November 13, 2009

Mideast Political Uncertainty Stymies Peace Process
Barack Obama's first call made as president to a foreign leader went to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He told the beleaguered leader that he was firmly committed to working for Middle East peace, and that he saw Abbas as his partner.

October 2, 2009

Palestinians Release Video of Israeli Soldier as Part of Prisoner Exchange
A thin but healthy-looking Israeli soldier, captured more than three years ago, said in a video released Friday that he is being treated well by his Palestinian captors and asked to come home.

September 22, 2009

Obama Urges Abbas, Netanyahu to Advance Talks
Undertaking a foreign policy challenge that that has vexed world leaders for years, President Barack Obama pressed Israeli and Palestinians leaders Tuesday to do more to reach an elusive Mideast peace deal.

September 15, 2009

U.N. Finds Evidence of War Crimes in Gaza Fighting
A U.N. report has concluded that both the Israeli military and armed Palestinian groups committed actions amounting to war crimes during December's three-week war in Gaza. Gwen Ifill speaks with an author of the report and the Israeli ambassador to the U.S.

August 18, 2009

Obama 'Encouraged' on Pace of Peace Efforts
President Obama said Tuesday after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that he is encouraged by progress in U.S. efforts to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Analysis: Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations assesses the visit.

June 15, 2009

Analysts Discuss Netanyahu's Speech
Analysts discuss the significance of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's statements accepting a demilitarized Palestinian state.

June 15, 2009

Netanyahu Calls for Demilitarized Palestinian State
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a major policy speech Sunday that he would accept a Palestinian state as long as it recognized Israel as a Jewish state and was demilitarized.

May 28, 2009

Settlement Issue Looms Over Obama, Abbas Meeting
President Obama met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday to discuss divisions among the Palestinian people and the ongoing controversy over Israeli settlements on the West Bank.

May 19, 2009

Poll Explores Arab Views of U.S. Mideast Peace Plan
A recent poll conducted by Zogby International sheds light on how citizens of Arab nations view President Obama and his agenda. Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat professor at the University of Maryland and principal investigator of the poll, describes the findings.

May 18, 2009

Netanyahu Submits Cabinet List, Offers Words of Peace
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to seek a "permanent arrangement" with the Palestinians and peace with the Arab world as he took office Tuesday and submitted his government roster for parliamentary approval.

March 31, 2009

Netanyahu Submits Cabinet List, Offers Words of Peace
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to seek a "permanent arrangement" with the Palestinians and peace with the Arab world as he took office Tuesday and submitted his government roster for parliamentary approval.

March 20, 2009

Israel's Next Top Diplomat Has History of Ruffling Feathers
Israel's anticipated next top diplomat, Avigdor Lieberman, has raised some ire in the international community for his ultra-nationalist stances, which analysts say might have far-reaching consequences on Israel's relations with the rest of the world.

March 2, 2009

U.S. Pledges $900 Million in Aid to Palestinians
In her first trip to the Middle East at the nation's top diplomat, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States will contribute $900 million in aid to efforts to help Palestinians rebuild.

February 20, 2009

Netanyahu to Form Israel's Next Government
Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, on Friday accepted a mandate to form Israel's next government after recent parliamentary elections left the country in a political deadlock.

February 11, 2009

Israel Faces Political Deadlock Following Elections
Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu both claimed victory in Israel's parliamentary elections, with close vote totals throwing the prospects for building a ruling coalition into limbo. Analysts discuss the results and what they mean for the region's political future.

February 11, 2009

Israeli Election Results Split Between Rival Parties
Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima party and Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party both claimed victory in Israel's parliamentary elections Tuesday, complicating prospects of a coalition government.

February 9, 2009

Security Issues at Forefront of Israel's Elections
Israeli parliamentary elections on Tuesday will decide the country's next prime minister, a post held by the centrist Kadima party. But after the 2006 war with Lebanon and new tensions with Gaza, it appears the public may be shifting more toward the right and the Likud party. Mideast analyst Aaron David Miller talks about the dynamics leading up to the vote.

