A brief overview of the Israeli political system.

This op-ed is about Jewish-Christian dialogue, especially the dialogue with the Catholic Church.

Leslie H. Gelb writes, "America's new envoy to the Middle East just returned from his first listening tour, where he undeniably got an earful. But the next big step in U.S. leadership will have to be much more than just parading Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table."

Former "Israeli prison official-turned-reporter" Jeffrey Goldberg writes in a New York Times op-ed that Hamas' fundamentalism makes it impossible for Israel to reach a peace agreement with them.

Aaron David Miller, a former top U.S. Mideast negotiator, says that naming George J. Mitchell as the new special envoy for Arab-Israeli issue shows the Obama administration is substituting "process for substance."

Libya's autocratic leader Muammar Qaddafi presents his plan for Middle East peace in a rare op-ed contribution to the International Herald Tribune.

Listen to Steven A. Cook, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at CFR, discuss the recent conflict in Gaza as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call Series.

Middle East expert Richard W. Murphy says the United States runs the risk of delaying the Israeli-Palestinian peace process by blackballing Hamas. Though opening relations with the group may be necessary, he says he does not expect it to come quickly.

Richard N. Haass writes, "Israel needs a successful Palestinian state almost as much as the Palestinians do if it is to remain democratic, Jewish, prosperous and secure."

Amity Shlaes writes about the unlikely connection between Israel and India.

Mohammad Yaghi, a veteran Palestinian political expert, says the current fighting in the Gaza Strip wasn't necessary and proposes that the incoming Obama administration consider calling together Arab states and Israel to overcome Hamas' refusal to negotiate with Israel.

After a long delay, the United States adds its voice to those calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.  In the longer term, analysts hope prospects for restarting peace talks will have improved once the guns fall silent.

A Council on Foreign Relations conference call.

Scott Lasensky, a Middle East expert, says the new U.S. administration should listen carefully to voices from the Middle East and that President Barack Obama's first speeches will be scrutinized for signals on his approach.

The international community's Mideast envoy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, says conditions are ripe to boost the Israeli-Palestinian peace process but stresses the need to move swiftly, especially in resolving the dispute over Gaza.

Demographer Joseph Chamie examines one of the foremost foreign policy challenges facing the next U.S. president-- the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Chamie offers four possible scenarios for demographic trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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

Two years after the UN-brokered cease-fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah gunmen in southern Lebanon, lasting peace remains elusive.

Gerald M. Steinberg, an expert on Israeli politics, says Prime Minister Ehud Olmert could remain in office well beyond his planned resignation next month.