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.

Elliott Abrams discusses continuing Palestinian refusal to come to terms with the existence of the State of Israel.

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.

Fuad Siniora, former prime minister of Lebanon, discusses the implications of Osama bin Laden's death for the Middle East, the Hamas-Fatah agreement, and the U.S. role in supporting the Arab Spring with Mohamad Bazzi, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Robert Danin, Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, says the deal between the secularist Fatah and radical Islamist Hamas factions will effectively put Obama administration efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on hold.

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

Israelis and Palestinians are watching nervously to see how the tumult in the region shakes out, but with both sides using more advanced weapons technology and the peace process in the doldrums, the U.S. needs to reengage, says CFR's Robert Danin.

Elliott Abrams discusses how Israel should handle pressure for a Palestinian state.

Robert Danin says the Palestine Papers are not a triumph of transparency and good government for the Palestinian Authority but are instead a potential victory for enemies of peace in the Middle East.

Robert Danin says a "bottom up" effort by Palestinians reflects a thoroughly reconstructed Palestinian approach towards peace with Israel.

Leslie H. Gelb challenges misperceptions about Israel's efforts toward peace in the Middle East.

The Israelis and the Palestinians will never find peace if they are left to negotiate on their own. As has been the case throughout history, great-power leadership is the missing ingredient. Washington must lead the way in enforcing a final-status settlement.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has now initiated a third, pragmatic stage of Palestinian nationalism by building institutions and counting down to statehood.