Elliott Abrams argues that after thirty months of Obama Middle East policy, the popularity and prestige of the United States have declined and negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians appear to be dead in the water.

Elliott Abrams discusses a recent letter from a group of American leaders urging President Obama to adopt a Middle East policy far more critical of Israel.

Elliott Abrams says that in a week of drama between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas was notably absent from the scene.

In light of the region's latest agitations, former ambassador Hajrudin Somun reviews the history of Western proposals to draw and redraw Middle East borders.

Jeffrey Goldberg analyzes the issues between Palestine and Israel in the wake of the September UN vote on Palestinian independence.

Leslie H. Gelb says that President Obama's speech on the Middle East was sensible, courageous, and fair, but it has been challenged for reasons good and bad in a region unable to transcend its ancient grudges.

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.

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.