Obama administration: No ‘direct talks’ letter to Iran

Published on January 19, 2012

The Obama administration said an Iranian lawmaker had mischaracterized its message warning against blocking the Strait of Hormuz and reiterating its commitment to dialogue.

Netanyahu to Mubarak: Press Palestinians on direct talks

Published on January 6, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to press the Palestinians to return to direct talks. Netanyahu, in his statement after meeting Thursday with Mubarak in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, said he asked Mubarak "to act to persuade the Palestinians to move to direct, intensive and serious negotiations -- in which all core issues will be raised -- forthwith." Palestinian Authority officials have said their own proposals for comprehensive direct talks have been rebuffed by Netanyahu, who they claim wants first to deal with security arrangements.

Barak: Final status talks within months

Published on December 14, 2010

After meeting with U.S. leaders, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak predicted that comprehensive talks with the Palestinians on all final status issues would begin within months.

Poll: Most Palestinians support direct negotiations with Israel

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on November 19, 2010

A poll of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza conducted last month by a research firm for the Israel Project, a nonprofit education organization, found that a majority of Palestinians support direct peace negotiations with Israel and a two-state solution to the conflict.

After electoral ‘shellacking,’ Obama ‘unwavering’ on peace

Published on November 5, 2010

President Obama’s commitment to Middle East peace talks is “unwavering,” even after crushing midterm elections, a top aide said.

Clinton: Only talks will result in a state

Published on October 21, 2010

Hillary Rodham Clinton told a Palestinian-American audience that the only path to statehood is through direct talks with Israel.

Bibi pushing quiet diplomacy in bid to restart talks

Published on October 4, 2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is "in the midst of sensitive diplomatic contacts with the U.S. administration" in the effort to continue peace talks with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu: Israel, Palestinians can reach Mideast peace in a year

Published on September 28, 2010

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu countered a controversial United Nations address by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday, rejecting Lieberman's views on a possible land swap and asserting his belief that Israel and Palestinians could reach a peace deal within a year.

Why Israel allowed the settlement freeze to expire

Published on September 28, 2010

In the four weeks since direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks resumed, settlement construction has been identified widely as the most immediate obstacle to the survival of negotiations.

No hasty decisions on peace talks, Abbas says

Published on September 27, 2010

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he will not make a hasty decision to pull out of renewed peace talks in response to new construction in West Bank settlements.

Meeting again with Jewish leaders, Abbas broaches substance

Published on September 22, 2010

For Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. Jewish leaders, their second date featured a little more substance and a little less flirtation. And this time the Palestinian Authority president brought a wing man.

Barely months into talks, will the freeze freeze a peace deal?

Published on September 21, 2010

When the fat lady sings on Sept. 26, it may only be an intermission.

Why Time magazine is wrong

Published on September 20, 2010

The lobby of the Hyatt Hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh was buzzing with dark-suited officials, press and security personnel from the U.S. State Department, Egypt and Israel, mingling with swim-suited tourists from Finland and Abu Dhabi.

Shimon Peres: We are ready to enter direct negotiations with Syria

Published on September 20, 2010

President Shimon Peres on Monday stressed Israel's aspirations for peace with its neighbors, declaring Israel's will to enter direct negotiations with Syria during his speech at the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals summit in New York.

Abbas threatens to resign if talks fail

Published on September 19, 2010

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to resign if peace talks with Israel fail.

U.S. reportedly pushing three-month freeze extension

Published on September 16, 2010

The Obama administration reportedly suggested that Israel extend its current settlement freeze for three months, which Israel appears to have rejected.

Voight calls Time magazine anti-Semitic

Published on September 15, 2010

Actor Jon Voight called Time magazine's Sept. 13 cover story anti-Semitic.

Abbas says he will not compromise

Published on September 7, 2010

Mahmoud Abbas said he will not compromise during peace negotiations on core issues such as final borders and the status of Jerusalem.

Barak, Abbas hold secret meeting

Published on August 31, 2010

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak reportedly met secretly with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on the eve of peace talks.

Palestinians will leave peace talks over freeze

Published on August 23, 2010

The Palestinians will withdraw from peace talks with Israel if construction in the settlements resumes, Mahmoud Abbas told the Mideast Quartet.

U.S.: Direct talks on track, no deadline

Published on August 19, 2010

An Obama administration official said direct Israeli-Palestinian talks are on track, but would not set a time frame.

Israel: Palestinians have set ‘impossible’ conditions for direct peace talks

Published on July 28, 2010

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has laid down "impossible" conditions for moving to direct peace talks, Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said on Wednesday, according to French news agency AFP.