Elliott Abrams says that while former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert claims he had very nearly clinched a peace deal with the Palestinians before leaving office, an agreement was in fact not at hand.

Benjamin Netanyahu's agreement with the Kadima Party reflects a public more concerned about economic and social issues than whether to strike Iran, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

Elliott Abrams says PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas's letter to Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

The Hamas-Fatah unity deal reflects Palestinian efforts to find new patrons and new sources of support in the region, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

Robert M. Danin states, "Monday's Fatah-Hamas unity agreement announced in Doha marks the latest in a series of unimplemented accords between the two Palestinian adversaries."

Elliott Abrams discusses Iceland's decision to recognize Palestine as a state.

Palestinians are committed to a two-state solution despite losing a UN membership bid, says Mideast expert Daniel Levy, but moving forward requires addressing Israeli political entrenchment and a lack of Palestinian unity.

Following full UNESCO membership, Palestinians have increased efforts for statehood recognition, but the United States is continuing its push to bring them back to the negotiating table for direct talks, says CFR Mideast expert Robert Danin.

The prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas could indicate a shift in Hamas' willingness to deal with Israel, but the release of convicted terrorists could also mean renewed violence, says former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk.

Elliott Abrams examines Israel's decision to free over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have failed miserably.

The greatest danger to Israel comes not from without—in the form of Palestinian intransigence—but from within.

Israeli settlements—and the military occupation needed to defend them—present a central obstacle to peace and to the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

CFR's Robert Danin identifies the winners and losers in the deal brokered between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, abducted by Hamas in June 2006.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs released this statement on October 2, 2011. It was the country's first official response to the September 2011 statement made by the Quartet urging direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

CFR's Robert Danin examines the fragile relationship between Israel and Palestine in light of the ongoing discussions taking place at the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

Elliott Abrams says the UN speech delivered by PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas made waves and drew cheers but will ultimately hurt his cause.

Palestinians' UN bid for statehood recognition has both perils and benefits for the languishing Mideast peace process, experts say. It could escalate regional tensions, but it has added urgency to reopening negotiations.

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, gave this address, calling for Palestinian statehood, to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2011.

Elliott Abrams says that President Clinton's laying of blame on Israeli prime minister Netanyahu for the lack of progress toward peace with the Palestinians ignores extraordinary change among the Israeli right over the last ten years.