Israel

When it comes to killing politically prominent people, countries are often best placed to do so, as a long history of state assassinations attests. But is there any evidence that it is effective?

As support for Israel weakens across the US political spectrum, once-taboo questions about military aid, lobbying influence, and US backing are moving into the mainstream

Israel's actions, post-October 7, have largely been reactionary, aimless, and counterproductive, not only in Lebanon but in other regional arenas

Beyond Israel's immediate security aims lies a much larger struggle over Lebanon's future—one that will unfold over years, in multiple stages, and cannot be reduced to a simple question of force.

Football star Lamine Yamal's hoisting of Palestine's flag, and the Eurovision audience's booing of Israel's contestant, show how Israel has lost its PR edge

Egyptian officials believe US-Israeli pressure to rapidly disarm Hezbollah could backfire and plunge Lebanon into a new civil war

Ankara's national security priority is no longer Kurds or Gülenists, but Israel. Likewise, in Tel Aviv, Türkiye is increasingly seen as a future Israeli adversary. Both are preparing accordingly

Proponents of a peace deal argue that by reducing security risks with Israel, Lebanon can move from a volatile frontier market into a regional hub much like the UAE.

Many Israelis actually believe that they lost the war, with opposition leader Yair Lapid accusing the Israeli premier of having led the country into "strategic collapse and diplomatic catastrophe"