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2 weeks ago | 
besacenter.org | Elai Rettig
BESA Geo-Energy Insights No. 8, April 9, 2025EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The decision by SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, to press ahead with a gas exploration license in Israeli waters marks another significant step in the ever-deepening partnership between Israel and Azerbaijan. In addition to the economic opportunity it provides to discover new gas, the involvement of SOCAR carries significant strategic weight in a region where energy projects can forge new ties or rekindle old rivalries.
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1 month ago | 
besacenter.org | Yaakov Lappin
Perspectives Paper No. 2,336, March 13, 2025EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Hamas seeks to end the war while maintaining its military control over Gaza, mirroring Hezbollah’s pre-war dominance in Lebanon. Israel must not allow this to happen, even if Egypt pushes for it. Hamas’s primary goal at this time is to secure a ceasefire in order to survive the war, rebuild its terror army and cement its political control of the Gaza Strip.
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2 months ago | 
besacenter.org | Dor Shabashewitz
PSCRP-BESA Reports No 115 (February 20, 2025)by Dor ShabashewitzSecessionist movements have existed in Russia for as long as the Russian Federation itself. After the end of several heated conflicts in the 1990s and early 2000s, Moscow dismissed independence demands as inherently unserious, bordering on political role-playing.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
besacenter.org | Yaakov Lappin
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2,324, January 14, 2025EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Israel faces a critical strategic decision regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The Islamic Republic is accelerating its enrichment capabilities and is systematically approaching the threshold of nuclear breakout.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
besacenter.org | Vladimir Khanin
During a December 2024 meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, leaders of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) acknowledged that the U.S. had not fully appreciated Azerbaijan's longstanding support for Israel and contributions to regional stability.
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Jan 12, 2025 | 
besacenter.org | Elai Rettig
BESA Geo-Energy Insights No. 7, January 13, 2025EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has revived Turkey’s plans to construct oil and gas pipelines through the country, turning it into a regional “energy corridor” for neighboring states. Some of these plans would offer the Arab Gulf States a more convenient land route for exporting energy to Europe through Turkey, posing a challenge to Israel’s similar aspirations.
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Dec 22, 2024 | 
besacenter.org | Eitan Shamir
Mideast Security and Policy Studies No. 210Introduction: In the complex and often unpredictable realm of global politics, few political developments carry as much potential for transformative impact as the prospect of a second Trump presidency. This collection of expert analyses delves into the multifaceted implications of such a scenario, offering a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of how a Trump return to the White House could reshape global strategic landscapes.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
besacenter.org | Yaakov Lappin
Perspectives Paper No. 2,321, December 11, 2024EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The acceptance by Israel of a ceasefire arrangement on the war front with Hezbollah in Lebanon constitutes a strategic “bet”. Israel will need to take a multifaceted approach to the arrangement that is based on enhancing defensive capabilities while, at the offensive level, committing to proactively preventing Hezbollah’s re-entrenchment in southern Lebanon.
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Oct 27, 2024 | 
besacenter.org | Elai Rettig |Lee Wilcox
Perspectives Paper No. 2,316, October 27, 2024EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Is Israel trying to take control of Gaza’s oil and gas reserves? This claim has gained popularity on social media platforms ever since October 7 and has even been featured by international media outlets such as Russia Today, Al-Jazeera and TRT World. Such claims are curious, because Gaza does not have any known oil reserves.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
besacenter.org | Eitan Shamir
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2, 314, October 14, 2024EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Many commentators claim that Israel lacks a clear plan for “the day after” the end of the Iron Swords War. They argue that because of this supposed lack, Israel will not be able to hold onto its military achievements during the war, which will remain merely tactical. But Israel is not playing a short-term game.