Section: Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (Israel)
The Khazars: Judaism, Trade, and Strategic Vision on the Eurasian Steppes
Khazar fortress at Sarkel (Belaya Vyezha, Russia). Aerial photo from excavations conducted by M. I. Artamanov in the 1930s. Public domain photo via WikipediaBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,288, September 15, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Harnessing the Eurasian lands has always been difficult. The Khazars, an obscure people from the steppes that...
Russia Will Likely Collapse from the Inside
St. Petersburg, Russia, photo via maxpixel.netBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,286, September 11, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Russia is historically prone to internal collapse, as is shown by numerous examples from both the imperial and Soviet periods. The collapse usually takes place as Russia rests on the laurels of recent military victories...
The EU Is Battling Israel in Area C
Twitter symbol of European Union Delegation to the PalestiniansBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,275, September 2, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Ever since a decision in January 2012, the EU has been expressly committed to the expansion of illegal Palestinian settlement in Area C in conjunction with the PA. This is in blatant disregard of the Oslo...
Muhammad Dahlan and the Deal of the Century
Muhammad Dahlan, image via TwitterBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,279, September 5, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A controversial former security official and Abu Dhabi-based political operator, Muhammad Dahlan, has lurked for several years in the shadows of Palestinian politics. It is possible that he will emerge in an attempt to pave the way for...
How Sincere Is the Turkey-Iran Friendship?
Presidents Rouhani, Putin, and Erdogan at summit in Sochi, 2019, photo via Office of the President of RussiaBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,278, September 5, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: If the world press is anything to go by, the Turkey-Iran courtship is getting serious, and Russia is playing best man. The two countries’ strengthening...
Israel’s New Existential Challenge
IDF soldier of the 595th Field Intelligence Battalion stationed at Israel’s northern border, photo by Cpl. Eden Briand, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit via IDF FlickrBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,277, September 4, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The creation of an Iranian military/terrorist axis along Israel’s northern and southern...
EU Funding of Illegal Palestinian Settlement in Area C
Palestinian-EU construction placard in Area C, photo courtesy of the authorEXECUTIVE SUMMARY: “Area C,” which makes up about 60% of the biblical lands of Judea and Samaria (known as the West Bank since their 1950 annexation by Jordan), is making news these days. This time, the hot button issue is the illegal Palestinian settlements that are...
Putin’s 20th Anniversary as the Leader of Russia
Vladimir Putin, image by VABo2040 via PixabayBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,271, August 30, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Vladimir Putin’s government might be proud of many internal as well as foreign achievements, but strategically, Russia has fallen well behind the West. Putin is partly to blame, though titanic shifts in world politics...
The Cost of Sanctions on North Korea
Children in North Korea, photo via Wikimedia CommonsBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,269, August 28, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The sanctions imposed on North Korea have a humanitarian cost of which most members of the general public in the sanctioning nations are not aware, and which is almost never discussed. This cost, and its implications...
Refusing Entry to Foreign Nationals: How Common Is It?
Rashida Tlaib, photo via WikimediaBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,266, August 26, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: How unusual was Israel’s refusal to allow Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to enter Israel to engage in hostile political activity? Not very, based on a comparison with the UK. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are both...