January 19, 2009

Gaza Cease-fire Emerged Amid Mix of Political, Internal Pressures
Israeli officials said their military has been ordered to pull out of the Gaza Strip by Tuesday, but only if Hamas militants keep their end of the weekend's cease-fire agreement. Analysts examine where both sides stand after three weeks of fighting.

January 15, 2009

As Israeli Attacks Intensify, Shells Hit U.N. Compound in Gaza
In an effort to increase pressure on Hamas, Israel has intensified its air attacks and its troops have pushed further into the most crowded neighborhoods of the Gaza Strip as cease-fire talks move closer to a resolution.

January 14, 2009

As Attacks Continue, Diplomats Attempt to Negotiate Gaza Cease-fire
Talks continued in Cairo over a cease-fire to halt the fighting between Hamas and Israel entering its 18th day as human rights groups call for more humanitarian aid to civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

January 12, 2009

Gaza Conflict Reverberates on Beirut Streets
Beirut, once known as the Paris of the Middle East, has more recently seen decades of civil war and conflict -- and the growing power of Hezbollah as a political party. Jeffrey Brown reports from the Lebanese capital on reaction to the Gaza conflict there.

January 12, 2009

Israel Closes In on Heavily Populated Gaza City
Israel said reserve forces joined the ground offensive against the Gaza Strip on Monday in what may be the next phase of a continuing Israeli offensive on Hamas as it advances on targets in heavily populated urban areas like Gaza City.

January 9, 2009

Humanitarian Concerns Mount in Gaza as U.N. Calls for Cease-fire
As fighting continued in Gaza Friday, U.N. officials said they would resume their aid shipments to Palestinians after receiving assurances from the Israel that aid workers would be better protected. U.N. and Israeli officials give their views on the situation.

January 8, 2009

Gaza Cease-fire Talks Start; U.N. Suspends Aid Deliveries
Israel, Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have entered talks with Egypt on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the United Nations has suspended aid deliveries after a driver was killed by Israeli forces.

January 7, 2009

Fighting in Gaza Resumes After 3-hour Truce
After the expiration of a three-hour truce Wednesday to allow in humanitarian aid, fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen resumed in the city of Gaza.

January 6, 2009

U.S. Intensifies Push for Cease-fire in Gaza
President-elect Barack Obama has said that the Middle East will be a top foreign policy priority, but the task of negotiating a cease-fire to the current burst of Gaza fighting still falls to the Bush administration. Analysts examine the U.S. role in Mideast peace talks.

January 6, 2009

Death Toll Climbs in Israeli Strike Near U.N. School
An Israeli artillery strike near a U.N.-run school in Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge, killed at least 30 people on Tuesday, a U.N. official said, and stirred new concerns over civilian deaths in the conflict.

January 5, 2009

Israeli Troops Backed by Airstrikes Move Deeper Into Gaza
Israeli forces continued their military campaign in the Gaza Strip Monday as international calls for a cease-fire intensified. Foreign policy analysts mull the latest developments in the fighting.

January 2, 2009

Israel Strikes Hamas Targets as Fighting Continues in Gaza
Fighting continued for a seventh day between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Friday, as Israel bombed a mosque it said was used to store weapons and targeted strikes on the homes of top Hamas leaders.

January 1, 2009

Israel Considers Ground Attack as Conflict Escalates
Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed senior Hamas leader Nizar Rayyan as the Israeli government said it was ready to begin operations towards a ground invasion. New York Times reporter Ethan Bronner discusses the conflict.

December 31, 2008

Israel Aims to Curb Rocket Fire, Weapons Smuggling in Gaza
Fighting continued between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Wednesday, with Israel destroying key underground tunnels. An Israeli defense official discusses the situation.

