ד"ר יהושע קרסנה

Expert on strategic and political developments in the Arab world

Email: jkrasna@jiss.org.il

Former chief of a government research department responsible for strategic, political and economic analysis of the Arab Middle East. Served in the Israeli embassies in Jordan and Canada. Lectures at NYU and HUJI.

Scholarship

_PM_Yitzhak_Rabin_and_King_Hussein_of_Jordan

The Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty at 25: A Slightly Tarnished, but Still Important, Silver Anniversary

Twenty-five years after the signing of the Jordan-Israel peace treaty, the bilateral relationship is in a challenging phase, but nothing should obscure the crucial benefits strategic and security cooperation affords to both sides, and the centrality of the relations to each side’s national security.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Scholarship 20.06.2019

Jordan

Israel vs Oman smoke flags placed side by side.

Israel and the Gulf States: Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Oman, the first overt visit in over twenty years by an Israeli prime minister to an Arab country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, is extremely significant. However, formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states will not develop without an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. While it may view positively the steps of other Gulf states to increase the visibility of their ties with Israel and it may even encourage them, Saudi Arabia itself will not formal ties with Israel in the foreseeable future either.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Scholarship 29.11.2018

Israel foreign policy

The “Moderate Sunni Camp” – Does it Really Exist?

In recent years there has been much talk in Israel and the US about the “moderate/pragmatic Sunni camp” as a potential regional ally for dealing with Iran and even for pursuing a “creative” solution to the Palestinian issue. However, this “camp” is not really a unified player, but more an expression of Saudi and Emirati aspirations for hegemony. There is also a lack of identity of interests and agendas between these states and Egypt and Jordan, which have long been important strategic partners of Israel. Although Israel should pursue any opportunity to strengthen ties with Arab and Muslim states,

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Scholarship 25.10.2018

The Muslim World

Policy Papers

The Lebanese-Israeli Maritime Border Talks: An Important Step Forward

The talks suggest that when common interests exist, Israel can engage beneficially and pragmatically even with enemies, resulting in de-escalation and mutual benefit.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 15.10.2020

Israel Lebanon Relations Lebanon

Egypt-Jordan-Iraq: Another Middle East Axis in the Making?

Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan seek to develop a regional bloc in the geographical center of the Arab world. But all three countries are poor and dependent in for economic largesse on more wealthy partners, so their regional aspirations and strategies will necessarily be limited.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 22.09.2020

Egypt Iraq Jordan

UAE-Israel flags Judea and Samaria Illustration

Tempered Euphoria on the UAE-Israel Agreement

The deal is a clear win for Israel, the UAE and the US. Netanyahu gets a face-saving, significant reward for not doing something (annexation) he was not going to be able to do anyway in the current political/diplomatic context.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 15.08.2020

UAE-Israel Peace Plan

Israel-Greece-Cyprus take on Turkey in the Mediterranean

Trilateral cooperation among Israel, Greece and Cyprus to build a natural gas subsea pipeline is setting the stage for more tensions with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 24.01.2020

Eastern Mediterranean Energy

National flags of the Gulf States: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, UAE,Bahrain

The Gulf: Signs of a Partial Thaw in the Intra-Sunni Cold War?

Israel needs to make clear to Washington the harm done in the region, and the potential for more harm, by the perception of American policy disarray, weakness and withdrawal.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 15.12.2019

Arab Gulf states

America centric world map with magnified Jordan map. Green polygonal world map.

Jordan Plays the Field

Jordan and other conservative Arab states are struggling with a difficult superpower ally and facing threats of regional escalation.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 08.08.2019

Jordan

flickr_-_government_press_office_gpo_-_pm_yitzhak_rabin_and_king_hussein_shaking_hands

The Israel-Jordan Treaty at 25

It is a crucial accord, but needs attention and maintenance.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 26.07.2019

Israel-Jordan relations

Is Egypt Coming Back?

Egypt may be beginning to emerge from its self-imposed strategic seclusion.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 09.05.2019

Egypt

CAIRO - JUNE 30: Unidentified anti Muslim Brotherhood/Morsi protesters in Tahrir Square shout slogans calling for Morsi's resignation on June 30 2013 in Cairo Egypt.

The Second Wave?

