Writing in the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Trita Parsi and Reza Marashi discuss the regional uprisings affect on the regional power-balance.  The others note Saudi Arabia and Israel's disapproval of the Arab Spring given the strategic and political implications for their own countries.  Parsi and Marashi state that while Saudi leaders understood there was little they could do to prevent U.S. supported revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, they moved ...

  In remarks with Jordanian King Abdullah before their meeting, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the king "is a strong and steady voice in the incredible changes that are going on around the world."   King Abdullah noted that the discussion will include the challenges facing the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring and stated that "the role of the United States is going to be ...

Following the final signing of a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement yesterday many international leaders and negotiators weighed in. Benjamin Netanyahu announced in London: "What happened today in Cairo is a tremendous blow to peace and a great victory for terrorism."  Ha'aretz reports that leaked Israeli Foreign Ministry documents state that the agreement could offer Israel a "strategic opportunity", which is in stark contrast to statements coming from Israel's leadership.  Quartet Representative Tony Blair announced that ...

On Wednesday, Fatah and Hamas signed the proposed reconciliation agreement in Cairo following final negotiations. The deal has been heavily criticized by the Israeli Government, who is currently withholding $90 million in  tax revenue owed to the Palestinian Authority. Israel collects nearly a $1 billion annually in tax revenues  and customs on behalf of the PA. The revenue is transferred in accordance with terms of the Oslo accords. Hamas has announced ...

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will travel to Amman, Jordan on May 2-4 to meet with King Abdullah, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan, and members of civil society.   Secretary Feltman will continue bilateral dialogue that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Judeh held in Washington D.C. in April, discuss the King's reform agenda and regional issues ...

Khaled Elgindy, writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the Palestinian reconciliation will pose “serious political, diplomatic, and legal challenges for U.S. policymakers,” but that American opposition at this time would “be both futile and counterproductive.” Elgindy argues: “the agreement is a major breakthrough for the Palestinians, whose four-year split has paralyzed domestic politics, hindered peace efforts, and demoralized ordinary Palestinians.” Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s denunciation of the deal, Elgindy ...

Writing at Foreign Policy, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Dore Gold argues that the recent Fatah-Hamas unity deal makes permanent peace with Israel, less, not more likely.  Gold states that the reconciliation is part of Mahmoud Abbas's push for recognition of Palestinian statehood at the U.N. General Assembly in September but says such efforts suffer from a "fundamental misconception."  Gold reiterates that the General Assembly has no power or ...

Last week, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy hosted an event entitled, "Lebanon Today: Internal Politics and the Arab Spring."  Speaking at the event were May Chidiac, president of MCF Media Institute; Michael Young, opinion editor for the Beirut Daily Star; Hisham Melhem, Washington bureau chief of Al-Arabiya; and Michael Doran,  visiting professor at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service. May Chidiac noted how protests in the ...

Young, educated, and tech-savvy activists in Gaza are helping organize the self-named March 15 movement seeking to promote Palestinian national reconciliation between the rival Hamas-Fatah. On March 15th, youth activists protesting in Gaza City clashed violently with Hamas police who attacked protesters on motorbikes.  One of the activists, Asma al-Ghoul, a local feminist and journalist in Gaza City, says that the "fear inside the people"  is dissipating.  As the movement ...

Writing at Foreign Policy, Ken Adelman, asserts that support for the U.S. foreign assistance budget is misguided and that arguments in support of these programs become "shallower" upon closer investigation. He argues that: "Four of the largest U.S. foreign-aid recipients today -- Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, and Afghanistan -- all take contrary positions on issues of critical importance to the White House."  Adelman also criticizes a recent article by Joseph Nye, stating ...

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanie Verveer will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank from April 15th through April 22nd.  During her visit,  the ambassador will meet with government officials, political party representatives, civil society leaders and the media to discuss the need for inclusion of women in the political process and their role as peace builders.  She will also meet with business leaders, youth organizations and women's ...