Al Majalla selected The Struggle for Power as the title of this week’s cover story because Israel’s elections raise questions that reach far beyond the identity of the next prime minister. They reveal a deeper contest over the nature of political authority, the limits that define it, and the balance that governs the state’s institutions. Early results indicate that the ballot box may prolong the political stalemate rather than bring it to an end. Benjamin Netanyahu does not appear to command a clear majority, while his opponents face the daunting task of converting any electoral advantage into a coalition capable of governing. The implications of this struggle reach far beyond Israel’s borders. The next government will influence the trajectory of the confrontation with Iran, the future of Gaza, tensions with Lebanon and Syria, and relations with Washington and the Arab states.

Containing Russia, Again

[caption id="attachment_55255343" align="aligncenter" width="3882"] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends his New Year address to Russians in central Moscow on December 31, 2017.(Getty)[/caption] …

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How ISIS’ Strategy Is Evolving

[caption id="attachment_55255339" align="aligncenter" width="4409"] In this photograph taken on April 11, 2017, an Afghan security force personnel patrols inside a mosque during an ongoing an…

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China’s Syria Strategy

[caption id="attachment_55255333" align="aligncenter" width="4000"] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem (L) is welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before a meeting in Beijing on December…

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How the Euro Lost Its Luster

[caption id="attachment_55255286" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] The Euro sculpture, built in 2001, undergoes restoration, as it gets LED lights and new panels in blue and yellow on July 10, 2015…

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Don’t Speak, Memory

[caption id="attachment_55255280" align="aligncenter" width="1880"] MOSCOW, RUSSIA - OCTOBER 30 :Russia's President Vladimir Putin lays a bunch of red roses at the unveiling of the Wall of Grief…

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How the Eurozone Might Split

[caption id="attachment_55255288" align="aligncenter" width="5200"] European Union flag with fracturing Euro coin[/caption] by Mark Blyth and Simon Tilford In February 2016, the Organization for…

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