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This paper aims to study the Zionist narrative and the changes that have occurred over time ever since the emergence of the Zionist movement. The study starts with a theoretical section on comparative colonial settlement models, definitions of the novel, and its changes between the Zionist novel and others. In the second section, the study discusses the main components of the Zionist narrative, as classified by Bar-On, which are: gathering exiles in the Land of Israel, creating a regional space for Jews there, creating a contemporary reality for the Jewish community, achieving political sovereignty, and finaly the achievement of peace and international acceptance. The paper analyzes the intersections and differences in the novel between political Zionism, labor Zionism, revisionist Zionism (Iron Wall Zionism), and religious Zionism, and across time. The study ends with a summary of its findings, wondering about the possibility of the Zionist narrative continuation in light of the cracks it is exposed to, both internally and externally. The study is heavily based on Zionist references, and Jewish ones in particular, in order to deconstruct the narrative from within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the normalization between some Arab Gulf states and Israel, the Gulf society has remained mostly distant from it, opting to confront it by various means. This reflects the Gulf popular rejection of normalization policies with the Zionist entity. However, these agreements still pose challenges to pro-Palestinian efforts and to normalization resistance in the Gulf region. This paper showcases four experiences of popular Gulf rejection of normalization with the Zionist entity (including Bahrain,Oman, Qatar and Kuwait), portraying the role of youth movements in these countries in confronting normalization and boycotting the Zionist entity and supporting the Palestinian cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper aims to find the settlement strategy that the Israeli occupation uses to establish, build, and expand its network of settlements over time. This strategy is based on certain motives and uses certain mechanisms and means that were established through a set of plans and projects for the purpose of expropriating Palestinian land and displacing indigenous people. In addition, this strategy includes settling a large number of Israeli settlers on the land expropriated from the Palestinians. All this aims to help Israel achieve its settlement strategy and impose a new de facto situation. The research paper finds that the Israeli settlement policy is based on an already decided plan through which Israel attempts to dominate and control the strategically most important sites in the West Bank to serve its political, economic, and security interests. All this comes at the expense of the Palestinian population and its land. Therefore, the current study stresses the necessity of preparing a comprehensive strategy or plan to achieve sustainable development of the Palestinian lands in order to face dangers posed by the Israeli settlement expansion. It also encourages horizontal urban expansion of Palestinians instead of vertical urban expansion in order to confront Israeli expropriation and confiscation of Palestinian land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report results from the discussions of papers submitted by many researchers and experts from seven Arab countries. The discussions of participants also were inserted in this paper. The symposium was held by the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) in Jordan at its annual symposium in 2021. Twenty-three researchers, academics, and strategic experts from Jordan, Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, and Lebanon submitted their papers in front of distinguished participants and guests from different fields to discuss the Arab strategy in dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict. The report aims to study the opportunities, tools, and strategies to achieve the Arab and Palestinians' struggle goals. The symposium also aims to develop a strategic vision with specific features for the current decade (2021-2030) in confronting Israel and its expansion project, ending the occupation, and implementing refugees' return in the short and medium term. The outcomes would serve the Arab and Palestinian decision-making process regarding the conflict, which suffers from a vision absence. The symposium discussion for the last decade of the conflict provided an accurate and deeper understanding of the obstacles hider strategic conclusions of the conflict. It also highlighted the needed strategic components in managing the conflict with Israel. The symposium found out that the Palestinian resistance in Gaza Strip created an advanced situation in thwarting and defeating the Israeli army in four battles since 2008. Furthermore, the "Sword of Jerusalem" battle in May 2021 has significantly impacted the direction of many politicians and experts to reconsider the course of the conflict, the halted peace process, and the current controversial relationship with Israel. The symposium was organized in eight sessions. Each session discussed one ax, including Arab strategies and tools in conflict management and its consequences during the period 2011-2021, Palestinian strategies and tools, the opportunities and transformations imposed by the Palestinian-Israeli confrontations 2008-2021, the role of thought and ideology in conflict management, the vision and potential prospects for conflict trends and tools at the Palestinian, Arab and international levels during the period 2021-2030, and the features of a new Arab strategic vision to deal with the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli expansion project in the region. The report concluded with the main findings of the symposium and proposed a project for the new Arab strategy. The most important is the vision, objectives, means, and potential until 2030. Finally, 15 Arab researchers and experts reviewed the resulting vision draft from the participants. The strategic vision was to confront, contain and limit the Israeli aggression and its expansion