Blogs

Pressure Points

Elliott Abrams discusses U.S. foreign policy, focusing on the Middle East and democracy and human rights.

Latest Post

Injustice, Israel, and the "International Court of Justice"

The ICJ's "advisory opinion" on Israeli "settlements" in Jerusalem and the West Bank is an injustice that gives evidence of considerable bias against the Jewish State. Read More

Venezuela
Can Maduro Be Negotiated Out of Venezuela?
The United States should try to find out if an offer of amnesty will persuade Venezuela's dictator to permit and respect the results of a free election on July 28.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
That Old Time Religion: The G-7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on the West Bank
The G-7 foreign ministers' statement on the West Bank follows some old lines about the legitimacy of settlements, but ignores the issue of payments to reward terror.
U.S. Foreign Policy
U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East: "Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?"
U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East seems unaware of how U.S. power should be deployed to decrease the chances of war and to support U.S. allies.
  • Venezuela
    The United States and the Venezuelan Election
    Every sign suggests that Venezuela's presidential election on July 28 will be stolen. Will the Biden administration then acknowledge that its policy toward Venezuela has failed--and change it?
  • Israel
    Visiting Israel, June 2024
    In a visit in June, I found a somber mood and many doubts about the current national leadership.
  • Qatar
    Why All the Criticism of Qatar?
    Qatari-owned "news" media like Al Jazeera and Al-Quds Al-Arabi are not independent news sources, and continue to show deep hostility to the United States in their biased reporting.
  • Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program
    At the Community of Democracies Meeting, the Biden Administration Downgraded Its Support for Democracy
    By sending an acting deputy assistant secretary of state to represent the United States at the recent Community of Democracies meeting that the United States chaired, the Biden administration showed a lack of commitment to democracy.
  • Venezuela
    Will the United States Boost Maduro in Venezuela’s Election?
    A forced sale of CITGO oil company just days before Venezuela's July 28 presidential election would be a propaganda bonanza for the Maduro regime, and should be delayed by the United States government.
  • Diplomacy and International Institutions
    International Criminal Court Prosecutor Threatens United States Senators
    The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has threatened 12 United States senators for their criticisms of his effort to arrest Israeli leaders.
  • Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
    On "Outside Agitators" and Gaza Protests
    Half of those arrested during disruptive Gaza protests on U.S. campuses were not students or faculty members.