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Middle East Institute

Consolidating Sovereignty, Security and Peace: Time to Step up the Game
  • Commentary
  • Consolidating Sovereignty, Security and Peace: Time to Step up the Game

    Although it has been a frustrating summer, Lebanon remains on the right track. My observation after a ten-day visit to Beirut and Jerusalem this month is that leaders in both capitals remain strongly committed to a shared objective.

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    The Latest on War with Iran

    Our Mission

    The Middle East Institute aims to enhance peace, security, and people-to-people ties between the US and the Middle East by providing actionable foreign policy recommendations, rich cultural and educational programming, and opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and exchange.

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    Policy Experts

    MEI has a deep roster of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows with extensive experience in military, diplomatic, and policy leadership.

    Research & Analysis

    Research & Analysis

    Read in-depth research, analysis, and commentary from MEI’s fellows and experts on the Middle East.

    Arts & Culture

    Arts & Culture

    MEI’s Arts & Culture Center sits at the intersection of culture and policy, providing a platform for a deeper understanding of the Middle East. 

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    The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, MEI’s flagship journal covers politics, society, and culture in the region.

    Featured Events

    Public Opening | El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt
  • Arts & Culture
  • Public Opening | El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt

    Join us for the public opening of our newest exhibition tracing nearly a century of Egyptian art.

    September 18, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

    The MEI Art Gallery | 1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

    New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap
  • Arts & Culture
  • New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap

    Co-produced by the Middle East Institute Arts & Culture Center and Abu Dhabi Festival

    December 4, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

    The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182

    Podcasts

    Backgrounders

    The Houthis
  • Backgrounder
  • The Houthis

    The Houthis are a political-military faction and Zaydi religious movement founded in northwestern Yemen in the 1980s. A key member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance with links to other militant organizations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the group has continued to pose a threat to Western interests on a global scale.

    May 15, 2026

    Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
  • Backgrounder
  • Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

    Since 1967, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contested feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ultimate disposition of the settlements and ongoing activity related to their growth have repeatedly defied agreement in negotiations over a resolution to the conflict.

    June 9, 2026