The"proximity talks" being conducted between Israelis and Palestinians probably won't lead to a final status agreement, say CFR experts Elliot Abrams and Steven A. Cook, but they could lead to the framework for a Palestinian state on the West Bank.

Steven Simon and Jonathan Stevenson argue that demilitarizing Hezbollah is crucial to rolling back Iranian influence in the Middle East and shaping an environment more conducive to Arab-Israeli accomodation.

After Obama urges Israel to join Non-Proliferation Treaty, Israeli experts disagree on best course of action. 'If we had taken this step, we wouldn't be dragged into it now,' Prof. Uzi Even says. Meanwhile, Dr. Efraim Escolai says there's no reason to change policy.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the "proximity talks" in Jerusalem.

While the time isn't ripe for an Obama administration peace plan, the White House should try to reignite proximity talks and possibly work to develop terms of reference and a structure for future final status talks, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Elliott Abrams argues that fifteen months of President Obama's diplomacy have undermined Palestinian autonomy and the willingness of Palestinian leaders to allow Arab states to determine their fate.

Richard N. Haass warns, "The danger of exaggerating the benefits of solving the Palestinian conflict is that doing so runs the risk of distorting American foreign policy."

Walter Russell Mead discusses the little known partnership between Israel and India, and its implications for American security and regional geopolitics.

President Obama sees the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a national security issue. But badly strained U.S.-Israeli relations mean progress is unlikely unless Obama travels to Israel on a trust-building mission, says Middle East expert Daniel Brumberg.

Former Secretary of State advisor Aaron David Miller recounts is 'loss of faith' in the Middle East peace process.

Elliott Abrams argues that if indeed Syria is supplying Hezbollah with SCUD missiles, Israel's right to self defense as well as the relevant UN resolutions allow military action against this threat--and the United States should make this clear.

Avner Cohen recounts Israel's failure to attend Obama's April 2010 Nuclear Summit in Washinton and how this runs against Israeli interests.

Ray Takeyh states that the best means to soften U.S. relations with the Iran is to decouple Iran's nuclear situation from the Middle East peace process.

Elliott Abrams argues, "The Obama administration's Middle East diplomacy goes from bad to worse."

Elliott Abrams says, "A piece of paper will not bring peace to the Middle East"

In light of recent controversy surrounding the expansion of Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, international fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Ehud Yaari, and Managing Editor of Foreign Affairs Gideon Rose discuss the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Walter Russell Mead says that by responding sharply to Israel's plans for increased settlements, President Obama has strengthened his hand abroad and at home.

Max Boot asks, "Why is the [Obama] administration so hard on Israel...when it's so soft on its despotic neighbors?"

CFR experts assess the causes for the U.S.-Israeli divisions over the settlements issue, citing everything from diplomatic bungling to Obama administration aims to destabilize the Israeli coalition.

While the Obama administration has rejected any notion of a U.S.-Israel crisis, the announcement of plans to build sixteen hundred new housing units in East Jerusalem during Vice President Joseph Biden's recent trip to Israel has stirred considerable debate about whether the announcement was a snub, whether the U.S. overreacted, and how to move forward.