December 31, 2008

Israel Rejects 48-hour Cease-fire Proposal, Gaza Strikes Continue
Israel's security cabinet on Wednesday rejected a proposal for a 48-hour cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, instead continuing air attacks for a fifth day. Israeli leaders said the proposal did not contain any guarantees that Hamas militants would stop firing rockets into southern Israel.

December 30, 2008

Shaky Cease-fire, Political Dynamics Led to Burst of Israeli-Hamas Violence
Gulf leaders are set to meet Wednesday in Cairo for an Arab League Summit amid increased international pressure on Israel to stop air strikes in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Two analysts probe both sides of the conflict.

December 30, 2008

Egyptian Ambassador Offers Views on Gaza Violence
Israel continued airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza Tuesday, indicating its intention to launch further attacks in the coming days. Egyptian ambassador Sameh Shoukry discusses his country's role in the crisis and his government's controversial decision to keep Egypt's border posts with Gaza closed.

December 29, 2008

Israeli, Palestinian Officials Outline Views on Gaza Battle
As Israel continues strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza amid rocket fire, Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor and U.N. Palestinian observer Riyad Mansour discuss the conflict.

December 29, 2008

Israeli Forces Hit Hamas Hard in Retaliation for Rocket Fire; 300 Dead
In the deadliest show of force against Palestinian targets in decades, Israeli aircraft pounded the Gaza Strip Monday for a third day, targeting militant leaders and key symbols of the militant group Hamas.

December 26, 2008

Israel Opens Gaza Border Despite Rocket Fire
Israel opened three border crossings into Gaza Friday, allowing in fuel and other goods for the first time in 10 days, as militants fired another round of rockets into Israel.

December 19, 2008

Hamas Ends Six-Month Truce With Israel; Egypt Urges Restraint
Hamas leaders in Gaza declared an end to a troubled six-month truce with Israel and vowed to respond to any attack, as Egypt -- which helped broker the ceasefire -- called for restraint on Friday.

November 7, 2008

White House Says 2008 Mideast Peace Deal Unlikely
A peace deal in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian dispute is within reach, but unlikely to be negotiated before the end of the year, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday during a tour of the region.

November 5, 2008

Hamas Reacts to Israeli Incursion With Mortar Fire
Hamas militants fired rockets into southern Israel Wednesday, hours after Israeli forces killed six gunmen in fighting that threatened a five-month-old truce that has brought some relief to Gaza residents.

October 27, 2008

Peres Paves the Way for Snap Elections in Israel
Israeli President Shimon Peres said Monday that efforts to form a coalition government had failed, officially clearing the way for snap elections to take place in the next few months.

July 31, 2008

Olmert's Resignation Stirs Political Uncertainty in Israel
After months of being dogged by corruption scandals and calls for his resignation, Israeli President Ehud Olmert's decision to step down in September has stirred political uncertainty in Israel and plunged the stalled peace talks into confusion.

July 23, 2008

Bumpy Road Ahead for Next President on Mideast Peace
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. visited Jordan and Israel, promising to work toward a solution on the Arab-Israeli conflict as president, though he acknowledged it wouldn't be easy.

July 22, 2008

Another Construction Vehicle Attack Injures at Least 16 in Jerusalem
A Palestinian man from east Jerusalem smashed a backhoe into traffic on a busy Jerusalem street, injuring at least 16 people before being shot dead.

July 2, 2008

Bulldozer Attack Kills 3 on Jerusalem Street
A Palestinian driving a 20-ton construction vehicle attacked cars, buses and pedestrians on Jerusalem's main Jaffa Road on Wednesday, killing at least three, wounding 45 and causing panic on the busy downtown street.

June 19, 2008

Fragile Cease-fire Between Israel and Hamas Takes Effect
The truce between Israel and Hamas took effect on Thursday, with both sides halting fighting in the Gaza Strip. But the truce is said to already be in jeopardy.

June 17, 2008

Israel and Hamas Agree to Truce in Gaza Strip, Officials Say
Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip starting Thursday, Egyptian officials reported Tuesday.

