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In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

08/13/09
A Preview of the Obama-Mubarak Meeting  —
08/11/09
Concrete Steps Forward  —Ghaith al-Omari, adviser, Middle East Progress; advocacy director, American Task Force on Palestine. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.
08/06/09
A Look at the Fatah Conference  —

Setting the Record Straight

Keeping an Eye on The Big Picture

“What we are seeing is a disproportionate discussion about the natural growth in settlements, when that is supposed to be an issue decided later in any overall peace agreement. The fundamental issues should be the recognition, or at least the affirmation, of Israel's historical legitimacy. That should be the focus. We are not going to be able to achieve peace, or foster an environment to achieve peace, unless you have the Palestinians and the Arab states affirming Israel's historic legitimacy.”
—Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House minority whip, interview with The Jerusalem Post, July 30, 2009versus
  • “What President Obama is offering to Israel, at a parallel time that he is offering to the Arab world [is] a set of responsibilities, obligations that will enhance the security interests of Israel, the United States, the Arab world and the region. He’s asking all of the parties to act in their own interest, number one ... to take risks for peace. To move beyond conventional wisdom, to confront powerful and ingrained domestic and political pressure points, that are not easy to do.”
    —Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), member, House Foreign Affairs Committee, interview with The Media Line, July 9, 2009

    • Middle East Analysis

    Upcoming Events

    WATCH: Prospects for a Two-State Solution: Understanding Challenges and Creating Opportunities

    Featured panelists:

    Brigadier General (Ret.) Ilan Paz, former head of the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank (2002-2005)
    Ghaith al-Omari, advocacy director, American Task Force on Palestine; advisor, Middle East Progress; former advisor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

    Discussion moderated by:

    Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, advisor, Middle East Progress

    When: Friday, March 20, 2009
    Program: 9:00am to 10:30am

    WATCH HERE

    Mubarak Comes to Washington

    Special Envoy Mitchell & President Mubarak (AP)

    A Preview of the Obama-Mubarak Meeting

    On August 18, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House. With its unique history, geography and position as the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel, Egypt has a central role to play in achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East as well as tackling other regional challenges. On Monday, Mubarak spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Uzi Arad, Israel’s national security adviser, headed to Cairo for talks with defense officials. News reports yesterday indicated that a Hamas delegation was headed to Cairo for talks about captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

    In preparation for the meeting between Presidents Obama and Mubarak, below are some analysis pieces and backgrounders that look at Egypt and the peace process.

    How to Achieve Israeli-Palestinian Peace
    by President Hosni Mubarak (The Wall Street Journal)

    Among the host of challenges before us, it is the Palestinian issue that requires the greatest urgency, given the precarious state of the peace process after years of stalemate. President Obama has shown a willingness to lead to achieve peace in the Middle East; the Arab world must reciprocate with forthright leadership of its own. …

    A historic settlement is within reach, one that would give the Palestinians their state and freedom from occupation while granting Israel recognition and security to live in peace. With President Obama's reassertion of U.S. leadership in the region, a rare moment of opportunity presents itself. Egypt stands ready to seize that moment, and I am confident that the Arab world will do the same. Access the full article>>

    Put a Proper Procedure in Place
    by The Economist

    The question of Hosni Mubarak’s succession is once again cropping up with increasing regularity as whispers of the president’s ill-health spread. It was widely rumoured that, shocked by the death of his favourite grandson from illness in May, Mr Mubarak had a mild stroke. He was not seen in public for a week. When he reappeared, he looked frailer. When Barack Obama came to Cairo a fortnight later to deliver his momentous speech to the Muslim world, Egypt’s 81-year-old president failed to turn up. More recently, however, he has made an effort to appear at carefully orchestrated public outings. …

    There is no clear succession, yet the issue has nagged Egyptians (and foreigners who watch the Arab world’s most populous country, 80m-strong) for a good decade. Access the full article>>

    For more on this topic see our Background Basics Egypt’s Important Political Players (May 7, 2008)

    Whither Economic Reform?
    by Anne Mariel Peters (The Arab Reform Bulletin, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

    The cabinet of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, which will mark its fifth anniversary in office on July 14, 2009, has revitalized Egypt’s sluggish economic reform process, exchanged external finance for internal revenue, and eased restrictions on trade. Yet Nazif’s policies have exacerbated social inequalities and tied some reform progress to U.S. economic aid, which now faces steep cuts. The global economic crisis has further increased resistance to reform and encouraged the government to engage in palliative spending at the expense of development. Under these conditions, the sustainability of Egypt’s reform process is in doubt. Access the full article>>

    Background Basics

    Egyptian Actions During and After the Gaza Conflict

    During the conflict

    December 27: The Israeli offensive in Gaza began after a six-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended on December 19. The ceasefire had begun to fray in early November and rocket attacks increased following its expiration.
    December 30: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and accused Hamas of provoking Israeli aggression by refusing to renew the truce.
    December 31: Foreign ministers from the Arab League convened in

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    Recent Regional Activities

    October 2008: On October 5, an Egyptian delegation, including Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, became the first high- level Egyptian delegation to visit Iraq since the 2005 killing of Egypt’s envoy to Iraq. During the visit, Gheit said that Egypt would soon reopen an embassy in Iraq.

    As part of ongoing Egyptian mediations between various Palestinian factions, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met with a senior Hamas delegation on October 7. The meeting followed earlier talks

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    Egypt’s Recent Efforts as Regional Mediator and Host

    July 2007: With the help of Egyptian mediation, Israel and Hamas renew negotiations for captured Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.
    June 2007: Saudi Arabia and Egypt announce they are willing to resume mediation of inter-Palestinian dialogue following Hamas takeover of Gaza strip.
    July 2006: Egypt becomes key negotiator for release of Gilad Shalit.
    February 2006: Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman urges newly elected Hamas government to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
    February

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    The Gaza-Egypt Border

    The border between Gaza and Egypt was established by the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Agreement, and is demarcated by an eight-to-nine-foot-high wall built in 2001 after an increase in Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Originally under Egyptian and Israeli control, Israel agreed to evacuate the 8-mile-long Egypt-Gaza border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, in September 2005 as part of its wider disengagement from Gaza. Under terms brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an Egyptian Border Guard Force (BGF)

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