In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

12/11/08: Toward Resolution —President of Israel Shimon Peres. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.
11/25/08: U.S. Engagement with Iran: A How to Guide — Karim Sadjadpour, associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.
11/20/08: Pakistan: Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq —Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.

Setting the Record Straight

A Shared Interest

"With his enthusiastic embrace of the so-called Saudi peace plan, Olmert is committing Israel to accepting the Arab narrative of the Arab-Israeli conflict. … With Olmert now giving his stamp of approval to the Saudi plan, he is denying the country its moral right to defend itself both militarily and diplomatically."
—Caroline Glick, deputy managing editor, The Jerusalem Post; senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs, Center for Security Policy, "Tzipi and the Drug Lords," The Jerusalem Post, November 27, 2008

“Israel rejected the Initiative in the past without examining it in depth. According to the common wisdom, the more Arab partners involved, the more they’ll be pushing us and be in favor of the Palestinians. I think that in the present situation in the Arab and Muslim world, where we see strengthening of extremism that bothers moderate Arab states no less than it bothers us, the Arab states have an interest that such an agreement comes to fruition. And for that to happen, if there is a need to push the Palestinians or assist them, I think this is exactly the time to do that.”
—Maj. Gen (ret.) Danny Rothschild, president, Council for Peace and Security, interview, Israeli radio, Reshet Bet, November 2, 2008 (translated by Middle East Bulletin)

Middle East Analysis

Putting the Arab Peace Initiative Into Action —Ghaith al-Omari, director of advocacy, American Task Force on Palestine; former foreign policy adviser to Palestinian President Abbas. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.
Peace Plan Needs PR Backing —Roula Khalaf (Financial Times)
A Comprehensive Agenda —Ezzedine Choukri-Fishere, former adviser to the Egyptian foreign minister, & Omar Dajani, former legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team (Al-Ahram Weekly)

When Hamas Boycotts Palestinian Unity Talks, What Does It Mean?

November 13, 2008

Hamas’ image may very well suffer as a result of this perceived sabotage of the reconciliation efforts, but the organization, which fears an Arab-Egyptian trap, prefers to pay a small price now, rather than suffering more massive damage after a deal is signed.

For Hamas, signing the Egypt- drafted agreement means relinquishing its assets in the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian deal stipulates that a unity Palestinian government, headed by someone unaffiliated with either Fatah or Hamas, be established as a first step. This, despite Hamas’ victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. In addition, Hamas was to agree to the extension of Fatah leader Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ term until early presidential and parliamentary elections are held.

For Hamas, one of the most troublesome clauses in the agreement was the reform in the Palestinian security mechanism, which would essentially force the Islamist group to relinquish its control over the Gaza Strip. … However, it was more convenient for Hamas to justify boycotting the reconciliation meet with other reasons. …

It appears that Hamas is in no hurry to sign an Egyptian mediated reconciliation paper. As the head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khaled Meshal, said Saturday, Hamas is waiting to see whether under U.S. president-elect Barack Obama the United States will change its policy and agree to talk with Hamas. Access the full article>>