April 24, 2008

Leaders Struggle to Revive Israeli-Palestinian Talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with President Bush Thursday in a bid to provide a needed boost to U.S.-backed peace negotiations with Israel. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman discuss the state of the talks.

Learn more about the history behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Council on Foreign Relations' Crisis Guide. (CFR.org)

April 23, 2008

Mideast Experts Answer Questions
Last Friday, former President Jimmy Carter met with Khaled Meshaal, the exiled political leader of the Palestinian organization Hamas -- the group that currently controls much of the Gaza Strip. Two experts on the Middle East answered your questions.

April 18, 2008

Carter Meets Hamas Chief Despite U.S., Israel Protests
Former President Jimmy Carter met Friday with the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, and the militant group's deputy chief in Syria. The U.S. government has labeled the two men as global terrorists and Israel has accused them of masterminding suicide bombings and kidnappings.

April 16, 2008

Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza Strip, Killing as Many as 19
The Israeli army launched a series of strikes throughout the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, reportedly killing up to 19 Palestinians, including a news cameraman, officials told media outlets. Also Wednesday, Palestinian militants ambushed an Israeli ground force in Gaza, killing three soldiers, the army said.

March 3, 2008

Israeli-Gaza Tensions Threaten to Derail Peace Efforts
Israeli tanks and troops began moving out of the Gaza Strip on Monday after a three-day offensive there killed at least 100 Palestinians. The Israeli assault was launched in retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks. Mideast analysts assess the developments in Gaza and how they may impact peace efforts.

February 28, 2008

Israel Steps Up Attacks on Gaza, Killing 18 Palestinians
Israeli forces struck a series of targets throughout the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing 18 Palestinians, including five boys playing soccer near the town of Jabalya, as a new round of violence threatened to fuel stronger Israeli military action.

January 24, 2008

More Palestinians Stream Across Gaza Border
Huge crowds of Palestinians continued to stream into Egypt across a breached border from Hamas-ruled Gaza for a second day Thursday. Egyptian border guards took measures to control the flow, but they did not try to halt the crossings.

January 23, 2008

Gazans Flood into Egypt After Border Wall Topples
Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into Egypt from the Gaza Strip to buy fuel, food and other supplies Wednesday after masked gunmen used land mines to blast sections of a 7-mile fence dividing the border town of Rafah.

January 21, 2008

Israel Agrees to Ease Blockade on Gaza Strip
Israel agreed Monday to allow some power plant fuel, medicine and food into the Gaza Strip, at least temporarily easing a blockade on the Hamas ruled-territory, which was imposed in retaliation for recent rocket attacks on southern Israel.

January 17, 2008

Israel Steps Up Airstrikes on Militants in Gaza
Israel has intensified airstrikes on parts of the Gaza Strip to squelch rocket and mortar attacks fired from Palestinian territory controlled by the militant group Hamas.

January 10, 2008

President Says Mideast Peace Accord Possible Within a Year
On the third day of his trip to the Middle East, President Bush predicted that there will be a peace treaty between Israeli and Palestinian leaders before he leaves office -- while acknowledging that such an agreement will require "painful concessions" by both sides. Mideast experts offer perspective on the Mr. Bush's pledge.

January 8, 2008

President Heads to Mideast to Help Restart Talks
Six weeks after Israeli and Palestinian leaders relaunched peace talks in Annapolis, Md., President Bush is scheduled to arrive in Israel Wednesday for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

December 24, 2007

Palestinians Protest Settlement Plans as Stormy Peace Talks Continue
A second round of negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli officials was overshadowed Monday by Palestinian threats not to address substantive issues until Israel agrees to stop settlement construction around Jerusalem.

December 17, 2007

$7.4B Pledged to Palestinians at Paris Donors' Meeting
International donors pledged Monday to support the embattled Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas, pledging billions in aid over three years -- a sum that topped the Palestinians' own expectations.

