On Monday, June 1, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, AFTP Advocacy Director Ghaith Al-Omari took part in the panel "After the Visits: What Next for Middle East Peace?" along with M.J. Rosenberg, the Director of Policy Analysis at the Israel Policy Forum, and Geoffrey Aronson, Director of Research and Publications at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. The panel was co-sponsored by the Foundation for Middle East Peace, the Middle East Institute, the Israel Policy Forum, & the American Task Force on Palestine.

Mr. Al-Omari summarized the state of play in the unfolding US strategy towards resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. Describing the substance and form of the developing strategy as "masterful", he focused on the need to implement a settlement freeze, and on the need for the Arab states to take measures to support these policies. He also called for a more vigorous effort to improve the situation on the ground in the West Bank whether economically or in terms of access and movement.

While Mr. Al-Omari insisted that Hamas should not be engaged until it accepts the Quartet conditions, he called for alleviating the suffering of Gaza civilians through lifting the siege and depoliticizing humanitarian assistance. He concluded by expressing confidence in the Administration's determination and ability to make progress in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.