The Dhow: A Weekly Newsletter from AGSIW 
Upcoming Event
Israel SyriaShake-Up in the Middle East: How Will Regional Powers Respond?

DATE May 23, 2018
TIME 12:30 - 2:00 pm
LOCATION AGSIW
SPEAKERS F. Gregory Gause, III, Feisal Rasoul Amin al-Istrabadi, Gonul Tol
MODERATOR Hussein Ibish
RSVP
The Bridge blog

By Thuraiya Alhashmi

As Gulf Arab countries seek to diversify their economies away from oil, they have made major investments in the manufacturing sector, which contributes on average around 11 percent of gross domestic product in the region. Favorable tax regimes and the relatively low cost of establishing and operating industrial facilities in the region are major factors attracting investors and driving growth in the manufacturing sector. 
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Market Watch

By Karen E. Young

The effects of the May 8 decision by President Donald J. Trump for the United States to exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, will unfold over the next several months as U.S. sanctions are reinstated against Iran, and secondary sanctions are imposed on those countries continuing to do business with the Islamic Republic. The U.S. government is quickly ramping up its sanctions power against Iran with new measures, on May 15 designating the head of its central bank as a terrorist, accused of directing state funds toward Hizballah.
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AGSIW in Arabic

في البدء قرر الرئيس دونالد ترامب الانسحاب من الاتفاق النووي الدولي مع إيران، وهو قرار يعيد تلقائيا فرض العقوبات الاقتصادية المفروضة على إيران بسبب برنامجها النووي، والتي علقت في 2015 بعد التوقيع على الاتفاق. ولكن الانسحاب من الاتفاق كان الطلقة النارية الأولى على ما يبدو في حرب مالية واقتصادية بدأتها واشنطن مع حلفائها في الخليج وتحديدا دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة والسعودية، لتضييق الخناق الاقتصادي على إيران والتنظيمات التي تستخدمها لتعزيز نفوذها الكبير في دول مثل العراق ولبنان، وفي حروب الوكالة المستمرة  في سوريا واليمن. ويعتبر حزب الله اللبناني، من أبرز هذه التنظيمات التي استخدمتها إيران في السنوات الماضية للمشاركة مباشرة في القتال في سوريا، وفي تدريب الميليشيات التي تسيطر عليها طهران في العراق واليمن
اطلع على المزيد
In addition to original content, AGSIW.org in Arabic is regularly updated with new Arabic translations of AGSIW's analysis. Recent translations include:
Commentary

By Hussein Ibish

President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal didn't draw much international applause, but three U.S. allies in the Middle East — Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — warmly welcomed the move. Israel had long said that the deal didn't do enough to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and Gulf Arab countries believed it gave Iran cover for an intensified campaign of destabilizing the Arab world. And they have plenty of ideas when it comes to drawing up a Plan B for a U.S.-led containment campaign against Iran.
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Video Analysis
 
A week after President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Senior Resident Scholars Kristin Smith Diwan, Hussein Ibish, and Karen E. Young discuss Trump’s decision, and its regional and global implications.
Watch video
Past Events
 
AGSIW was pleased to host a conversation with H.E. Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, ambassador of Bahrain to the United States. As part of the AGSIW Ambassadors Series, this conversation centered on the future of U.S.-Bahrain relations and the common challenges facing Bahrain and the Trump administration in the region.
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On May 8, President Donald J. Trump reimposed the full range of economic sanctions on Iran that were waived when the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was implemented in 2015 and said the United States was “withdrawing” from the agreement. AGSIW hosted an in-depth conversation on these crucial and rapidly developing new realities.
Watch video
 
Gulf cities have become destinations for artists throughout the region, attracting them with their dynamism and energy. Museums, galleries, and artist enclaves impact neighborhoods and the urban environment more broadly. The role of public art in enriching the lives of citizens figures prominently in an ongoing discussion among artists, urban planners, and officials in Gulf cities.
Watch videos
In the Media
Stephen A. SecheExecutive Vice President Stephen A. Seche appeared on Al Hurra's "All Directions."

Speaking with The Washington Post, Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan commented on the arrests of women activists in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, OZY cited Diwan's Bridge post, which discussed the developing entertainment industry in Saudi Arabia.

Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish commented on the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and clashes on the border between Gaza and Israel for BBC and AirTalk.

For The National, Visiting Scholar Yasser Elsheshtawy discussed Dubai's Toyota building as a well-known visual reference point in the city.
Opportunities

Department/Team: Senior Resident Scholars
Period: Part Time (20-25 hours/week, no benefits)
Location: Washington, DC
Deadline: Today, May 21

About the Candidate: Provide research assistance and support to senior resident scholars at AGSIW. At the direction of the scholars, conduct research on Gulf political economy, foreign policy, business politics, finance, macroeconomics, and U.S. policy toward the region. Monitor contemporary developments in the Gulf states and U.S. policy, including reviews of regional and international media. Source data, compile bibliographies, literature reviews, and write briefs on relevant topics. Create charts and graphics for AGSIW publications. Provide communications and logistical support to senior resident scholars, and perform additional tasks as requested.
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