Dana Stroul

Research Director @washinstitute; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Middle East; former Senate Foreign Relations Cmte staffer

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Follow @WashInstitute each day of @POTUS Mid East trip for end-of-day wraps and quick analysis from the best of the best including @AmbDennisRoss @davidschenker1 Simon Henderson @LizyDent and @robsatloff. Today I kicked it off with a trip “scene setter” ✈️🇸🇦🇶🇦🇦🇪🇺🇸

[Washington Institute @WashInstitute]

What's on the table during President Trump's trip to the Middle East? The size and scale of the billions—if not trillions—of dollars in potential economic agreements, investment pledges, and cooperation on the future of AI and semiconductors. Meanwhile, other issues like the future of the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations as well as Gaza will be under active discussion, says @dstroul.

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Thank you @DanielBShapiro !

[Dan Shapiro @DanielBShapiro]

Excellent rundown by @dstroul of the choices and stakes facing the United State in the Middle East.

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

2024 was the year for extraordinary mil achievements; 2025 should be the year for extraordinary civilian leadership.

Thx to @ForeignAffairs for publishing my new piece on how to help build a resilient region.

The Narrow Path to a New Middle East https://t.co/h8fWQsuxvT via @ForeignAffairs

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Expect @WhiteHouse distancing today from Boehler's weekend interviews. Even even if direct negotiations with #Hamas for a 'truce' is not official US policy, damage is significant. Over 2 weeks, #Trump undermined allies (Israel, Ukraine) and spoke directly to aggressors (Russia, Hamas) for 'deals' that will not bring peace. And Iran gets a @POTUS letter for direct talks! Imagine what Tehran is learning from Washington's incoherence...

[Adam Boehler @aboehler]

I want to be CRYSTAL CLEAR as some have misinterpreted. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has murdered thousands of innocent people. They are BY DEFINITION BAD people. And as @POTUS has said, not a single Hamas member will be safe if Hamas doesn’t RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES IMMEDIATELY @realdonaldtrump @stevewitkoff @secrubio @mikewaltz47

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Saudi Arabia is host for tomorrow's US-#Russia talks on #Ukraine. How has Russia-Ukraine war impacted Middle East region? What to make of the Middle East role in responding to Russian aggression? Tune in tomorrow @WashInstitute webinar 10 AM ET on these topics and more.

[Washington Institute @WashInstitute]

📺How might Washington respond if Iran and other adversaries continue supplying Russia’s war machine? Tune in on February 18 at 10am ET for a webcast w/ Javier Colomina, @GaberYevgeniya, Riad Kahwaji, and @annaborsh. @dstroul will moderate. #TWIPolicyForum https://t.co/ASXIZB257T

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

ICYMI: tune in this morning @SenateForeign when @MichaelSinghDC and I testify on the future of US policy on Syria.

[Robert Satloff @robsatloff]

When GOP majority & Dem minority on @SenateForeign look for expertise on post-#Asad #Syria policy, they turn to my @WashInstitute colleagues @MichaelSinghDC & @dstroul, respectively, former co-chairs of the Syria Study Group. Watch tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:30 am ET. https://t.co/bS8xn4I4wq

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

‘Some things I say will be incorrect’: Musk walks back administration’s Gaza condoms claim
https://t.co/sVu2sq1s0a via @timesofisrael

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Karoline Leavitt: "DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer dollars."

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Want to learn more about why #Israel is asking to adjust the #Lebanon #ceasefire ? Tune in tomorrow for an @WashInstitute webinar on this very issue!

Next Steps in Lebanon: From Ceasefire Extensions to Government Formation - @WashInstitute https://t.co/jPx1fsC4AI

[L'Orient Today @lorienttoday]

Israel asked to keep troops in Lebanon until Feb. 28, sources say https://t.co/kZ2KLNud9a

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Flagging this upcoming @WashInstitute deadline for young professionals and soon-to-be-grads. We have a great program that will expose you to regional expertise, the fast-breaking Washington policy-making scene, and plenty of development opportunities. 👇

[Washington Institute @WashInstitute]

We are accepting applications for the 2025-2026 RA cohort! Positions are geared towards recent BA/MA grads or early-career professionals with an interest & background in Mideast & U.S. foreign policy. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until 3/1.
https://t.co/X2VbKnmefu

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

If implemented, this meets one of the criteria to resume direct funding to the PA as set out in the Taylor Force Act.

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

"While the effort to reform the prisoner payment system has been in the works for over a year and largely finalized during the Biden administration, Ramallah decided to hold off on announcing the move, preferring to save it as a goodwill gesture for the incoming Trump administration."

Promoted: Jewish Crossroads, Rabbi Ami HirschKeep Watching
In major win for Trump, PA’s Abbas signs decree ending ‘pay-to-slay’ system https://t.co/zCkszHaf2I via @timesofisrael

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

My comments to Bloomberg yesterday on Trump's doubling down on Palestinians leaving Gaza and US 'taking ownership'

Gaza Could Be Next 'Mogadishu on the Mediterranean': Stroul https://t.co/R6LgY7ALrn via @YouTube

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

My comments to @jewishinsider on same topic yesterday.

Middle East experts split over recent moves to slash U.S. foreign aid, USAID https://t.co/eehIvgxLIT

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Imp piece by @WashInstitute colleague @fishman_b.
A real foreign assistance review would establish policy, then evaluate programs for alignment, then wind down and cut. The Trump stop-work order is doing the opposite, with serious consequences for US interests in Middle East.

Trump’s Foreign Assistance Review Prioritizes Funding Over Policy - @WashInstitute https://t.co/UYtd4scMz1

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

7/Finally, reminder that #gazariviera concept is not new.
https://t.co/i603tirV5c

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

Thoughts on #Trump #gazariveria and US boots on the ground bombshells. Gaza might be the most complex post-conflict environment in modern history because of the concentration of destruction and closed borders. Rebuilding while protecting civilians was always going to be incredibly difficult. Last night only makes it more so.

Trump's Gaza plan for 'Riviera of the Middle East' triggers international condemnation https://t.co/hORVXz70s5 🧵

[Dana Stroul @dstroul]

6/Americans are safer when rules and norms are upheld. Forcing Palestinians to leave Gaza violates intl migration and human rights law. US should be on the right side of this (the legal side)...currently we are on veering toward the wrong side.
Palestinian civilians wanting to leave Gaza should be helped to do so. Here, US can work with its Arab partners…but difficult to ask friends to help when we are taking resources off the table.
https://t.co/HikLBvVMid