Arab-Israeli Relations

The Much Too Promised Land: America's Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:36:34 -0400

Middle East Institute & Israel Policy Forum are honored to co-host Aaron David Miller to discuss his new book "The Much Too Promised Land: America's Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace." For nearly twenty years, Miller has played a central role in U.S. efforts to broker Arab-Israeli peace. His position as an advisor to presidents, secretaries of state, and national security advisors has given him a unique perspective on a problem that American leaders have wrestled with for more than half a century.

Jerusalem's Future: Chronic Conflict or a Shared Peace in a City of Three Faiths?

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:03:27 -0500

Danny Seidemann is an Israeli lawyer and legal counsel to Ir Amim, an Israeli NGO concerned with the future of Jerusalem. He is a leading expert on Jerusalem's municipal operations, planning, and residency rights. Ir Amim has been an invaluable resource for policy makers, diplomats and journalists. Seidemann has appeared frequently before the Supreme Court of Israel on Jerusalem-related issues.

Israel's Sudden Flurry of Diplomacy is a Switch

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 16:25:55 -0400

In short order, Israel has reached a truce with the radical Islamist group Hamas, acknowledged secretive negotiations with Syria, and declared a willingness to discuss peace with Lebanon. All this comes on top of regular meetings between Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Diplomacy between Israel and its neighbors has been almost non-existent this decade. So why is all this happening now? And where is the United States, the traditional broker between Israel and the Arabs?

Egypt's Quandary Over the Gaza Border

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:34:32 -0500

The breach of the border barrier along the Gaza-Egyptian border presents Egypt with a major quandary. Egypt is caught between several fires, mostly not of its own making, and with few good options clearly available. President Husni Mubarak has made a virtue of necessity by indicating he welcomed the influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into Sinai, but in fact this prospect has long raised major concerns in Egypt about the potential of chaos in Gaza. Egypt would prefer to revert to the status quo, but Hamas is eager to see an open border point at Rafah.

"Lake Success" and Annapolis: Completing the circle?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:05:05 -0500

November 29, 2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the United Nations vote to partition the British mandate of Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab. Jews called it "The Miracle of Lake Success" (the location of UN headquarters at the time) while Arabs called it illegal and a betrayal of Palestine's Arab inhabitants.

Annapolis Talks: Big Plans for Weak Leaders

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:07:14 -0500

Here’s the sad irony of the coming Israeli-Palestinian conclave: if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were locked in a room and left to their own devices, they would be quite capable of real progress on some of the thorniest Middle East problems.

Jerusalem: Whose Capital?

Edward S. Walker, Jr. — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:15:35 -0400

On August 11, the New York Times published an article by Stephen Erlanger on the divided road the Israelis are building around Jerusalem. This road combines two roads - one for the Palestinians to be able to move from the Northern West Bank to the Southern West Bank and back - and one for the Israelis. A high wall separates the roads. For the Israelis, there are a number of exits that allow travelers to go into Jerusalem or down into the Jordan Valley. For the Palestinians, there are no exits except at the terminal points. The road is not news, nor is the concept.

The West Bank First

Edward S. Walker Jr. — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0400

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc653.html

A New Regional Leadership

Thomas W. Lippman — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:00:00 -0400

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc636.html

This Perspective first appeared online in the April 26, 2007 edition of Bitter-Lemons International.

King ‘Abdullah of Saudi Arabia caused a lot of heartburn in official Washington with his speech at last month's Arab summit in Riyadh, where he referred to the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq.

Neutralizing Palestine to Better Focus on Iran

Clayton Swisher — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0500

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc611.html