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.

Palestinians are pleased at the uproar against Israel after its raid on a Turkish-led aid flotilla, but what they--and Israelis--want is more active U.S. engagement in the peace process and an agreem…

As the United States plans to spur Mideast peace efforts, CFR expert Elliott Abrams says progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will come through development and building a legal system in the …

Veteran Mideast diplomat Edward P. Djerejian sees President Obama’s speech to the Muslim world as a "powerful public diplomacy statement." But the task now, he says, will be crafting the policies tha…

Martin S. Indyk, who served as ambassador to Israel in the Clinton presidency and advises Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign, says it’s crucial for President Bush and Secretary of State Rice to become m…