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MESF 2023 Annual Report Released

2023 was a defining year, being host to many milestones for our members. We also held several successful events including two multi-day hybrid workshops on the ‘Emerging digital technologies and the future of democracy in the Muslim world’. View online

“Iran, Energy Security, and the War on Gaza”

Middle East Council on Global Affairs in partnership with the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University hosted a workshop titled, “Iran, Energy Security, and the War on Gaza,” featuring Shahram Akbarzadeh, Luciano Zaccara and Nikolay Kozhanov.

Explainer: what is the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

While Netanyahu has never been in favour of a two-state solution, it has had significant support from governments around the world for decades, including the United States, the United Kingdom, European nations, Australia, Canada, Egypt and others. However, the two-state solution is now further away than it has ever been, with some even proclaiming it “dead”. But what actually is the two-state solution and why do so many see this as the only resolution to the conflict? Read Article

Al Jazeera – Netanyahu dismisses a ceasefire proposal by Hamas and orders troops to push further into Rafah

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there’s still room for an agreement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a ceasefire proposal. The deal was put forth by Hamas after mediation by the Qatar and Egypt. Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor of Middle East and Central Asian politics at Deakin University, says Israel’s leader is averse to signing a truce deal as it would give Hamas credibility and recognition.  Watch Now

Why Biden’s Sanctions on West Bank Settlers Could Escalate Into Total Cutoff of Arms Aid to Israel

Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday leveling sanctions against four Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank after weeks of warnings to Tel Aviv. Sputnik asked a pair of leading observers of regional politics what the unprecedented move will mean for US-Israeli relations going forward. Read Article

TRT World – Biden says a two-state solution is still possible with Netanyahu in power

Biden said Netanyahu is not opposed to all two-state solutions, after Biden and Netanyahu spoke for the first time in weeks amid tensions over the war on Gaza. His comment comes after, Netanyahu said he had told US officials in plain terms that he will not support a Palestinian state as part of any post-war plan.  Watch Now

How Israel’s ruthless military campaign against civilians in Gaza fractured the space for reflection

Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza has fractured families and ruptured research, with unconscious bias hindering communication and delivery in academia. Article by Michelle Pace. Read Article

Social Media, Surveillance, and Societies of Control

Amin Naeni, our PhD scholar, will present his paper at the fifth International Winter School 2024 (IWS) organized by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. The 2024 IWS, themed “Social Media, Surveillance, and Societies of Control,” will take place from January 6 to 11, in Doha, Qatar. Amin’s paper will discuss the process of securitization of public protests in Iran through state-led online campaigns.

‘Middle East Politics and International Relations’ made it to the Best New International Relations Books

We are happy to announce that my book, “Middle East Politics and International Relations”, made it to BookAuthority’s Best New International Relations Books. BookAuthority collects and ranks the best books in the world, and it is a great honour to get this kind of recognition.  Learn More

Dr Abbas Farasoo wins the 2023 APSA PhD Thesis Prize

We would like to congratulate Dr Abbas Farasoo for winning the 2023 Australian Political Studies Association PhD Thesis Prize which is awarded annually to the best PhD dissertation in political science, broadly defined. Dr Farasoo researched ‘The Impacts of Proxy War on Afghanistan’ at Deakin University. The award was formally announced at the APSA 2023 Conference Dinner on November 29.  Learn More

TRT World – Why does the US unequivocally support Israel?

Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University talks to TRT World about the US stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and how its support for Israel affects its relations with the Arab world.  Watch Now

Blinken returns to the Middle East seeking restraint

On his latest trip to Israel on Friday (3 Nov), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to voice solidarity but also to reassert the need to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties. Joining us to share his analysis is Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor for the Middle East Studies Forum, at Deakin University.  Listen Now