Results for U.S.-Israel Relations and Middle East Policy,

"The blood of 40,000 Palestinians is on his hands," said a protestor as they were forcibly carried out of a hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Butcher of Gaza", "Secretary of Genocide", and "war criminal" were among other insults thrown at the secretary as he appeared before the committee to discuss the fiscal year 2025 budget request, U.S. diplomacy and global challenges. Senators from both sides of the aisle questioned the secretary on a variety of topics including the Israel-Hamas war, the death of Iran's president, fentanyl precursors, Haiti, and competition with China.

Former Defense Department officials Michèle Flournoy and Thomas Mahnken spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' 2024 Global Security Forum. They discussed various geopolitical issues, such as the rise of a "revisionist Russia," a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, factors for working toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian territories, the impact of the U.S. presidential election on international alliances, and China's investments in developing nations.

Current and former government officials joined policy advocates to discuss U.S. policy towards Iran and the Middle East at a conference hosted by the Wilson Center. Among the topics discussed were Iran's relationship with China, the Israel-Hamas war, India's Middle East policy, the state of U.S.-Iran relations, and Iran's nuclear ambitions. They also addressed the impact of protests in Iran and the role of the country's clerical establishment.

Current and former government officials joined policy advocates to discuss U.S. policy towards Iran and the Middle East at a conference hosted by the Wilson Center. Among the topics discussed were Iran's relationship China, the Israel-Hamas war, India's Middle East policy, the state of U.S.-Iran relations, and Iran's nuclear ambitions. They also addressed the impact of protests in Iran and the role of the country's clerical establishment.

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates (Trump administration, 2019-2020) for a discussion on the U.S.-Israel alliance, during an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation. They discussed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli alliance, the impact of Israel's war with Hamas, and how the U.S. can best support Israel and defend against terrorist groups, such as Hamas. Eliav Benjamin, deputy Israeli ambassador to the U.S., gave introductory remarks on the war with Hamas and urged for continued support of Israel.

Former U.S. foreign policy officials discussed ongoing political shifts in the Middle East at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colorado. The panelists shared their views on reforms instituted in Saudi Arabia, how Iran's younger generation is challenging its government, and the status of U.S. influence in the Middle East amid China's global rise. Also, former Israeli Vice Prime Minister Tzipi Livni weighed in on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israel's government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Arati Prabhakar, science and technology adviser to President Biden, and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Todd Young (R-IN) talked about U.S. competition with China, advancing U.S. intelligence, and the CHIPS Act during an Aspen Security Forum panel discussion. In addition, experts on Middle East policy discussed Iran, Israel, and stability in the region. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks also discussed defense readiness, and the impact on the Defense Department of Russia's war against Ukraine and China-Taiwan relations.

President Biden participated in a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council plus Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, also known as the GCC+3, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He talked about the U.S. working together with Middle East allies to promote a rules-based international order and other foreign policy objectives, and called out China, Russia, and Iran for destabilizing global order. World leaders from the GCC+3 also spoke, talking about Israel-Palestinian relations and progress toward a two-state solution, the Syrian refugee crisis, fighting terrorism, mitigating climate change, and other issues facing the Middle East.

Brett McGurk, deputy assistant to the president and Middle East coordinator for the National Security Council, took part in a Carnegie Endowment virtual discussion on the Biden administration's foreign policy agenda for the Middle East and its pursuit of diplomacy and stability in the region. Topics included negotiations with Iran and its return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Syria and the Assad regime, the war in Yemen, and U.S. relations with Israel and Saudi Arabia. ... McGurk also addressed the growing influence of China and Russia in the Middle East.

Foreign diplomats and State Department officials discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a virtual event hosted by the Wilson Center. They assessed the current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian response efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, and prospects for restarting peace talks. Among the speakers were Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood along with the Egyptian ambassador the the United States.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke about the President Biden's policy agenda with reporters. Topics included U.S.-Israel relations and the president's role in the ceasefire, infrastructure negotiations with lawmakers, and coronavirus pand*emic response efforts.

Scholars at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy discussed the recent violence between Israel and Hamas and* next steps for the U.S. in trying to de-escalate the situation.

The ambassadors of Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain discussed Middle East peace policy at an event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, DC. They focused their remarks on the Abraham Accords - a deal to normalize relations between Israel and the two Arab nations. Other topics addressed included Middle East policy goals for the Biden administration, challenges posed by Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Former ambassadors and foreign policy experts discussed the incoming Biden presidency and the future of Middle East policy. Several topics were discussed, including U.S. relations with Turkey and Lebanon, the impact of the recent peace deals with Israel, and U.S. military presence in the Middle East*.

A panel of experts at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy discussed the upcoming Israeli elections, set for April 9, 2019. They predicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would win again, even with polls showing a tight race and amid charges of corruption against him. ... Netanyahu's leadership and power, and discussed how the election would impact U.S.-Israel relations and a future Middle East plan.

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy co-hosted an all-day event on the impact of pro-Israel groups on U.S. policy. This portion featured remarks from University of Akron History Professor Walter Hixson, who talked about his research and conclusions drawn in his book Israel's Armor: The Role of the Israel Lobby in the History of the Palestine Conflict. Then, Electronic Intifada Co-Founder Ali Abunimah discussed what he said was a massive suppression effort by pro-Israel groups to prevent the Al Jazeera documentary The Lobby from airing on television.

This portion of the event included a panel discussion on U.S.-Israel relations and Middle East policy.

A number of Brookings researchers released a report on the state of the Gazan economy and political system in late 2018, as well as ways the U.S., U.N., and Egypt could revivify and more effectively manage the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

J Street, a non-profit Jewish advocacy group, held its national conference to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Middle East policy. Speakers included former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), as well as officials from the Israeli Knesset and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Other topics included the allied airstrikes in Syria, the Iran nuclear agreement and U.S.-Israel relations*.

Thomas Getman, a former nonprofit executive, addressed attendees of a day-long policy conference geared toward U.S.- Israel relations and foreign policy in the region. The event was co-hosted by the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy and the American Educational Trust.