Israel and the UAE Normalize Relations, Comparing Presidents in Times of Crisis, and More

August 14, 2020

Yesterday, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) struck a major diplomatic agreement, announcing that in exchange for full normalization of relations between the two countries, Israel would forgo declaring sovereignty over disputed territory in the West Bank—for now. Experts from the Brookings Foreign Policy program analyze the agreement and its implications for the region.

In August 1864, Abraham Lincoln expected to lose his election bid, but was still planning for an orderly transition of power. 156 years later, Donald Trump is suggesting he might delay the election, curb mail-in voting, and not recognize the results if he is defeated. Tom Wheeler contrasts the two president’s responses to dealing with crises during election years.

America’s Black and Hispanic communities are not only more likely to face an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, they are also more financially vulnerable and less likely to withstand the financial strain of the pandemic. Jevay Grooms, Alberto Ortega, and Joaquin Alfredo-Angel Rubalcaba call on federal and state leaders to expand health care access, strengthen unemployment benefits, and incorporate policies that advance racial and ethnic equality.

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