The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ksenia-svetlova/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:49:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Ksenia Svetlova | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ksenia-svetlova/ 32 32 Daily Briefing Aug. 2 – Saudis talk Trump down from Iran strike… for now https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-2-saudis-talk-trump-down-from-iran-strike-for-now/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:10:11 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3872349&preview=true&preview_id=3872349 Mideast expert Ksenia Svetlova on the current chances for Saudi-Israel normalization, why Egypt didn't enter the conflict with Iran, and Arab world reactions to the Hamas disarmament deal

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]]> Daily Briefing Apr. 28 – Untangling the Iran-Russia-Hezbollah web https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-apr-28-untangling-the-iran-russia-hezbollah-web/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:30:29 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3811748&preview=true&preview_id=3811748 Mideast expert Ksenia Svetlova gives deep context for the Tehran-Moscow relationship and assesses that Gulf countries are at a crossroads as they plan for a potential nuclear Iran

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]]> Daily Briefing Mar. 25 – Are Gulf states poised to enter Iran war? https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-mar-25-are-gulf-states-poised-to-enter-iran-war/ Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:09:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3787073&preview=true&preview_id=3787073 Mideast expert Ksenia Svetlova gives deep context for Iran's relationships with its Arab neighbors and assesses whether the Islamic Republic is anywhere near regime change

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]]> A long road to the end: The death throes of Iran’s regime could last for years https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-long-road-to-the-end-the-death-throes-of-irans-regime-could-last-for-years/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:56:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3773985 Washington and Jerusalem hope the bombing and protests will destabilize Tehran. But experts believe that even weakened, the regime could take a long time to collapse while still remaining a global threat

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]]> Four years after invading Ukraine, Russia is isolated and broken – but not done https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-years-after-invading-ukraine-russia-is-isolated-and-broken-but-not-done/ Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:56:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3761120 Despite a shattered economy, severe labor shortages and a failed pivot to Asia, Putin refuses to yield, dragging the entire region deeper into a bloody war of attrition

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]]> Why Qatar is the big winner of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-big-winner-of-trumps-plan-to-end-the-war-in-gaza-is-qatar/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:33:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3653653 The failed Israeli attack in Doha and Netanyahu’s apology have boosted the clout of the tiny, immensely wealthy Gulf state, while Trump has handed it carte blanche for deeper involvement in Gaza and the region

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]]> Daily Briefing Dec. 14: Day 435 – How women are the canary in the Mideast coal mine https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-dec-14-day-435-how-women-are-the-canary-in-the-mideast-coal-mine/ Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:22:17 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3439526&preview=true&preview_id=3439526 As the rebel factions in Syria fight to wrest control, the world looks at their treatment of women. Middle East analyst Ksenia Svetlova, a former MK, ranks Israel and its neighbors

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]]> What Matters Now to Ksenia Svetlova: Women are the canary in the Mideast coal mine https://www.timesofisrael.com/what-matters-now-to-ksenia-svetlova-women-are-the-canary-in-the-mideast-coal-mine/ Fri, 13 Dec 2024 06:50:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3438156&preview=true&preview_id=3438156 As the rebel factions in Syria continue to fight to wrest control, the world looks at their treatment of women. Middle East analyst, a former MK, ranks Israel and its neighbors

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]]> Beyond Israel’s borders: Netanyahu’s arrogance risks Israeli-Egyptian relations https://www.timesofisrael.com/beyond-israels-borders-netanyahus-arrogance-risks-israeli-egyptian-relations/ Sun, 19 May 2024 22:49:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3293017 India signs port agreement with Iran * Kuwait goes back to autocracy * Atrocities continue in Sudan civil war

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]]> Beyond Israel’s Borders: Is Iran actually able to control its proxies? https://www.timesofisrael.com/beyond-israels-borders-is-iran-actually-able-to-control-its-proxies/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:16:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3221636 This week in the region: Sudan loses internet connection, America continues to target Shiite Iraqi militias, and Turkey and Syria still feel heavy damage from last year's earthquake

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]]> Beyond Israel’s borders: Why did Abu Dhabi return its ambassador to Damascus now? https://www.timesofisrael.com/beyond-israels-borders-why-did-abu-dhabi-return-its-ambassador-to-damascus-now/ Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:45:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3216892 Even as Israel's far-right celebrates at a conference on resettlement of Gush Katif, Arab countries work to restore ties with Syria and an economic crisis deepens in Egypt

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]]> Russia is intimidating its expat celebrities in an attempt to silence them https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-is-intimidating-its-expat-celebrities-in-an-attempt-to-silence-them/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 01:00:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3213853 Alt-rock band Bi-2, which has Israeli-Russian members, was nearly deported from Thailand. After a week in detention, Israel's Foreign Ministry succeeds in flying group to Tel Aviv

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]]> Beyond Israel’s borders: Middle Eastern diplomatic ties under strain amid war in Gaza https://www.timesofisrael.com/beyond-israels-borders-middle-eastern-diplomatic-ties-under-strain-amid-war-in-gaza/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:49:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3211732 While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tests Abraham Accords allies' patience, the US considers withdrawing from Syria, and Egypt's relations with Russia grow warmer

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]]> Beyond Israel’s borders: Iran runs amok as Israel’s neighbors continue to face crises https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-runs-amok-as-israels-neighbors-continue-to-face-crises/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:01:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3205916 In this round-up of current challenges facing the Mideast, Iran attacks Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan while Lebanon's leadership calls for peace - but is unable to control Hezbollah

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]]> The power behind the power: How Qatar helped the Houthis become a threat to Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-power-behind-the-power-how-qatar-helped-the-houthis-become-a-threat-to-israel/ Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:29:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3186726 While the militia recently emerged as an unlikely menace to international shipping, its combative influence in the region has long been amplified by Doha

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