Analysis
Post-Oct. 7 divergent paths: Israel’s military maximalism and Saudi Arabia’s strategic de-escalation
The Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, shattered Israel’s long-standing security paradigm, replacing limited deterrence with a series of ambitious regional military campaigns. In stark contrast, Saudi Arabia has prioritized regional stability and de-escalation to safeguard its domestic development. These divergent paths — Israel’s military maximalism versus Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of stability — have frozen normalization talks and complicated US diplomacy.
Virtual Briefing Series
MEI’s Virtual Briefing Series is a bi-weekly program that brings together regional and subject-matter experts to provide in-depth analysis on breaking news and key issues in the Middle East and their global implications.
Latest Publications
US Policy in the Middle East: Second Quarter 2025 Report Card
Jul 31, 2025Six months into his second term, President Donald Trump remains in search of a major, concrete foreign policy win. Trump 2.0’s foreign policy is still struggling to produce a major positive outcome from its frenetic activity trying to end kinetic wars while prosecuting an unprecedented economic war with much of the rest of the world. The whirlwind of uncertainty since Trump returned to office in January has yet to improve America’s overall strategic position in the world. The following report assesses the US government’s actions over the past three months from May to mid-July 2025.
The Democratic Party Has a Middle East Problem
Jul 29, 2025
One year of Pezeshkian: The scapegoat-in-waiting
Aug 04, 2025Upcoming Events
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Opening Soon
ARAB POP ART
Between East and West
September 12, 2025 - January 23, 2026
Co-curated by Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah & Lyne Sneige
The MEI Art Gallery is pleased to announce Arab Pop Art: Between East and West, opening to the public on Friday, September 12. MEI’s latest exhibition celebrates a thought-provoking artistic movement that blends elements of Arab culture with the visual language of Western pop art to comment on social, political, and cultural issues in the Middle East.
Featuring the work of 13 artists from the Arab world and its diaspora, the exhibition explores the emergence of Arab pop art as a bold fusion of cultural identity and global visual language that highlights a vibrant, evolving, and cosmopolitan Arab identity. Influenced by Western pop art icons like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, but rooted in the Middle East’s rich traditions, the 25 works on display blend everyday symbols, regional motifs, and cultural commentary with striking imagery. The result is a show that challenges norms while increasing understanding of art, identity, and culture in the Middle East.
Lead sponsorship for this exhibition has been provided by the Open Mind Project with additional support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Washington, D.C.
Maximal Miniatures
Contemporary Art from Iran
Closing August 22, 2025
Curated by Donna Honarpisheh
Maximal Miniatures features the work of 13 leading contemporary Iranian artists who reimagine the rich visual tradition of the Persian miniature genre through inventive formal techniques, including experimentations with scale, color, composition, figuration, and abstraction.
Book appointment to visit in person
Photo: Farah Ossouli. David and I (2), 2014. Gouach on cardboard. 75 x 110 cm
Visit the MEI Art Gallery
The MEI Art Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 10am to 5pm (closed for federal holidays). Visitors are encouraged to register for a timed visit at the link below, but walk-ins are also welcome.
Leading Regional Expertise
MEI’s scholars draw on deep ties and decades of experience working in the region to build better understanding of Middle East policy.
What We Do
We seek to promote knowledge of the Middle East in America and strengthen understanding of the United States by the peoples and governments of the region. We believe pursuit of this goal is integral to building a world of peace and stability, in which the people of our two regions value our shared humanity.
Our experts shape diplomatic, legislative, and public discourse through publications, private briefings, testimony, and media.
We provide education and resources to the next generation of global leaders.
Our Center for Arts & Culture promotes a more integrated understanding of the Middle East, forging people-to-people connections and creating a destination for exploring the role of the arts in the region.
We elevate voices from the region in international conversation.
Our international conflict resolution dialogues bring together civil society and political leaders to achieve impact through cooperation both in and outside of the region.