Elliott Abrams discusses President Obama's suggestion that Israel return to its 1967 borders.

Writers for the Economist argue that President Obama will have a difficult time trying to convince Palestinians that they should direct their arguments and conduct negotiations for statehood through Washington as opposed to through the United Nations in September.

Robert Danin argues that President Obama, in his speech on the Middle East, provided an American response to the Middle East uprisings that was bold and ambitious, but his plans for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement lacked a clear way forward.

Isobel Coleman says that while President Obama sought the middle ground in his speech on the Middle East, it may leave both sides disappointed.

Elliott Abrams says that while President Obama had some fine language in his speech on the Middle East, his points on the Arab Spring and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were wrong.

Elliott Abrams discusses George Mitchell's resignation as President Obama's special envoy for the Middle East.

Mahmoud Abbas explains the significance of the UN Assembly Vote on Palestinian Independence.

Leslie H. Gelb warns against overreaction by Israel to the protests at its borders.

In this New York Times op-ed, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, lays out his case as to why the General Assembly, meeting in September, should admit Palestine to the United Nations.

With envoy George Mitchell's departure, U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict changes, from the quest for an end of the conflict to the search for a strategy to manage the current crisis, says CFR's Robert Danin.

Robert M. Danin argues that Hamas and Fatah have unified, but not yet reconcile.

Elliott Abrams discusses the importance of the timing of Osama bin Laden's death.

Elliott Abrams says the current special envoy to the Middle East does not understand the problem there.

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.

Mohamad Bazzi discusses the Shiite influence in Lebanon.

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.