project. The new strategy aims to reduce Israeli risks to the Palestinian cause, Arab national security, and the nation's higher interests in the short and medium-term by developing a new workable Arab strategy governed by precise objectives. It also concluded that the Arabs officially hold their responsibilities towards supporting the resilience of the Palestinian people and creating the necessary environment for an advanced situation to form a unified Palestinian National Front. The ground gains should support such a front during the recent battle named the "Jerusalem Sword" 2021. Therefore, it is essential to revive and redefine the Palestinian national project based on the national program and Palestinian priorities. Moreover, Arab countries, political forces, Palestinian factions, Arab research centers, and Arab civil society institutions were encouraged to adopt the symposium strategy. Research and studies centers also have to take on their duty to bridge the gap between the cultural and intellectual dialogue of the elite and the decision-makers choices to make any proposed strategy a reality and public opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East Studies Center held a seminar entitled "Israeli- Palestinian Confrontation 2021: Strategic Dimensions," which aims to monitor the strategic dimensions of the results of the confrontation politically, militarily, socially, intellectually, and at multiple levels: Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, and international. The seminar highlighted the postconfrontation opportunities for Palestinians and Arabs, as well as to find out the emerging paths and tools necessary for Palestinians and Arabs to manage the conflict, to change its equations in favor of achieving the goals of the Palestinians through ending the Israeli occupation and the return of Palestinian refugees. Fifteen researchers, academics, and strategic experts from Algeria, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, and the United Kingdom participated. The seminar was divided into two sessions. The first session addressed the strategic dimensions of confrontation. The second has studied strategic opportunities to the post-confrontation. This report projects the outcome of the papers of researchers and experts and the participants' discussions, and it is divided into six main parts. At the Israeli level, the seminar concluded that the recent confrontation had reflected a significant and central strategic challenge to Israel. Participants noted that the current fight had affected the political weight and overall national value of Hamas behavior and thinking at the Palestinian level. It demonstrated the unity of the Palestinian people and restored their compass to the Palestinians in Israel and their suffering of discrimination. The confrontation contributed to the vision, based on the suspicion that real Israeli power revived the spirit of resistance for the Arab peoples, especially for the new Arab generation. Moreover, it strengthened the Palestinian-Muslim Arab voice in Western Israeli-aligned capitals. Concerning strategic opportunities for the Palestinian people beyond confrontation; participants noted that adopting the strategy as a demonstration instead of a negotiation approach, and ending the division, in addition to deepening the building of a global solidarity movement with the Palestinians, will be the most critical political opportunities offered by this confrontation. In discussing the strategic opportunities for the Arab world to manage the conflict with Israel, participants summarized the most prominent. It included leaving the box of peace agreements, not necessarily by formally abolishing them, but by effectively eliminating their effects, supporting the unity of the Palestinian people and their struggle, and establishing a fund to support Palestine in every Arab State. Concerning the paths and tools necessary to counteract the Israeli occupation at the Palestinian level, the participants stressed the need to create a new Palestinian strategic vision for managing the conflict and confrontation. Furthermore, at the Arab and international levels, the fight results must be invested to enhance the status of the Palestinian cause and develop relations with Arab and Islamic States, particularly Jordan. The aim is to agree on a shared vision in defense of Jerusalem and counter Israeli policy of transfer and any other alternative homeland projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On Tuesday 13 October 2020, the MESC organized its annual scholarly symposium titled Impacts of Shifts in Arab-Israeli Relations on Arab Security and Palestinian Cause. The event was joined by about 30 experts, academics and politicians from 5 Arab states. Seven papers were presented on the current developments in the Arab-Israeli ties, especially in the period 2015-2020, and their impacts on the Arab security and the Palestinian cause. The gathering highlighted supporting the Arab countries against the US pressure to normalize relations with the Hebrew State and adopting a stronger Arab position in regional and international forums. On the other hand, it is warned that the normalization steps pave the way for Arab political, economic and security segments which go in line with Israel. That would cause threats to the Arab states in terms of further internal problems and divides. The final statement contained a set of conclusions and recommendations made by the participants, mainly: 1. Working hard on refuting the sayings some attempt to consolidate that normalizing relations with Israel is the way to solve the Arab countries’ internal issues 2. Highlighting the Palestinian internal reform and ending the divide, which would prevent any relevant justifications 3. Asserting support to resistance as a legal right for the Palestinian people under occupation 4. Calling for the institutionalization of the scattered Arab efforts to back the Palestinian cause and counter the Deal of the Century in all its forms 5. The MESC’s call to extract the main thoughts of the symposium to set a new pan-Arab strategy in handling the conflict with Israel and deliver it to Arab public and official decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]