Much ink has been and is being spilt regarding whether or not current developments in Algeria and Sudan – the second and third most populous Arab states after Egypt – constitute the Second Wave of the “Arab Spring”. But what is clear is that the second and succeeding waves of Arab Uprisings will not look the same as that of 2011.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 16.04.2019

The Arab World

Syria’s Return to the Arab Fold

Arab countries are re-normalizing their relations with the Assad regime, seeking to balance the strong Iranian and Turkish influences in Syria and to achieve some degree of influence in a new Syrian political-strategic structure. This further cements a Russian-oriented strategic architecture in the region. In the long term, this could lead to tensions between conservative Arab states and Israel, if Israel targets the Syrian military and government in the campaign against Iran, or if Israel continues to promote diplomatic recognition of its Golan annexation.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 13.02.2019

Syria

Trump’s Withdrawal from Syria: Not Unexpected and a Victory for the “Astana Three”

The possibility that Iran and Turkey will be emboldened by the American decision, is worrisome. The main counter to that will be robust deterrence from Israel, whose maintenance may increase the likeliness of escalation in Syria and Lebanon, and even more resort to the restraining hand of Russia.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 26.12.2018

Syria US Middle East Policy

As the Middle East Turns: Domestic Unrest, Changing Partnerships, and an Unreliable United States

In the Mideast of today, the US is largely irrelevant, when it is not disruptive, and is certainly not providing clear leadership. With the current disarray in DC, it does not look like this will change any time soon.

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Policy Papers 25.09.2018

US Middle East Policy

Commentary

Gulf state concerns about the US elections
Interview with Dr. Joshua Krasna

i24news | 05.11.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

On Israel-Qatar Relations: Warming But No Peace YetOn Israel-Qatar Relations: Warming But No Peace Yet
Interview with Dr. Joshua Krasna

ILTV | 26.10.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Will Sudan and Saudi Arabia Join the Party?
Dr. Joshua Krasna: The Saudis want to use normalization with Israel as leverage in the event of the installation of a more unsympathetic government in the United States.

JNS | 22.10.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel's vision for regional peace, security and prosperity
No longer are Arab governments going to wait for the resolution of the Palestinian conflict with Israel before they act according to their own interests and upgrade their de facto ties with Jerusalem.

TV7 | 29.09.20 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israeli Officials Make Groundbreaking Journey to UAE
Israeli Officials Make Groundbreaking Journey to UAE

Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel’s historic peace deal with UAE could be just the beginning
Dr. Joshua Krasna: Since 2007, there has been a steady drumbeat of a message that Israel is improving its relations with moderate Arab countries.

JNS | 14.08.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

If the enemy of my enemy gets the bomb: Saudi nuclear plan gives Israel headache
Dr. Joshua Krasna: I am sure we would be happy if the Saudis didn’t work toward nuclear weapons. But that is not the same as saying we have a significant impetus to do something about it.

The Times of Israel | 13.08.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Will Israel’s move towards sovereignty harm burgeoning relations with Arab Gulf states?
Dr. Joshua Krasna: No Arab government can be seen to officially acquiesce to Israel’s ‘taking off the table’ a large part of the disputed territory.

JNS | 22.06.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel's Blockade Has Kept the Worst of the Coronavirus Out of Gaza. It Might Keep Aid Out Too.
Dr. Joshua Krasna: No amount of preparation could prevent the pandemic from battering Israel economically.

TIME MAGAZINE | 3.4.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Is Jordan’s stability indispensable?
Dr. Joshua Krasna: A stable Jordan prevents the establishment of a hostile regime or the spread of chaos on Israel’s longest border.

The Jerusalem Post | 18.02.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel’s regional standing and challenges.
Dr. Joshua Krasna, interviewed

Israel TV7 | 11.02.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Trump administration’s Mideast proposal receives subtle support from Muslim nations.
Dr. Joshua Krasna: Bahrain’s support for the plan is a “trial balloon” for the Saudis.

JNS | 31.1.2020 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel - Jordan: Diplomacy & Security.
Dr. Joshua Krasna: The security and stability of Jordan is always a question, but the King is in control.

TV7 Israel News, 26.11.2019 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

25th anniversary of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty.
Dr. Josh Krasna discusses the state of Israeli-Jordanian relations, the future of the peace treaty, and the role of the Trump administration.

FPRI | 30.7.2019 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Jordan’s King Abdullah seeks regional prestige and standing … at Israel’s expense.
Dr. Joshua Krasna: It is difficult to see the benefits of giving an important role on the Temple Mount to the Saudis, a fundamentalist Sunni regime which has actively supported radical Salafi movements in the recent past and whose friendship with Israel is new and, unlike our relationship with Jordan, hardly tested.

JNS | 08.05.2019 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Will Saudi Arabia establish full diplomatic ties with Israel?
Dr. Joshua Krasna: I don’t think it’s likely we will see formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, or indeed with any of the Gulf Arab states, at any time in the near future.

JNS, 21.12.2018 | Dr. Joshua Krasna

Israel remains cautious amid global fury at Saudi Arabia over journalist’s suspicious death.
Dr. Joshua Krasna: I don’t think the Israeli government went too far with MBS. Nut this gives us a reality check of who we are working with here.

JNS | 17.10.2018 | Dr. Joshua Krasna