A balanced, even-handed account of the forces that are driving Iran, Israel, and the United States toward crisis, and what can be done to defuse it.

To break the Israeli-Palestinian impasse, the U.S. should present a two-state "vision" for each side to vote on, says expert Sari Nusseibeh. Failing that, Palestinians should press to be absorbed into Israel and given civil rights, even without the right to vote.

The end of Israel's ban on settlement building creates political problems for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a dilemma the Obama administration in part brought on itself, says Mideast expert Michele Dunne.

Daniel L. Byman, senior fellow for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy, discusses his Foreign Affairs article, "How to Handle Hamas: The Perils of Ignoring Gaza's Leadership" with students, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.

Please join Senator Joseph I. Lieberman for a discussion on the U.S. role in the Middle East, touching on Iran, the peace process, and the balance of power in the region.

Elliott Abrams criticizes the Obama administration for making settlement construction the central issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

If Israelis and Palestinians can't reach an accommodation on settlement construction, talks will end and credibility on all sides--including that of the Obama administration--will suffer, says CFR's Robert Danin.

The win by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's party in the referendum on constitutional changes could improve Turkish democracy, says CFR's Steven A. Cook, but fuels concerns about whether it augurs a more religiously oriented political environment.

For decades, Israel has maintained an "opaque" nuclear posture -- neither confirming nor denying that it possesses nuclear weapons. The time has come for Israel to reconsider the policy of nuclear ambiguity.

Elliott Abrams comments on the new round of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians and cautions the Obama Administration to avoid several potential pitfalls.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders launched new Mideast talks with seriousness and without theatrics but face a looming deadline on settlements and a tight timeline for success, says CFR's Robert Danin.

In the gap between Washington's and Jerusalem's views of Iran lies the question: who, if anyone, will stop Iran before it goes nuclear, and how? As Washington and Jerusalem study each other intensely, here's an inside look at the strategic calculations on both sides--and at how, if things remain on the current course, an Israeli air strike will unfold.

Robert Danin, fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations answers questions about the resumed direct Middle East peace talks in this conference call.

Elliott Abrams says that hostility toward Israel should be left out of the debate over striking against Iran's nuclear program.

Progress is possible in the newly announced Mideast talks, but the Obama administration will need to display deft leadership to overcome deep mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, writes CFR's Robert Danin.

Elliott Abrams says the United States--rather than Israel--may strike against Iran's nuclear program.

Micah Zenko states, "Israel needs to drop the fiction that it is not a nuclear power."

Lebanon faces new sectarian violence, and tensions along its border with Israel threaten to boil over. CFR's Mohamad Bazzi says to help avert conflict, Washington must eventually engage with the most powerful force in Lebanon: Hezbollah.

Elliott Abrams tells the complex story of Arab-Israeli-Iranian relations over this summer.

Daniel Senor and Saul Singer discuss Israel's role as a global innovation leader.