Mideast Peace Pulse

IPF Letter in The New York Times

It is sobering yet productive that three distinguished Israelis are generating ideas despite the unfortunate but realistic conclusion that “a comprehensive peace agreement is unattainable right now.”

In Meeting, A Chance for A Regional Approach

Today, President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after weeks of speculation about how the two countries will address the threat of Iran potentially obtaining nuclear weapons, and with little expectation for progress on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.  However, the Iranian threat – coupled with the historic changes of governments across the Middle East – could actually serve as a strategic opportunity for these leaders to address Iran while advancing regional democratic efforts alongside Israeli-Palestinian peace.

The Right Balance on Iran

Israel Policy Forum applauds President Barack Obama’s commitment to Israel’s security outlined in his address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Alon Pinkas: On Iran and the Obama-Netanyahu Summit

You try to ameliorate his fears you tell him the US, as I, President Obama have said repeatedly the “US will not allow and will not tolerate a nuclear Iran. Time is still on our side and time is needed and required for the sanctions to work. And the sanctions are working.” And I would present to Mr. Netanyahu with proof that sanctions are working. To which Mr. Netanyahu is going to come up with a very valid point. He will say most probably that even if sanctions work they take their toll on the Iranian currency on the Iranian economy and the Iranian consumer and business. However, it will not deter this regime, the Ayatollah regime, from continuing to develop a nuclear program. And then Obama will say “No it will not. But Mr. Prime Minister I will force them to come to the negotiating table, where I can with the help of France and Germany and Britain can conceivably in the context of negotiations, even the Russians and Chinese – although that is less likely but conceivably it’s doable – I can convince them to subject their program to international supervision.”

Antony J. Blinken Speaks to IPF (VIDEO)

Antony J. Blinken currently serves as National Security Advisor to the Vice President. He spoke on Monday, February 27th to an Israel Policy Forum audience in New York City.

Warren Bass On the International Community and the Middle East

The Obama administration came into office believing, as it still does, that the UN is an important forum for bringing together the international community to find common solutions to common problems in the 21st century.

Nimrod Novik on Troubling Developments in Egypt

No, the Muslim Brotherhood is taking over, there is no doubt about that. I didn’t see that in such dark colors as some others. I think the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood is mostly intelligent people, who understand the difference between being in the opposition to an repressive regime and being responsible for 85 million Egyptians.

Nimrod Novik on Talks Between Hamas and Fatah, Israel and the Palestinians

Nimrod Novik is Chairman of the Economic Cooperation Foundation and former Senior Vice President of the Merhav Group, a multinational company where Novik led project development in the Middle East and overall government, corporate and media relations.

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: