Over the past year, there has been a great deal of speculation about the potential for improved relations between Arab countries, particularly in the Gulf region, and Israel, largely based on a shared perception of the threat from Iran and the need for a more stable regional status quo. Yet, the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories and decades of Arab-Israeli enmity remain potent obstacles to be overcome. In recent weeks, though, the Kingdom of Bahrain has emerged as the Gulf Arab country most actively pursuing better relations with Israel, both for particular reasons of its own and, presumably, with the blessing of its principal benefactor, Saudi Arabia. Read more
Bahrain’s current fiscal situation is evidence that sometimes, even with the right policy mix, generating growth can be difficult. The six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council entered the current low oil price environment and corresponding economic slowdown in very different fiscal positions, and on very different economic growth trajectories. Read more
One of Oman’s most acclaimed fashion designers, Amal Al Raisi, stumbled upon design after shopping for a wedding dress. Unsatisfied with offerings, Amal designed her own traditional Omani wedding dress. Later, she would occasionally design dresses for close family and friends. Her business started growing as she progressed from designing traditional Omani dresses to abayas and jalabiyas. AGSIW spoke with Amal about her beginnings in design, abaya trends in the Gulf, and Western perceptions of abayas. Read more
اقترب المحقق الخاص روبرت مولر الذي يقوم بالتحقيق في التدخل الروسي بالانتخابات الرئاسية الأمريكية هذا الأسبوع أكثر من أي وقت مضى من توثيق حدوث اتصالات بين مسؤولين في حملة المرشح آنذاك دونالد ترامب في 2016 وشخصيات روسية مقربة من السلطات الرسمية بهدف الحصول على معلومات "قذرة" حول المرشحة آنذاك الديمقراطية هيلاري كلينتون "بشكل آلاف الرسائل الالكترونية"، لاستخدامها ضدها في المعركة الانتخابية. 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:
On Al Arabiya, Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, AGSIW president, discussed U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani: "The joint statement addresses the key areas of concern on counterterrorism financing, such as charitable and money services sectors in Qatar, as well as the importance of developing a Qatari domestic designations regime comparable to internationally accepted standards."
Speaking with The Cipher Brief, Wahba also commented on the embargo on Qatar: "The Qatari government intervened substantially after the June 5 embargo, injecting $34 billion in local bank deposits between June and August to relieve capital outflows. These deposits were most likely funded by the Qatar Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, in an amount representing an estimated 13 percent of its total external assets."
Executive Vice President Stephen A. Seche discussed Iranian support for the Houthis in Yemen with Al Arabiya.
Outreach
Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish spoke on the panel "Can the State System and Separatism Co-Exist?" at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, discussing the issue of separatism in the Middle East, using the case studies of the Palestinians and the Kurds. Ibish also spoke on the panel "Israel 100 years After the Balfour Declaration" at 92nd Street Y.
Why Bahrain is Leading Gulf Arab Outreach to Israel