December 12, 2007

Mideast Peace Talks Resume Amid Violence in the Gaza Strip
The first Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in seven years got off to a shaky start Wednesday in the first meeting since Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas restarted efforts toward negotiations at a peace conference in Annapolis, Md.

November 28, 2007

Palestinian Negotiator Weighs Prospects for Peace
President Bush pledged Wednesday to fully support Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, which are set to restart in December. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat discusses the goal to reach a peace treaty that includes a Palestinian state by the end of 2008.

November 27, 2007

Israeli Premier Olmert Reacts to Mideast Peace Conference
Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to restart peace talks at a Maryland summit Tuesday, promising further negotiations toward a peace treaty and the development of a Palestinian state. Gwen Ifill talks to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the U.S.-backed talks and the Mideast peace process.

RealAudio | MP3: President Bush's speech at the conference

November 26, 2007

U.S.-Backed Mideast Summit Opens with Mixed Expectations
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Syria and other countries, plan to discuss prospects for a Palestinian state and other Mideast issues at a peace summit Tuesday in Annapolis, Md. Middle East experts assess the prospects for the conference.

November 12, 2007

Gunfire Shatters Rally in Gaza Strip, Killing at Least 6
At least six people were killed and 80 wounded Monday, when gunfire erupted at a Fatah memorial rally for Yasser Arafat in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

September 21, 2007

Rice Visits Mideast as Precursor to Peace Summit
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited for two days with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ahead of a U.S.-sponsored peace conference tentatively scheduled for November.

July 20, 2007

Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners
Israel released 256 Palestinian prisoners Friday as part of a plan to help bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his ongoing power struggle with Hamas militants who now run the Gaza Strip.

July 4, 2007

Reporter Release Appears to Signify Hamas Control in Gaza
Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held for more than 16 weeks by Islamic militants, was released into the custody of Hamas on Wednesday, a move the militant group hopes will demonstrate its control over Gaza and its willingness to ensure law and order. New York Times reporter Steve Erlanger discusses the release and the political dynamics playing out in the Palestinian political world.

June 27, 2007

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair Named Middle East Envoy
Just hours after stepping down as British prime minister Wednesday, Tony Blair was tapped by the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations to head international efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

June 19, 2007

Israel Grappling with Two Palestinian Governments
Israel is weighing how to deal with the Palestinian split between Hamas and Fatah, which was a topic of discussion during Israeli Foreign Minister Ehud Olmert and President Bush's meeting Tuesday. Daniel Levy, a former Israeli government adviser and director of the Middle East Policy Initiative at the New America Foundation, and Dennis Ross, former chief Middle East negotiator in the first Bush and Clinton administrations, give their take on the situation.

June 18, 2007

U.S. to Lift Embargo on Palestinian Authority
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday the United States would life its political and economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority after President Mahmoud Abbas ejected members of the militant group Hamas from the government.

June 15, 2007

Hamas, Fatah Jockey for Control After Gaza Clashes
In the wake of Hamas forces seizing control of much of the Gaza Strip from Fatah rivals, a Washington Post reporter updates what comes next in the continuing struggle to govern the Palestinian Authority.

June 14, 2007

Abbas Disbands Unity Government After Hamas Takeover
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the Palestinian Unity government Thursday as the Islamic Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip, defeating rivals from Abbas' Fatah party.

June 13, 2007

Fighting Between Hamas and Fatah Rages Across Gaza
Hamas forces attacked three security bases in Gaza and took control of a number of key positions, including a main roadway that blocked Fatah from moving reinforcements Wednesday. At least 33 Palestinians were killed in the day's violence. Ghaith al-Omari of America Foundation and Mark Perry of Conflicts Forum discuss the situation.

June 12, 2007

Hamas-Fatah Battles Escalate in Gaza Strip
Hamas gunmen captured a Fatah security headquarters building in northern Gaza Tuesday after battling for several hours using mortar shells and grenades, as factional fighting between the rival Palestinian parties worsened.

