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In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

Setting the Record Straight

Determined to Reach a Common Objective

“We knew at the outset that the task would be difficult. We acknowledged that publicly and privately. We knew this would be a road with many bumps— and there have been many bumps—and that continues to this day. But we are not deterred. We are, to the contrary, determined more than ever to proceed to realize the common objective, which we all share, of a Middle East that is at peace with security and prosperity for the people of Israel, for Palestinians, and for all the people in the region. We will continue our efforts in that regard, undeterred and undaunted by the difficulties, the complexities or the bumps in the road.”—George Mitchell, special envoy for Middle East peace, remarks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, September 29, 2010

Middle East Analysis

Upcoming Events

The Road Forward on Middle East Peace

Event: October 1, 2009 - 12:00pm-1:00pm

Introduction:
Winnie Stachelberg, Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Center for American Progress

Featured speaker:
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)

Moderated by:
Moran Banai, U.S. Editor of Middle East Bulletin

WATCH HERE

Status of Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking Efforts

Secretary of State Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu at their recent meeting in New York (AP)

Working Towards Progress

On November 11, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York. Reports suggest that the meeting helped pave the way for a U.S.-Israel agreement whereby the United States would provide Israel with incentives to extend a one-off settlement moratorium for 90 days. Construction in East Jerusalem would reportedly not be included in the extension. Reported incentives include the United States giving Israel 20 additional F-35 fighter jets worth about $3 billion, and a U.S. promise to oppose moves in the international arena to force an agreement on Israel.

Netanyahu presented the proposal to his security cabinet, which has reportedly delayed voting on it until after written assurances from the United States are provided. The Palestinians are waiting to comment on whether they would return to negotiations until after the United States provides them with official details of the agreement. There are also reports that Israeli military and intelligence officials have warned that if a peace agreement is not reached with the Palestinians than an escalation of violence will occur and Hamas could increase its power.

For full details of Israel’s initial settlement moratorium, see this backgrounder. In addition, for analysis on how to advance Middle East peace efforts, see a recent MEB interview with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk entitled, “Courage and Leadership Needed”. For analysis on the role of regional states in the current context, see a MEB interview with former Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher entitled, “The Regional Component to Moving Forward”.

Background Basics

Understanding the Settlement Moratorium

On November 25, the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to halt settlement construction in the West Bank for ten months. The freeze applies to new home construction, but not building currently in progress or building in East Jerusalem. The moratorium allows for construction of a finite number of public buildings, such as synagogues and schools; only 28 such public building projects will be allowed by Israel during the moratorium.

Following Netanyahu’s announcement, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace

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The Challenge of Settlements and Outposts Since 1992: Some Key Events

1992 – 1994: In 1992, as a means to re-secure $10 billion in U.S. housing loan guarantees for new immigrants from Russia, Yitzhak Rabin’s government pledged to freeze settlement expansion. By 1994, however, the government had proposed construction of up to 15,000 new apartments, including the Maale Adumim settlement five miles east of Jerusalem, which now threatens to divide the West Bank in two. In addition, Ehud Olmert, then mayor of Jerusalem, authorized the construction

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Efforts Toward Middle East Peace Post-1991 Madrid Conference

In October 1991, the United States and Soviet Union co-sponsored a peace summit in Madrid that included representatives from the European Community, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation. The Arab Maghreb Union, Gulf Cooperation Council and UN were observers to the talks. The conference served as the starting point for a series of negotiating tracks between Israel and the surrounding Arab countries.

Israeli-Palestinian Track
Concurrent to the official bilateral talks, Israelis and Palestinians began unofficial

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U.S. Administration Efforts Toward Middle East Peace, March-July

Top-Down Track
Proximity Talks
Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell is concluding his sixth round of talks this week, which have included meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Plans for proximity talks were announced in March, but the first round did not begin

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