May 27th, 2011

David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari debate the Israel-Palestine conflict and discuss creating mutual respect and dialogue Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In Daily Bruin - May 27, 2011 - 12:00am Political analysts David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari had a simple message when they spoke to a room of about 172 people about the Israel-Palestine conflict. “If Jews and Arabs can talk to each other in the (Middle) East, why can’t they talk to each other in the Midwest?” Makovsky said during their debate Wednesday night. The event, organized by the Olive Tree Initiative in coordination with the Campus Events Commission, aimed to foster cooperation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student groups. » Read more

May 20th

The U.S. Policy Shift on 1967 Borders Explained Media Mention of ATFP In ABC News - May 20, 2011 - 12:00am In what was billed as a major address on recent developments in the Middle East, President Obama today backed pre-1967 borders as the basis for negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on the contours of an eventual peace deal. How does this shift U.S. policy? » Read more

May 16th

Palestinians storm into Israel Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In The Washington Times - May 16, 2011 - 12:00am Thousands of Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli security forces on three hostile borders Sunday in an unprecedented wave of protests marking an annual ritual against the founding of the Jewish state in 1948. Israeli soldiers opened fire, leaving at least 15 dead and many more injured, as rioting Palestinians poured across the borders with Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Israeli officials said 13 troops were wounded and blamed Syria and Iran for orchestrating the clashes. » Read more

George Mitchell resigns as U.S. Middle East envoy Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Yahoo News - May 16, 2011 - 12:00am George Mitchell, Obama's special envoy for Middle East peace, will step down after a frustrating two and a half years seeking to jump-start the stalemated Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warmly thanked Mitchell, 77, the former Senate majority leader from Maine and North Ireland peace negotiator, for his service, in statements sent out by the White House Friday. Mitchell, in a brief resignation letter to the president, said he'd agreed to serve two years, and had now served longer than that. » Read more

March 4th

Israel mulls interim peace plan Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Yahoo News - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Amid the stalled Middle East peace process, the Israeli government is considering proposing an interim arrangement with the Palestinians. But Palestinian leaders said they would not accept such a provisional arrangement that stops short of settling on final borders for the creation of a Palestinian state. » Read more

March 2nd

Settlement evacuation not a sign of Israeli new policy Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Xinhua - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told a member of his Likud party that Israel cannot ignore world pressure over its construction of settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu said his government is trying to maintain the current pace of building, but Israel now faces a new international reality. The comments were made one week after the United States used its veto in the UN Security Council to block a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank, while the 14 other members of the council voted in favor. » Read more

February 25th

An-nahar: "The Successes of Palestinian Authority Institution Building" in Arabic Media Mention of Ziad Asali In An-Nahar - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am

February 24th

Dan Shapiro to be named US envoy to Israel Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Jerusalem Post - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Senior White House adviser Dan Shapiro is set to be nominated as the next US ambassador to Israel, Washington sources said on Tuesday. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement has been made, though one is expected soon. Shapiro, born in 1969, currently serves as the National Security Council’s senior director for the Middle East and North Africa. He has regularly traveled to Israel and worked closely with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell to try to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. » Read more

February 22nd

The Successes of Palestinian Authority Institution Building Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Jerusalem Times - Bulletin - February 17, 2011 - 1:00am For decades, the political process simply meant negotiations about the often-repeated final status issues. Hopes were raised and then dashed in extended clusters of negotiations, numerous international conferences, TV appearances and commentaries by politicians and pundits that yielded no meaningful progress toward resolution of the conflict. » Read more

February 11th

Task Force Changes Mideast Debate Media Mention of ATFP In The Jewish Daily Forward - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am As developments in Egypt move many Israelis to become more wary of a peace process that will require them to give up occupied land and Jewish settlements on the West Bank, Palestinian advocates for a two-state solution in Washington are struggling to persuade Israel’s supporters that the opposite is true. » Read more