June 7, 2007

Experts Assess Progress Four Decades After Six-Day War
Forty years ago, Israel entered the Six-Day War, the beginning of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Hisham Melhem of the Arab Satellite Network Al-Arabiya, and Barry Rubin, director of the Global International Affairs Center in Israel, give their perspectives on the Middle East then and now.

May 16, 2007

Deadly Day in Gaza as Street Battles Rage
As fighting between President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction and Hamas continued, Israel launched airstrikes on the area. Rafi Dajani, executive director of the American Task Force
on Palestine, and Oliver McTernan, director of the British non-governmental organization
Forward Thinking, discuss the power struggle.

May 15, 2007

Fighting Among Palestinians Reignites in Gaza
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for implementation of the government's security plan as clashes between rival factions Hamas and Fatah left at least 11 Palestinians dead Tuesday.

May 3, 2007

Fledgling Palestinian Government Faces Internal, External Challenges
Six weeks after its formation, the Palestinian unity government is struggling with many of the same challenges it faced at its inception, including a crippling economic embargo and continued tensions between leaders of rival parties.

March 15, 2007

Hamas, Fatah Reach Deal on Unity Government
After months of negotiations, Palestinian rival factions Hamas and Fatah on Thursday finalized a unity government in an effort to end violence between the groups and lead the Palestinians out of yearlong international isolation.

February 8, 2007

Feuding Palestinian Factions Sign Government Deal
Even after the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, came to an agreement on a unity government, fighting between the two groups has continued in Gaza. Independent Television News reports on the efforts to end clashes and enforce a cease-fire.

February 8, 2007

Palestinian Rival Groups Agree to Unity Government
The two main rival Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, signed an agreement to share government power in Saudi-brokered talks Thursday, a move aimed at ending growing violence between the two factions.

February 6, 2007

Palestinian Leaders Meet in Mecca for Unity Talks
King Abdullah VI of Saudi Arabia urged a reconciliation between Palestinian rival factions Fatah and Hamas in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Mecca on Tuesday.

December 18, 2006

Abbas Calls for Early Elections After Hamas-Fatah Violence
In the days after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for early parliamentary elections on Saturday, deadly fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah factions continued throughout the Gaza region.

December 15, 2006

Attack on Hamas Politician Sparks Fighting in Gaza
Clashes erupted Friday between rival Palestinian factions after Hamas accused Fatah of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government. Two experts on the Middle East analyze Palestinian tensions.

November 30, 2006

Rice Urges Expansion of Fragile Israeli-Palestinian Cease-fire
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in the Middle East on a mission to revive peace talks, urged Israelis and Palestinians to extend a tentative cease-fire implemented this week.

November 13, 2006

Experts Discuss Increased Violence, Future of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with President Bush Monday and reiterated that he is open to negotiations with the Palestinian government if it recognizes Israel and renounces violence. Experts discuss the conflict and its future.

November 1, 2006

Israeli Strikes Kill at Least Six in Gaza Strip
Israeli troops killed six Palestinian militants in Gaza Wednesday in what the army and witnesses called the largest military offensive since Israel re-entered the territory in June.

October 3, 2006

Internal Palestinian Fighting Threatens to Derail Government
A new wave of internal fighting among Palestinian factions over the last two days has left at least a dozen people dead and threatened to unravel the Palestinian Authority.

September 11, 2006

Hamas, Fatah Agree to Unity Government
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas, agreed Monday to form a coalition government. The announcement from Abbas follows months of negotiations and previous violence between members of his Fatah Party and Hamas.

August 28, 2006

Fox News Reporters Released; Gaza Violence Continues
Two Fox News journalists, who had been held for 13 days by militants, were released last weekend. Doug Struck, a correspondent for The Washington Post in Jerusalem who just returned from Gaza, updates the situation and the ongoing violence in the region.

