Jerusalem and the Follies of Trump's Embrace Daniel Levy | December 6th 2017

Israelis today are feeling the love from Washington and bracing themselves for trouble. As President Donald Trump announces practical steps towards moving the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he breaks with precedent in overwhelmingly embracing the Israeli government narrative of Jerusalem’s status... 

Has Netanyahu Defeated the Palestinians? Daniel Levy - The National Interest | August 25th 2017

With the likelihood of his being indicted and speculation as to his longevity in office reaching unprecedented levels, Netanyahu struck back. In a support rally convened by his Likud Party, Netanyahu accused “the thought police in the media,” together with the left, and supported by the Palestinians, of conducting an “unprecedented, obsessive witch-hunt campaign” against him and his family. Their goal, he claimed, was to stage “a government overthrow” to topple “the national camp.” Both the style and substance of Netanyahu’s fiery...

In Memoriam: Zbigniew Brzezinski (1928-2017) USMEP | July 12th 2017

It is with deep sadness that the U.S. / Middle East Project marks the passing of its Senior Advisor and International Board member, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski. Dr. Brzezinski was one of the earliest supporters of the U.S./Middle East Project. He was actively involved in the policy interventions of the USMEP, and was a regular participant in our meetings. He offered a regional foreign policy tour d’horizon at each of our biannual meetings. His enthusiasm for and encouragement of the work of our organization were a source of strength to our leadership over the years and ...

What Will Happen When Israeli Stonewalling Meets President Trump? Daniel Levy - Haaretz | May 18th 2017

It apparently befalls every new American president to be greeted as a potential messiah by moderates in both the Israeli and Palestinian political class. The flipside also holds – that hardliners, especially on the Israeli side, go into a defensive crouch any time a U.S. president launches himself (it is invariably a ‘him’) at the Holy Land.
It is hardly surprising, then, that even before the intelligence leaks to Russia episode, the Israeli media had whipped itself up into quite a frenzy in advance of President Trump’s visit, which comes in the wake of having al...

Why Trump’s Loose Lips May Be ‘Extraordinarily Dangerous’ — To Israel And Us The Forward | May 16th 2017

The care and handling of intelligence information is as much art as anything else. It has been estimated that 70% or more of “finished intelligence” — that is, the reports and analyses that go forward to policymakers — derives from open sources and diplomatic reporting, meaning that much of what a policymaker reads can also be found in the media. The art of intelligence is to understand the value that is added by the nuggets of information gained from human or other sources. In this respect, the whole finished product must be treated as sensitive because of the way the ...

Hamas Gets an Ideological MakeoverDaniel Levy - The National Interest | May 5th 2017

Palestinian leaders hit the headlines twice this week—once on May 3, when President Mahmoud Abbas was welcomed to the White House by President Trump and two days earlier, on May 1, when outgoing Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal launched the movement’s new “Document of General Principles and Policies” at a press conference in Doha. The Washington presidential summit understandably garnered more attention, but it is the Hamas Doha document that may well be remembered as having a more significant and lasting impact on the Palestinian future and even on prospects for ...

Trump has to make a big call on Middle East peaceHanan Ashrawi - CNN | May 3rd 2017

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit the White House on Wednesday to meet with President Donald Trump and his administration. While the meeting signals the administration's commitment to dialogue and engagement with the Palestinians, it could also present a valuable opportunity to explore meaningful and effective ways to establish a just peace by ending the occupation and ensuring the establishment of a viable sovereign Palestinian state. If Trump is truly committed to "striking a deal," then it is imperative he distance himself from the repeat...