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Elliott Abrams

Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies

Expertise

U.S. policy in the Middle East, Israel-Palestinian affairs, democracy promotion, human rights policy, U.S. foreign policy.

Programs

Middle East Program

All Publications

Ask CFR Experts

What could be done to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Asked by Michael Varacalli, from New York University

Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians began even before the State of Israel was established in 1948, and the two populations have opposing claims to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that have defeated numerous U.S. efforts to broker peace. Right now there is little hope of a comprehensive solution—one that resolves all the issues and involves not only Israel and the PLO but the Arab states as well. Today, the most that Israel can realistically offer is less than the least the Palestinians can realistically accept. For now, the best way forward is to continue talks, but to emphasize practical steps forward on the ground that move Palestinians toward construction of a state.

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See more in Israel, Palestinian Authority

Article

Alas Denmark

Author: Elliott Abrams
Weekly Standard

Elliott Abrams examines recent news of Jews in Denmark being warned against openly wearing religious symbols amid rising anti-Israeli sentiment in Copenhagen.

See more in Denmark, Religion

Article

The New Middle East

Author: Elliott Abrams
Weekly Standard

Elliott Abrams says, "The next three to six months in the Middle East will make Obama administration officials look back to 2012 with nostalgia as a quiet time when they were able to focus on the campaign. The coming year will be much tougher—starting now."

See more in United States, Middle East, Presidency

Op-Ed

Mainline Churches vs. Israel

Author: Elliott Abrams
National Review

While Christian communities in the Arab Middle East are decimated or endangered, the Christian community in Israel grows. Yet the mainline Protestant denominations in the United States continue to assault Israel and demand cuts in American aid to that country while ignoring the plight of their Christian brethren, says Elliott Abrams.

See more in Middle East, Israel, Religion

Testimony

Safeguarding Israel’s Security in a Volatile Region

Author: Elliott Abrams

In his testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Elliott Abrams argues that continued military and intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Israel, improved political relationships, and a strong American policy which ensures the development of stable democracies in Arab Spring nations is critical to Israel's security.

Op-Ed

Bandar Is Back

Author: Elliott Abrams
Weekly Standard

Elliott Abrams says the return of Bandar bin Sultan as head of Saudi Arabia's intelligence service may "bring Saudi views and interests back to the center of Arab decision making as well as the inner circles in many other world capitals."

See more in Middle East, Saudi Arabia