Israeli Leaders Place More Obstacles in Kerry’s Path

by Mitchell Plitnick US Secretary of State John Kerry was shuttling between Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday, shoring up support for his efforts to find some kind of framework for negotiations that Israel and the Palestinian Authority could both… Continue Reading

Domestic Issues Challenge Israel, US and the Palestinians

by Mitchell Plitnick As US Secretary of State John Kerry pursues talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah, political opportunists on all sides are trying to seize the moment to advance their goals. Kerry emerged from his second day of meetings with… Continue Reading

Netanyahu’s Rush to Russia: A Pre-Emptive Strike

by Marsha B. Cohen After a lovefest in Israel with French President Francois Hollande from Sunday to Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  took a shower, packed his suitcase and headed for Moscow, ostensibly to lobby against Russian support for a deal with Iran.… Continue Reading

Israeli Leaders Respond with Scowls to Rouhani’s Election

by Marsha B. Cohen For most Israeli politicians, the news of the election of moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran, is not good. That it is considered good news by anyone else makes it that much worse. In… Continue Reading

Israel’s New Cabinet

by Mitchell Plitnick The new Israeli government features a security braintrust that might be a bit more reasonable on Iran, but is likely to be even more hawkish both in the immediate region and within the country itself. Gone are… Continue Reading