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The views shared on The Mideast Peace Pulse are those of the author(s) and not those of Israel Policy Forum.

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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.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Statement Following Prime Minister Netanyahu's US Visit

Israel Policy Forum (IPF) applauds President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their expressed commitment to the unshakeable bond between the United States and the State of Israel, and to the goal of a lasting peace.

With Speech, Obama Moves Closer to Israel's Position

Professor of Political Science at UCLA; National Scholar at Israel Policy Forum
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.

Israel and the Europeans: On a Course to Conflict Over Jerusalem

Israeli non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on a stable and equitable Jerusalem

By Orly Noy, Ir Amim's Spokesperson

A month after Prime Minister Netanyahu announced a limited "freeze" on construction in Israeli-controlled Palestinian territory, it appears that his action will not end international pressure on Israel. True, the United States welcomed the announcement and attempted to solicit positive responses from other members of the Quartet. But outside the United States, Netanyahu's belated response--described by many commentators within Israel as half-hearted--has not had the same effect. Indeed, Israel appears to be on a collision course with several European states and the newly-enhanced European Union.

A Palestinian View: A crucial but problematic triangle

Co-editor, bitterlemons.org & former Palestinian Authority Minister of Planning and Labor

For good but different reasons, their respective relations with the United States are of central and utmost importance to both Palestinians and Israelis.

As the US is the world's leading power, it is the most influential potential mediator between them. Israel is completely dependent for its overwhelming superiority on the near unquestioned military, economic and diplomatic support it receives from the US. The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, is dependent on international support and international diplomacy, both shaped by the US.

An Israeli View: Criminal neglect

co-editor of bitterlemons.org; former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University

There can be little doubt that Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu won the first round of Israeli-Palestinian engagement with the Obama administration--and that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas lost. Netanyahu executed a partial and problematic settlement construction freeze "balanced" by settlement provocations in Jerusalem and elsewhere. He was rewarded with US support for his readiness to open negotiations while his right-wing coalition stood behind him. Abbas misread American promises and assurances regarding the freeze and the Goldstone report.

An Israeli View: Dealing with Mr. Yes and No

co-editor of bitterlemons.org; former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University

Back in the days of Binyamin Netanyahu's first term as prime minister, more than ten years ago, he was satirized as Mr. Yes and No. For every "yes" he delivered to US President Bill Clinton or PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, there was also a "no" or, if you like, a "yes" to the settlers and other opponents of the peace process. That appears to be where we are today, once again.

A Palestinian View: The ball is now with the international community

Co-editor, bitterlemons.org & former Palestinian Authority Minister of Planning and Labor

Binyamin Netanyahu's announcement in late November that his government would implement a settlement freeze was not taken seriously by Palestinians, Arabs or other interested and involved parties.

Palestinians warned that the announcement amounted to no more than a public relations gimmick aimed at reducing growing international criticism of Israel's settlement expansion policies. Palestinian officials made clear that the Israeli "freeze" did not signal any change to Israeli settlement expansion, which is responsible for preventing the resumption of negotiations.

An Israeli View: Neither revolutionary nor trivial

Israeli attorney specializing in Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem; founder of Ir Amim

The current episode in the never-ending saga of Jerusalem-related controversies relates to a leaked draft resolution implying that the Council of the European Union expects East Jerusalem to become the capital of a future Palestinian state. Banner headlines highlighted Israel's shock and dismay over this diplomatic "outrage". At this writing, PM Binyamin Netanyahu is pulling out all the diplomatic stops to convince the Europeans to retract the offending words; it is still not known if he will succeed.

An Israeli View:The Swedish Initiative as Metaphor

co-editor of bitterlemons.org; former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University

The government of PM Binyamin Netanyahu has no convincing reason of substance to be upset about the Swedish request that the Council of the European Union endorse a Palestinian state with "East Jerusalem as its capital". Of course the wording of the resolution could and should be less hostile to Israel, e.g., by explicitly recognizing West Jerusalem as Israel's capital and doing more than merely "taking note" of Netanyahu's settlement freeze. But what can Netanyahu expect? Basically, the proposal reiterates known European and international positions.

New Construction in East Jerusalem: What It Really Means

Israeli non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on a stable and equitable Jerusalem

By Orly Noy, Ir Amim Spokesperson

The recent diplomatic and journalistic storm over plans to expand the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem exposed a fundamental difference of view between Israel and many of its strongest supporters. Reacting to news that plans for 900 new dwellings in Gilo were to be approved by the Jerusalem Planning Committee, the White House was said to be "dismayed" by the move, and the UN General Secretary Ban-Ki Moon "deplored" it. The two statements, and others coming from Europe, insist that the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations between the parties, and that neither should take actions to pre-empt the outcome of such negotiations.