Publication

While spared from internal turmoil, Israel and the Palestinian Territories have nonetheless been affected by the political transformation brought about by the Arab Spring. Reflecting what can be described as Israel's 'bunker' mentality, the Israeli government has characterized the Arab revolutionary wave as a security challenge. On the Palestinian side, both Hamas and Fatah have lost long-standing regional backers in Egypt and Syria and have had to contend with their increasingly shaky popular legitimacy. Against this backdrop, the chances for a resumption of serious Israeli-Palestinian peace talks appear increasingly slim.