Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Walter Russell Mead says, "...neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are really responsible for the mess that they are both in--and neither party can solve the problem on its own."

Palestinians are pleased at the uproar against Israel after its raid on a Turkish-led aid flotilla, but what they--and Israelis--want is more active U.S. engagement in the peace process and an agreement that looks like the one proposed in 2000-2001, says Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki.

George Friedman offers a brief, but thorough analysis of the fractious dynamics between Middle East countries and how it relates to Israel's current position in the wake of the flotilla incident.

Yousef Munayyer offers a fact sheet on the impact of the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

Turkey's recent diplomatic strains with the United States and Israel reflect the "more assertive and self-confident" posture of a country looking to reestablish its role as a major influence in the Middle East and Central Asia, says expert F. Stephen Larrabee.

Elliott Abrams says that amidst the international frenzy over the Gaza flotilla disaster, the Obama administration has abandoned Israel at the United Nations.

Sasha Polakow-Suransky discusses his new book The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa.

Mohamad Bazzi argues that regardless of whether the United States and Israel like it, Hamas represents a majority in Gaza.

Joe Conason examines the effect of Israel's Gaza policy on the strategic interests of Israel and the United States in the wake of the raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Max Boot argues, "Israel had no obligation to allow the ships to reach Gaza, but surely there was a smarter way to stop them."

Israel's response to a humanitarian aid flotilla off Gaza marked another setback for U.S.-Turkish relations and could complicate the latest U.S.-brokered Mideast peace talks, says CFR's Steven Cook.

Leslie H. Gelb says that while Israeli commandos mishandled the situation on the aid flotilla, Israel was right to storm a ship bound for Gaza.

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."