Editor’s Picks: Instability in the Middle East

Read essays by Marwan Muasher, Natan Sachs, Narges Bajoghli and Vali Nasr, and Alexandra Stark on the flare-up of regional conflicts. [Foreign Affairs Backstory] January 23, 2024 | [View in Browser]( The lights are flashing red for many observers of the Middle East. The region is flirting with a dangerous escalation of conflict, as Israel's war in the Gaza Strip continues to take a devastating toll. A number of recent essays in Foreign Affairs cover the latest developments—and offer paths forward. [Marwan Muasher]( and [Natan Sachs]( each offer recommendations for how to move toward a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [Narges Bajoghli and Vali Nasr]( examine the rise of the so-called axis of resistance—an alliance among Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, and other groups. And [Alexandra Stark]( argues that the United States should respond to Houthi aggression with diplomacy rather than military action. Start reading below:   [Image]( [The Greater Goal in Gaza]( [For Lasting Peace, Israel Must End Its Occupation of Palestinian Land]( [By Marwan Muasher](   [Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians Remains Possible]( [But to Get There, Both Sides—and America—Need to Be Realistic About What’s Achievable Now]( [By Natan Sachs]( [Image](   [Image]( [How the War in Gaza Revived the Axis of Resistance]( [Iran and Its Allies Are Fighting With Missiles and Memes]( [By Narges Bajoghli and Vali Nasr](   [Don’t Bomb the Houthis]( [Careful Diplomacy Can Stop the Attacks in the Red Sea]( [By Alexandra Stark]( [Image]( [Subscribe to Foreign Affairs for unlimited access]( [Subscribe to Foreign Affairs for unlimited access]( [LinkedIn]( [Spotify]( [Reddit]( [Flipboard]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( [Spotify]( [Reddit]( [Flipboard]( © 2024 Council on Foreign Relations | 58 East 68th Street, New York NY | 10065 To ensure we can contact you, please add us to your email address book or safe list.This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Receiving too many emails? Unsubscribe and manage your email preferences [here.](