July 17, 2006
Middle East Conflict Dominates G-8 Summit Discussions
The Middle East crisis dominated the weekend meeting of the G-8 nations in St. Petersburg while pushing down other important issues. Three foreign affairs newspaper columnists discuss how other countries have been handling the Middle East crisis.

July 17, 2006
Israeli, Syrian Ambassadors to the U.S. Speak Out on Middle East Crisis
The Israeli and Syrian ambassadors to the United States discuss the escalation of violence in the Middle East.

July 14, 2006
Hezbollah Declares 'Open War' on Israel
As Israel continued attacks against Lebanon's infrastructure and militant strongholds, Hezbollah declared "open war," intensifying rocket attacks against Israeli cities in the north. Experts analyze Hezbollah's history and motives in the current conflict.

July 13, 2006
Fighting in Lebanon and Israel Escalates
Intense fighting continued Thursday in Israel and Lebanon. After reports from both sides, two former state department officials discuss the crisis and prospects the violence can be tamped down.

July 7, 2006
Gaza Incursion Continues, Officials Hint at Possible Compromise
A top Israeli official signaled a willingness to compromise Friday, saying Hamas militants must free an Israeli soldier and stop firing rockets. Hamas, meanwhile, insisted upon the release of prisoners.

June 29, 2006
Israel Delays Gaza Assault, Arrests Dozens of Hamas Officials
As Israeli troops continue to stake out positions in the Gaza Strip, Israel arrested 64 officials in the Hamas-led Palestinian government Thursday. A New York Times reporter describes events on the ground.

June 28, 2006
Israel Attacks Gaza After Soldier Captured
Israeli troops launched air strikes against Gaza Wednesday, in response to the Palestinian abduction of a wounded Israeli soldier. Destroying three Palestinian bridges and a power station, troops crossed the Gaza border for the first time since the Israeli withdrawal 10 months ago.

June 27, 2006
Hamas Ends Stalemate with Rival Fatah Party
Hamas has reached an agreement that ended a political stalemate with the rival Fatah Party. Hamas denied earlier reports that this deal implicitly recognized Israel's right to exist.

June 12, 2006
Palestinian Parliament Delays Vote on Referendum Recognizing Israel
In the wake of violent confrontations between security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and members of the militant Hamas group, Palestinian leaders on Monday chose to table a decision on whether to pass a controversial referendum recognizing Israel's right to exist.

May 25, 2006
Abbas to Issue Referendum on Whether the Palestinians Should Recognizing Israel
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he would call a referendum on whether the Palestinian government should accept Israel if Hamas does not back the idea within 10 days.

May 24, 2006
Israeli Prime Minister Urges U.S. to Back Border Plan
Appearing before the U.S. Congress Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert outlined his plan to finalize Israel's border, promised to negotiate with the Palestinians and called a nuclear-capable Iran "intolerable."

May 19, 2006
Rival Palestinian Forces Face Off in Gaza City
Tensions between members of Hamas and Fatah intensified Friday when authorities at a Gaza border crossing briefly detained a senior Hamas official trying to enter the territory with the equivalent of $800,000 in cash hidden under his clothing.

April 17, 2006
Tel Aviv Suicide Bombing Heightens Tensions with Israel
Nine people died at least 49 were injured Monday when a suicide bomber attacked a falafel restaurant in Tel Aviv. The attack took place in the middle of the Jewish holiday of Passover, when many Israelis are off from work.

March 29, 2006
Olmert Pledges to Move Israel Towards a Final Border Deal
Ehud Olmert began building a coalition after winning Israel's election on promises to declare a final border for Israel even as the militant group Hamas assumed control of the Palestinian government. Regional experts consider the two development's impact on the peace process.

March 28, 2006
Kadima Appears to Take Lead in Israeli Elections
Preliminary exit polls from Israeli elections Tuesday appeared to give the centrist Kadima Party, led by Ehud Olmert, the most seats in parliament, though fewer seats than observers expected.

