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

Leslie H. Gelb says that while Israel will likely take Obama and Clinton's $3 billion offer in exchange for a settlement freeze, a peace deal would depend on a dramatic step not by the Israelis, but by the Palestinians.

Elliott Abrams and Michael Singh argue that President Obama's new proposal to Israel is a step backward in the effort to establish an enduring peace in the Middle East.

Robert Danin says Benjamin Netanyahu must clarify his plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

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.

Elliott Abrams criticizes the Obama administration for making settlement construction the central issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

If Israelis and Palestinians can't reach an accommodation on settlement construction, talks will end and credibility on all sides--including that of the Obama administration--will suffer, says CFR's Robert Danin.

Charles A. Kupchan argues that the Palestinians will achieve statehood by taking what they can get--not what they want--from Israel.

Leslie H. Gelb says failure of the Middle East peace talks will be worse than not negotiating.

Hamas is central to Israeli security and Palestinian politics, yet the international community refuses to work with it. This is a mistake.

Elliott Abrams comments on the new round of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians and cautions the Obama Administration to avoid several potential pitfalls.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders launched new Mideast talks with seriousness and without theatrics but face a looming deadline on settlements and a tight timeline for success, says CFR's Robert Danin.

Listen to CFR expert Robert Danin discuss the resumption of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the agenda for their September 2 meeting in Washington, and the likely implications of these talks in a media conference call.

Robert Danin, fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations answers questions about the resumed direct Middle East peace talks in this conference call.

Severe political constraints on Israeli and Palestinian leaders cloud the prospects for progress in direct talks due to start later this week, says CFR's Steven A. Cook.