorism, which is a growing problem in Russia. It views the recent upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa as an American conspiracy to undermine Russia and friendly regimes in the region. Russia’s Soviet…