March 24, 2006
Hamas, Future of Peace Talks Weigh on Israeli Elections
Tuesday's elections in Israel will likely mark a crucial watershed in determining the country's future as well as its relationship with a new Palestinian Authority dominated by the militant group Hamas.

March 14, 2006
Palestinians Surrender After Israeli Prison Raid
Six Palestinian militants holed up inside a Palestinian prison surrendered to Israeli forces Tuesday, almost 10 hours after soldiers raided the compound to seize militants convicted of killing an Israeli Cabinet minister.

February 28, 2006
Palestinian Authority Strapped for Cash
The United Nations warned against cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority after U.S. and European states indicated that they would halt funding once the militant group Hamas takes over the Palestinian government.

February 20, 2006
Hamas Works to Form Palestinian Government
The militant group Hamas, the winner of Palestinian parliamentary elections held in January, took the first steps to forming a government by appointing a prime minister. Following a background report, two experts discuss the appointment and chances for negotiations with Israel.

February 12, 2006
Hamas Victory Sheds Light on Palestinian Finances
Although largely fueled by Palestinian frustration with the culture of corruption, disorganization and financial loss that has marred Palestinian leadership in recent years, Hamas' victory over the ruling Fatah Party in recent Palestinian elections has prompted Western governments to consider cutting off their economic aid.

February 2, 2006
Israelis Weigh Response to Hamas Electoral Victory
In her last report from the Middle East, Margaret Warner examines the Israeli reaction to Hamas' landslide victory in Palestinian elections.

January 30, 2006
New Hamas Palestinian Government Considers Stance Toward Israel
After last week's unexpected victory for Hamas in the Palestinian elections, the party must consider whether to ease its hard-line stance toward Israel in order to increase chances of receiving foreign aid. Margaret Warner reports from the region.

January 27, 2006
Hamas Faces Uncertain Future
Three experts debate the future of Hamas now that militant party must run the Palestinian Authority and decide how deal with Israel -- a task made more difficult by many Fatah supporters' vehement opposition to a Hamas-run parliament.

January 26, 2006
Experts Discuss Hamas' Parliamentary Win
With the militant group Hamas' stunning political victory in Wednesday's Palestinian parliamentary elections, two experts share their reactions regarding the potential impact on the Palestinian government and the peace process.

January 26, 2006
World Reacts to Hamas Election Victory
Following excerpts from President Bush's reaction to the Hamas win in Wednesday's Palestinian elections, Ray Suarez reports on reaction of world leaders from Davos, Switzerland, site of the World Economic Forum.

January 26, 2006
Hamas Wins Palestinian Authority Elections
Following a background report, Margaret Warner reports from Jerusalem on Hamas' victory Thursday in the Palestinian elections.

January 25, 2006
Palestinians Vote in Parliamentary Elections
Palestinians voted in large numbers Wednesday in their first parliamentary election in a decade. Margaret Warner reports from Ramallah.

January 24, 2006
Palestinians Prepare for Elections
Palestinians head to the polls for parliamentary elections. Experts predict a close contest between the ruling Fatah party and the Islamic military movement Hamas.

January 5, 2006
Sharon Illness Signals End of Political Career
Doctors announced that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will not return to politics after suffering a stroke Wednesday night, signaling the end of an era in Israeli politics since he took office in 2001.

January 5, 2006
Israeli Leader Sharon Suffers Massive Stroke
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in serious but stable condition on a respirator in "deep sedation" Thursday after seven hours of surgery to remove blood from his brain following a hemorrhagic stroke.

January 1, 2006
Sharon's Grave Condition Raises Questions About Strokes
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had emergency surgery again Friday to stop bleeding in the brain after suffering a massive stroke Wednesday. A doctor discusses the causes of and treatments for strokes

Pre-2006
Coverage of the Middle East from 2005 and Earlier