All Policy Analysis by David Makovsky

The new Israeli government reflects the country's increasing polarization and leaves Netanyahu with limited room for maneuver, making it difficult for him to preempt the growing momentum behind efforts to internationalize the Palestinian issue.

The prime minister has made a seemingly bitter tradeoff: although he is gaining six seats to ensure his political survival, he has saddled himself with a fierce rival, potentially alienated a loyal, experienced defense minister, and left the door open to unfavorable international initiatives.

A breakthrough will likely hinge on whether Netanyahu agrees to make a significant policy shift, thereby assuaging fierce critics within the Labor Party.

Given the diplomatic vacuum that formed after the collapse of peace negotiations in 2014, the IDF has increasingly asserted itself as a stabilizer on Israeli-Palestinian issues and a guardian of democratic values at home.

The divisive discourse on many American campuses threatens to doom Jewish and Muslim student leaders to the mistakes of the past, but bringing them together for mock negotiations is a proven way of helping them understand each other's arguments, grievances, and hopes.

Israel's deterrent power is largely a reflection of how its adversaries view the strength of its strategic relationship with the United States, so actively addressing the issues that have caused recent fissures is paramount.

Instead of allowing persistent bilateral acrimony or domestic politics to delay a sensitive issue, both governments should approach the MOU negotiations as a function of Israel's military and diplomatic needs in a new regional landscape.

A differentiated approach to settlements could stem the drift toward a binational state, blunt the delegitimization movement internationally, and remove the issue as a constant irritant to U.S.-Israel relations.

The Israeli prime minister and U.S. president appear to be taking steps to ensure next week's visit avoids past minefields.

Twenty years later, the assassinated prime minister's hopes for Palestinian separation still resonate.

If Palestinians do not publicly acknowledge the Jewish connection to holy sites, violence could continue and possibly intensify.

Poll results and political statements offer ample insight into how Israelis and Palestinians view the city's future, but public concerns about violence would be the most likely driver of any concrete change on the ground, such as rerouting the security barrier.

An Israeli journalist and a former Palestinian advisor discuss the implications of the violence in Jerusalem. Watch video or read a summary.