Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS
Ariel Ben Solomon: Middle East Political Analysis and Commentary | JNS

Ariel Ben Solomon

Explore Ariel Ben Solomon’s analytical pieces on Middle East politics, Israel, and international relations at JNS.org.

Stay informed with expert commentary.

While the P5+1 debates in Vienna, “Iran could be positioning itself so close to making nuclear weapons that if Tehran chose to break out, countries mighty be deterred from intervening,” said Andrea Stricker, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
“Ra’am is getting its just reward with the increased budget for the Arab sector and has justified its historical participation in an Israeli government,” says past parliamentary consultant Shaheen Sarsur.
Continuing the friction is “not in the interest of Iran or Azerbaijan,” said Meir Javedanfar, a lecturer on Iranian politics at IDC Herzliya in Israel.
“In a society that makes strong in-group/out-group distinctions, bringing in outside agencies that cross ethnic boundaries is likely to stoke resentment and resistance,” says Philip Carl Salzman, emeritus professor of anthropology at McGill University in Montreal.
“Algeria was indeed dismayed at Morocco’s decision to resume diplomatic relations with Israel, and more recently, Algeria criticized Morocco for advocating on Israel’s behalf in gaining observer status in the African Union,” said Sarah Feuer, an expert on Arab politics and fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
“Suppose Iran flaunts U.S. conditions for the nuclear deal, and the Biden administration still insists on folding and concluding this transaction. It will further undermine its stature and credibility and damage America’s reputation with allies and foes alike,” says Ariel Cohen at the Atlantic Council think tank.
Despite intelligence-sharing between the neighboring countries, Cairo has not invited an Israeli prime minister to visit since 2013, the year Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power.
“I believe that Iran will have concluded the Biden team is not first-rate and wants to avoid confrontations, so Iran is more likely to test them now than it was six months ago,” said Elliott Abrams, who served as Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela during the Donald Trump administration.