On the eve of October 7, about a third of Gazans and about a fifth of West Bankers said they were considering emigrating from Palestine. The main drivers seem economic, political, educational, security and concerns about corruption. The most preferred destination for immigration is Turkey, followed by Germany, Canada, the United States and Qatar. The vast majority of Palestinians reported…
The War in Gaza has had dramatic effects on views of publics across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as Arab Barometer findings have revealed. Unsurprisingly, views of how the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be resolved have also been affected. Given the images coming out of Gaza, it might be expected that views toward the peace process would have hardened…
In 2020, the Trump administration secured normalization agreements between Israel and four Arab countries – Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates – marking a significant shift in regional relations and sparking a public discussion across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The deals were complex, not only secured peace with Israel but included changes in U.S. policy that…
Since Egypt promoted sustainable development and industrialization as part of the 2030 Agenda and combined this vision with the ambitious plan for megaprojects aimed at reviving Egypt’s role in the international and regional space, both economically and diplomatically, a series of structural reforms have accompanied the ecology of economic policy. The conditions imposed by the IMF to provide Egypt with…
Since 2023, Egypt has re-established institutional relations with civil society, both to regain trust at home and to prove to the international community that it has endeavored to moderate its political approach after years of repressive policies that have paralyzed the fabric of society. However, this political decision was taken against the backdrop of an economic crisis that continues to…
This episode of MEnbar, recorded during the Doha Forum 2024, features Amaney Jamal, the Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and co-principal investigator of the Arab Barometer project. Jamal provides an in-depth look at the Arab Barometer’s critical work, which captures Arab public opinion on the region’s political, social, and economic issues. She unpacks findings from…
As China reemerged as a major actor in the Middle East and North Africa over the past decade, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, Arab publics initially held very favorable attitudes toward the world power. Yet as this relationship deepened and the scope of engagement became clearer, positive views of China began to fall. That trend has reversed over…
October 7, 2023, was a watershed moment not just for Israel but for the Arab world. Hamas’s horrific attack occurred just as a new order appeared to be emerging in the region. Three years earlier, four members of the Arab League—Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—had launched processes to normalize their diplomatic relations with Israel. As the…
