[Book Talk] Hope and Despair: Israel's Future in the New Middle East

Before Hamas’ attacks on Israel on 7 October and the ensuing war in Gaza, most of the policy discussions in the Middle East focused on the process of normalisation between Israel and the Arab world. The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, seemed to herald a new era for the region.

In his book, Hope & Despair, Michael A. Horowitz tells the story behind this push for normalisation. It looks not only at the hopes ushered in by the normalisation agreements, but also at the enduring despair both Israelis and Palestinians feel about the waning prospects for peace. Rather than examining the past, Horowitz looks to Israel’s future — one marked by new opportunities, but also tremendous challenges, as the country tries to find its place in a region trying to find itself.

This book talk, hosted by MEI, will provide the opportunity to discuss the current state of Israel-Arab normalisation efforts, as well as its prospects beyond the ongoing war, with the author.