Israel

Military & Security

A group of far-right Israeli settlers set fire to parts of the perimeter of the east Jerusalem headquarters of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, twice incurring property damage but not resulting in casualties or fatalities, as protestors reportedly chanted, "Burn down the United Nations," BBC reported on May 9.

Israel: Far-Right Israeli Settlers Attack UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem, Forcing Closure

Palestinian Territories

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Politics

Israeli forces advanced around the eastern portion of Gaza's southern city of Rafah, with troops reportedly cutting off the area by taking control of the Salah al-Din road, Reuters reported on May 10.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Advances Into Eastern Rafah Amid International, Domestic Criticism

United States

Israeli leaders pushed back against U.S. threats to cut off arms exports after U.S. President Joe Biden said he would cut off certain arms exports to Israel if the Israel Defense Forces began a major offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah that reached population centers, The Times of Israel reported on May 9.

U.S., Israel: Israeli Leaders Criticize Biden's Threat To Cut Off Arms Exports

The United States paused a shipment of around 3,000 heavy bombs to Israel over concern that Israel might use them in the country's offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, ABC News reported on May 8, citing a Pentagon official.

U.S., Israel: U.S. Holds Up Arms Delivery Over Israel's Rafah Offensive

Israel rejected Hamas’ cease-fire proposal and authorized the start of the long-planned operation to invade Gaza's southern city of Rafah, with Israeli tanks reportedly moving into the city's outskirts, The Times of Israel reported on May 6.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Rejects Cease-Fire Proposal, Begins Rafah Offensive

The Israel Defense Forces ordered an estimated 100,000 Palestinian civilians to evacuate from the outskirts of Rafah in southern Gaza after Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations failed to progress in Cairo, Egypt, NBC reported on May 6.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Orders Civilian Evacuations From Rafah as Cease-Fire Negotiations Stall

Turkey

Economics

Turkey halted all trade with Israel amid the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, conditioning a resumption of trade on a permanent cease-fire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza, Bloomberg reported on May 2.

Turkey, Israel: Turkey Halts Trade to Israel Over Gaza War

Yemen

In a televised address, the spokesperson of Yemen's Houthi rebels announced that the group had started a fourth phase of escalation against the United States and Israel by targeting ships heading to Israeli ports in any area within reach, Arab News reported on May 2.

Yemen: Houthis Announce Fourth Phase of Escalation Against U.S. and Israel

Media

Iran

Podcasts

What are each country's defense capabilities?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Israel-Iran Relations

Assessments

A picture taken on May 6, 2024, shows smoke billowing following a bombardment east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. 

If Hamas doesn't agree to a more favorable cease-fire deal, Israel will likely expand its push into Gaza's southernmost city at the risk of exacerbating domestic and international blowback.

With the Capture of a Border Crossing, Israel's Rafah Operation Has Begun

Saudi Arabia

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 29 at a Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-U.S. Strategic Partnership in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Assessing Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy During the Israel-Hamas War and Beyond

Columns

On Geopolitics

People attend the funeral procession in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024, for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a recent Israeli strike in Syria.

Israel and Iran have shown they can stand on the brink and still step back. But future confrontations will run the risk of derailing strategic logic in their behavior, potentially trapping them in a war neither wants.

For Israel and Iran, April's Exchange Ushers In a New Era of Deterrence

Snapshots

Morocco

Moroccan Air Force mechanics examine an F-16 fighter jet at an airbase in Ben Guerir, about 58 kilometers north of Marrakesh, Morocco, on June 14, 2021. 

Pressure from its pro-Palestinian population will not deter Morocco from using Israeli technology to expand its domestic weapons capabilities, as Rabat seeks to catch up to Algeria’s military power and position itself as an arms exporter.

Despite the Gaza War, Morocco-Israel Defense Ties Look Set to Deepen

Ecuador

China

Europe

A banner depicts IRGC missile models aimed at Israel on April 16 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The ongoing confrontation may be entering a de-escalation phase after the April 19 Israeli counterstrike to Iran's April 13 salvo against Israel.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict, Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum

Tit-for-tat military exchanges between Iran and its proxies against Israel will likely continue, with a constant risk of escalation.

Israel Launches Measured Attack on Iran, but Escalation Risks Remain

Iran will likely respond to Israel's attack, but the scope and size of Iran's response will depend on the scope of Israel's military actions, which is unclear at this time.

Israel Responds to the Iranian Attack

Iraq

Jordan

Syria

The Jordanian flag. Jordan will remain aligned with the United States and Israel, which will result in a heightened risk of attacks by Iranian proxies and growing risks of radicalization.

U.S.-Iran Relations

Jordan will remain aligned with the United States and Israel, which will result in a heightened risk of attacks by Iranian proxies and growing risks of radicalization.

Jordan's Alignment With Israel Will Put It in Iran's Crosshairs

A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles pictured April 15, 2024, in Valiasr Square in central Tehran. Iran's attack against Israel and Israel's possible retaliation will increase the likelihood that Tehran will accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran's attack against Israel and Israel's possible retaliation will increase the likelihood that Tehran will accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.

How Israel's Response to Iran Could Accelerate the Iranian Nuclear Program

Lebanon

Iran's large missile and drone attack will prompt an Israeli retaliation that will focus on reestablishing deterrence and preventing future similar attacks on Israel, but in doing so, Israel risks expanding the conflict, further sinking the region into turmoil and possibly dragging in the United States.

How Israel Might Respond to the Iranian Attack

Brazil

Colombia

Germany

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) April 12 in Dausa, India.

The Weekly Rundown: Indian Elections, Scholz Goes to China

Israel lives under difficult geopolitical circumstances. A small country with limited resources and surrounded by potentially hostile neighbors, Israel survives by allying with powers that do have the resources to manage the balance of power in the Middle East — namely, the United States. Its geographic position also means that Israel must manage complex relations with its Muslim neighbors by quiet collaboration, by exploiting divisions, and by parlaying its technological and economic advantages into create strategic dependencies. To navigate all the challenges presented by the Middle East, Israel will remain agile in its diplomacy and, when the situation warrants, steadfast in its pre-emptive strikes, its covert activities and its economic relationships.

SITUATION REPORTS

Israel: Far-Right Israeli Settlers Attack UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem, Forcing Closure

Israel, Gaza: Israel Advances Into Eastern Rafah Amid International, Domestic Criticism

U.S., Israel: Israeli Leaders Criticize Biden's Threat To Cut Off Arms Exports

U.S., Israel: U.S. Holds Up Arms Delivery Over Israel's Rafah Offensive

Israel, Gaza: Israel Rejects Cease-Fire Proposal, Begins Rafah Offensive

Israel, Gaza: Israel Orders Civilian Evacuations From Rafah as Cease-Fire Negotiations Stall

Turkey, Israel: Turkey Halts Trade to Israel Over Gaza War

Yemen: Houthis Announce Fourth Phase of Escalation Against U.S. and Israel

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