Mideast Peace Pulse

New Phone Number

Please note that IPF's phone number has changed. We can now be reached at 212-354-1812. 

We will not stand for this

Israel Policy Forum is shocked and appalled by the column published in the Atlanta Jewish Times by its owner and publisher Andrew Adler calling for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to give the go-ahead for U.S.-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States policy includes its helping the Jewish state obl

Amb. Daniel C. Kurtzer on 'Reviving the Peace Process' (TRANSCRIPT)

In an ideal world, if we were writing this up as a scenario we would say let’s put this all on hold, and everyone stays away happily and nothing changes for the worse, and we pick it up perhaps when everyone is stronger. But status quos are not status quos and people know that. They either get better – or more commonly – they actually get worse because they are left neglected. I fear that this status quo, over the next 10 or 11 months if there isn’t some very significant policy activity, will deteriorate into violence.

Israel & 2012 (VIDEO)

On January 11, 2012, IPF convened a discussion in New York City on "Israel & 2012."

Israel & 2012 (VIDEO) Part 2

On January 11, 2012, IPF convened a discussion in New York City on "Israel & 2012." Jane Eisner, editor-in-chief of the Forward newspaper moderated the conversation with former Israeli Consul General Alon Pinkas, former State Department Advisor Aaron David Miller and former National Security Council Senior Director Michael Doran.

Israel & 2012 (VIDEO) Part 3

On January 11, 2012, IPF convened a discussion in New York City on "Israel & 2012." Jane Eisner, editor-in-chief of the Forward newspaper moderated the conversation with former Israeli Consul General Alon Pinkas, former State Department Advisor Aaron David Miller and former National Security Council Senior Director Michael Doran.

Hamas' Dilemma

Hussein Ibish spoke with Steve Spiegel about how regional dynamics are impacting Palestinian reconciliation efforts amid reports that Hamas is considering joining the PLO. Below is a full transcript.

The Iranian Nuclear Threat: Views from Israel & the US

On Tuesday, November 29th, IPF convened a debate and discussion on the Iranian nuclear threat with Tel Aviv University Professor David Menashri, Atlantic Council Senior feloow Barbara Slavin, and Phildelphia Inquirer columnist Trudy Rubin.  Click here to watch the program on CSPAN.

Rob Danin on the Role of the Quartet

Some key experts of a phone conference with Rob Danin. During the conference he discusses a number of current issues including: the role of the Quartet in the peace process, Israel as a Jewish State and the release of Gilad Shalit.

Remembering Tom Kully

I met Tom Kully on a cold, wintry Friday night in Jerusalem over a decade ago. A small group was gathering at the Citadel to walk over to a nearby home for dinner. By the time we reached our destination, I felt as if Tom and I were old friends. I had met someone who understood the subtleties of the Arab-Israeli dispute and American policy toward the Middle East better than most specialists I knew. He was inquisitive and curious, always asking questions, probing to find a better answer than had already been given. His alternative ideas were always challenging and thought-provoking.

"Securocrats" and the Two State Solution

In his column at the Forward titled "A Palestinian State Even Securocrats Can Accept," JJ Goldberg writes about IPF's symposium Monday night in New York, and specifically former Mossad Director Efraim Halevy's message, which he describes as "If the strategic map of the Middle East looks like a lemon, make lemonade":

Efraim Halevy: Obama showed "leadership of historic dimensions" to save Israelis in Cairo embassy

Last night at Israel Policy Forum's symposium in New York on "Security and the New Middle East," former Director of the Mossad Efraim Halevy spoke directly about President Obama's efforts to "extricate" the six Israelis trapped inside the Israeli embassy in Cairo last Friday night:

For Peace’s Sake, Let’s Be Constructive

By Peter A. Joseph and James E. Walker, III

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress, prospects for an immediate resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians appear slim. However, there were markers, albeit nuanced and subtle, set by both President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu in their respective remarks that create opportunities for progress in the diplomatic discourse. Those who recognize the critical importance of achieving a two-state solution for the Israeli, Palestinian and American peoples should remain focused on constructive possibilities, not the rhetorical obstacles

When Peace Met Partisanship

By David A. Halperin and Peter A. Joseph

The criticism of President Obama’s speech this week, in particular the reaction to the statement that “the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps,” underscores the lamentable, polarized discourse in our nation – and in the Jewish community – when it comes to Israel and the pursuit of a lasting two-state solution.

With Speech, Obama Moves Closer to Israel's Position

President Obama in his speech on May 19 has come closer to many Israeli positions than in the past, so it is a bit bizarre that the press has generally reported it as creating a crisis in American-Israeli relations.

The Case for Borders First

By David Avital, IPF Executive Committee Member

President Barack Obama’s speech Thursday about the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s impending visit and Special Envoy George Mitchell’s recent resignation, makes this a unique moment for Washington to set a new Mideast policy direction focused on one goal: a borders agreement.

Reactions to the Hamas-Fatah Unity Deal

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

The Palestinian Authority needs to choose between peace with the people of Israel and peace with Hamas. You cannot have peace with both, because the Hamas aspires to destroy the State of Israel, and I'll say it openly.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas:

Week-In-Review - April 16-22

President Obama continued a new White House tradition, conducting a Seder for the third year in a row with staffers who first held a Seder with then-candidate Obama on the presidential campaign trail. The White House issued a statement during the holiday, and President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone.

Week-In-Review - April 8-15

The week began with the success of the new Iron Dome system in Israel where the two batteries stationed in Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva downed eight incoming rockets from the Gaza Strip last weekend. It is believed that 12-15 batteries would be needed to cover the entirety of Israel, and Israel this week pressed for the accelerated development of more batteries, with the help of $205 million in aid from the United States as part of the budget passed by President Obama this week. By Monday, a tacit agreement was believed to be reached to calm the mounting tensions along the Israel-Gaza border between Hamas and the IDF. Subsequently, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told reporters he opposed any tacit cease-fire stating “Defining the goal as ‘quiet’ is a big mistake…Quiet means a war of attrition. We must not agree to this.”

Obama is Clearly on Israel's 'Side'

Jackson Diehl’s March 28 op-ed column, “Man in the middle,” was perplexing given President Obama’s record of support for Israel, particularly in the midst of the upheaval that has engulfed Israel’s neighborhood.