All items
- Working Towards Progress
- Original Commentary | Nov 17, 2010
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Secretary of State Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu at their recent meeting in New York (AP)
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
- Assessing the Situation in Afghanistan
- Original Commentary | Nov 12, 2010
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Afghanistan peace council inaugural session (AP)
Middle East Bulletin interview with Caroline Wadhams, director for South Asia Security Studies, Center for American Progress.
You recently returned from a NATO-led trip to Afghanistan. What were the key lessons learned from the trip?
There were a few key takeaways from the trip. First, I saw just how extensive our footprint is in Afghanistan, in terms of infrastructure, personnel, money, bases, equipment, etc. It was sobering to see how entangled we are in that country and how difficult it will be
- Lebanon’s Stability Takes Center Stage
- Original Commentary | Oct 29, 2010
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U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman speaks at a press conference during his visit to Lebanon (AP)
On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice underscored U.S. support for the Lebanese government, while criticizing Syria and Iran for supporting Hezbollah and undermining Lebanese sovereignty. Her comments followed Syrian President Bashar Assad’s criticism of the United States. The week before Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, visited Lebanon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on the phone, following Iranian President Mahmoud
- Understanding Post-Referendum Turkey
- Original Commentary | Oct 26, 2010
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Prime Minister ErdoÄŸan (AP)
Middle East Bulletin interview with Michael Werz, senior fellow, Center for American Progress.
You recently returned from a trip to Turkey where you held meetings with senior government officials and opposition leaders, what were some of the main themes discussed during these meetings?
The meetings with President Gul, Prime Minister ErdoÄŸan, and Deputy Prime Minister Babacan dealt with issues that are currently at the core of Turkish-American relations: the Iran nuclear discussion and the deteriorating relationship between Turkey and Israel; but also
- A Note From Middle East Progress
- | Oct 26, 2010
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank Moran Banai, former Middle East Progress (MEP) policy director, for her guidance and leadership provided since 2007. Moran played a critical role in MEP’s early stages and has been a key part of the project’s development over the years. With her departure the MEP team will miss a strong analyst, leader and friend.
We launched Middle East Progress (MEP) in 2007 to promote and highlight practical approaches to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict
- U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal
- Original Commentary | Oct 22, 2010
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King Abdullah and President Obama (AP)
On Wednesday, October 20, the State department notified Congress of an arms deal with Saudi Arabia consisting of $60 billion in U.S. weapons and aircraft. The deal has been in the works since 2007. Congress has 30 days to block the deal. This sale represents the largest foreign arms deal in U.S. history, if fully carried out.
Middle East Bulletin (MEB) has been examining developments in Saudi Arabia over the years, including publishing a backgrounder
- Netanyahu’s Moves Spark Debate on Intentions
- Analysis | Oct 13, 2010
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An offer on Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu … to freeze West Bank Jewish settlements in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state—instantly rejected by the Palestinians— was the latest complex maneuver engendering debate about his intentions. The offer … was aimed either at keeping talks with the Palestinians alive and his right-wing coalition partners in check, or at seeking to shift the burden of failure to the Palestinians and escape blame should the talks wither
- Palestinian Dream City Hits Snag From Israel
- Analysis | Oct 13, 2010
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It is billed as a symbol of the future Palestine: a modern, middle-class city of orderly streets, parks and shopping plazas rising in the hills of the West Bank, ready for independence, affluence and peace. But the $800-million project has hit a snag: Palestinians say construction of the city of Rawabi depends on getting an access road, which can’t go ahead without Israeli permission. …
The Palestinian Authority asked Israel last year for jurisdiction over the strip of land needed, and
- No to a Third Intifada
- Analysis | Oct 13, 2010
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The prospect of a breakdown again raises the specter of another intifada, since many Palestinians may conclude that the occupation is either permanent or that diplomacy is simply an ineffective tool in resolving it and that a new uprising is the only remaining way to pressure Israel. … [I]t is essential that Palestinians do not turn to, or allow themselves to be sucked into, another round of violence. … [T]he consequences of the second intifada were disastrous for the Palestinian
- U.S. Nudges Palestinians to Answer Israeli Proposal
- News | Oct 13, 2010
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The United States nudged the Palestinian Authority to make a counter-offer to Israel’s proposal for a new freeze on building in Jewish settlements if the Palestinians recognized Israel as a Jewish state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said if the Palestinian leadership recognized Israel “as the homeland of the Jewish people,” he was ready to ask his government to extend a freeze on West Bank settlement building.