Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Oct. 8, 2024
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Israel-Hamas Conflict: One Year After October 7
One year ago this week, Hamas fighters poured across the Gaza-Israel border in an attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead. In the months that followed, Israel's military response in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 people, including many Palestinian civilians. And in recent weeks, the violence has spilled over into other parts of the Middle East, with Israel launching an offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran conducting airstrikes on Israel.
In a new Q&A, RAND experts consider how the complex, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict has erupted over the last year. What led to Hamas's October 7 attack? How have dynamics between Israel and its neighbors evolved? What's being done to address the humanitarian crisis?
What happens next is uncertain. But one thing is painfully clear, says RAND's Heather Williams: "There is no immediate end in sight and Hamas's brutal assault on October 7 will be one of the most pivotal shaping moments on the modern Middle East."
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Preventing and Addressing Elder Mistreatment
Elder mistreatment is a serious public health issue that can take many forms, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; fraud and financial exploitation; and neglect. In fact, an estimated 10 percent of older adults living in community settings experience elder mistreatment every year. To learn more about how to address this problem, RAND and RTI International convened a workshop of experts. Importantly, the participants noted that the field overall has a very limited evidence base, and more research is needed to identify effective, holistic, and culturally appropriate approaches to prevent and respond to elder mistreatment.
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Should the West Help Ukraine Strike Deep in Russia?
In a visit to the White House last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for more help with long-range strikes against Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden offered some assistance, but Ukraine is seeking more. According to RAND experts, while there are risks in providing additional support for Ukraine's long-range strike mission, U.S. arms may be a valuable complement to Ukraine's aviation capabilities: "Neither U.S. weapons nor Ukraine's, by themselves, are enough. Together, they could raise the cost to Russia of its perfidy and help strengthen European security."
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** RAND Recommends
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- RAND's Todd Helmus discusses the spread of misinformation related to the Israel-Hamas war: "Whenever people feel strongly about something, they are very eager to find information that validates their views."
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- A recent RAND study finds that giving students opportunities to design their own instruction can help hone their critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
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- In Foreign Policy, RAND's Benjamin Young writes about Russia's objectives in Africa. The continent is "Moscow's primary stage to project itself as the spearhead of a new global anti-colonial movement," he says.
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** Events
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Policy Lab: Generative AI and Information Warfare
Thursday, October 24, 2024 (Online)
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Shaping the Future of U.S. National Security
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (Santa Monica, CA)
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