Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has now initiated a third, pragmatic stage of Palestinian nationalism by building institutions and counting down to statehood.

Robert M. Danin argues that the Arab League's recent emergence as a regional actor in the Middle East is a welcome development.

Robert Danin argues that by adopting a publicly confrontational approach, the Palestinians risk undermining the goodwill and security that Fayyad's nation-building program has so painstakingly created.

"Behind the scenes diplomacy could encourage positive responses from concerned regional parties, Arab and Israeli, that would give them all something to talk about," writes Robert Danin.

Robert M. Danin states, "Monday's Fatah-Hamas unity agreement announced in Doha marks the latest in a series of unimplemented accords between the two Palestinian adversaries."

Robert M. Danin outlines eight steps that the United States and other members of the international community could adopt to help Syria, well short of military action.

Robert M. Danin argues that the Arab League's recent emergence as a regional actor in the Middle East is a welcome development.

Robert Danin argues that President Obama, in his speech on the Middle East, provided an American response to the Middle East uprisings that was bold and ambitious, but his plans for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement lacked a clear way forward.

Robert Danin examines whether the wave of change engulfing the Arab world will ride through Syria.

Robert Danin says the Palestine Papers are not a triumph of transparency and good government for the Palestinian Authority but are instead a potential victory for enemies of peace in the Middle East.

Robert Danin says a "bottom up" effort by Palestinians reflects a thoroughly reconstructed Palestinian approach towards peace with Israel.

Robert Danin says Benjamin Netanyahu must clarify his plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Robert Danin says the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, brokered by the United States, is heading toward a meltdown in September.

Israel's new coalition government is widely divided on prospects for peace with the Palestinians, but the coalition is likely to last longer than many expect, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

The Hamas-Fatah unity deal reflects Palestinian efforts to find new patrons and new sources of support in the region, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

The next president will be forced to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in "a different Middle East context," as possible leadership transitions on both sides as well as ongoing regional changes will affect the context in which the peace process is pursued, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

CFR's Robert Danin says the Arab League's move to suspend Syria opens the door for greater action by the international community.

Robert Danin, CFR's senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies, argues that the international community needs to remain involved in Libya after Qaddafi's death.

CFR's Robert Danin identifies the winners and losers in the deal brokered between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, abducted by Hamas in June 2006.

Robert Danin, Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, says the deal between the secularist Fatah and radical Islamist Hamas factions will effectively put Obama administration efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on hold.

As the Libyan conflict escalates, CFR's Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, Robert Danin, warns that the U.S. must have a clear objective to for the country and the region.