Judged by the standard of protecting U.S. interests, things have worked out quite well for the Obama administration; judged by the standard of midwifing a new global order, they remain a work in progress.

The prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas could indicate a shift in Hamas' willingness to deal with Israel, but the release of convicted terrorists could also mean renewed violence, says former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk.

Osama bin Laden's death has given the United States greater credibility in the Middle East, which President Obama can use to broadly frame an approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace within the context of the Arab Spring uprisings, says Middle East expert Martin Indyk.

In the wake of Mubarak's ouster experts discuss the future of Egypt and the reverberations in the Arab world and beyond.

Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, says it's unlikely that the first meeting between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead to sharp disagreements but notes Netanyahu may have trouble reconciling calls for a two-state solution with opposition from his political base.

Listen to Foreign Affairs authors analyze policy options to bring peace to the Middle East and the role that the Obama administration can play in the region.

Watch Foreign Affairs authors analyze policy options to bring peace to the Middle East and the role that the Obama administration can play in the region.

Martin S. Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, says incoming President Barack Obama cannot solve the problems in the Gaza Strip unless he takes a broad approach that includes diplomacy with Iran and Syria.

Richard Haass and Martin Indyk argue that Obama "can capitalise on new opportunities rather than be overwhelmed by old realities in this critical and troubled region."

To be successful in the Middle East, the Obama administration will need to move beyond Iraq, find ways to deal constructively with Iran, and forge a final-status Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

Listen to experts discuss the recommendations of the new report Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President, advocating a new approach in the region, focusing on the Arab-Israeli peace process and Iran's nuclear program.

Watch experts discuss the recommendations of the new report Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President, advocating a new approach in the region, focusing on the Arab-Israeli peace process and Iran's nuclear program.

The launch of the joint Council on Foreign Relations and Saban Center book Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President, a series of policy recommendations for the next U.S. president pertaining to U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

Experts from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution propose a new, nonpartisan Middle East strategy drawing on the lessons of past failures to address both the short- and long-term challenges to U.S. interests.

Martin S. Indyk, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel, discusses the new leader of the country's ruling Kadima party, Tzipi Livni.

Martin S. Indyk, who served as ambassador to Israel in the Clinton presidency and advises Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign, says it's crucial for President Bush and Secretary of State Rice to become more involved in sealing a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal.

In February, Martin Indyk and Richard Haass engaged leading Gulf policymakers in detailed conversations about what they are looking for from a new American president. While all those with whom they spoke were fascinated by the American presidential primary elections and seem to be following the results closely, few have yet focused on the possibility that a significant change in U.S. foreign policy might result from a new administration in Washington. There was also a significant disconnect between leaders and publics: The leaders are focused on how the next administration will deal with complex regional security challenge posed by Iran, whereas the publics are hoping that a new president will resolve the Palestinian issue and press authoritarian governments to be more open, transparent and accountable.

Martin S. Indyk, a Mideast expert and former diplomat, expresses disappointment at the lack of specifics in President Bush’s comments at the Annapolis conference.

Listen to Sallai Moshe Meridor, Israeli ambassador to the United States, discuss what Israel sees as obstacles to achieving peace, particularly Iran, as well as the similarity of interests between Israel and much of the Arab world.

Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, discusses the current crisis, future challenges, and the possibility for peace in the Middle East.