All Policy Analysis by David Makovsky

The political wrangling that effectively forced Fayyad to step down raises serious questions about the PA's economy, security cooperation, and political transparency, as well as U.S. efforts to revive the peace process.

If substantive peace talks are to have any chance of proceeding, Israeli and Palestinian leaders must first send basic signals regarding settlements and acceptance.

During his recent Middle East visit, President Obama forged an emotional connection with the people of Israel, earned credibility to deal with Iran’s nuclear research, and put the Israeli-Palestinian peace process back on the regional agenda, according to Washington Institute Executive Director Dr. Robert Satloff and David Makovsky, the Institute’s

A look at the major incoming players in the new Israeli government and where they stand on Iran, the Palestinians, and other key issues.

Subscribe to Washington Institute videos on YouTube. Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 18, 2013, David Makovsky, Michael Singh, and Dennis Ross addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Makovsky is the Ziegler distinguished fellow and director of the Project on

What two leaders who see the world quite differently must do to build bridges on Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Persuading Israelis that he is committed to their security could help President Obama deal with Netanyahu on Iran and the peace track.

Israel's next government will likely come together on a platform of increasing ultraorthodox burden sharing and, perhaps, more short-term flexibility on Palestinian negotiations, but tensions regarding final disposition of the West Bank could tear it apart down the road.

The president should use his visit as an opportunity to demand that senior Israeli and Palestinian officials consistently reiterate fundamental principles that allay the basic fears of both publics.

On February 5, David Makovsky, director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at The Washington Institute, testified before the House regarding the implications of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation and its effects on the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The following is an excerpt from his testimony.

With Netanyahu's bloc winning fewer votes than expected and the center-left winning more, forming a coalition government will be complicated.

The Israeli public is moving to the right on the Palestinian issue, but economic and social concerns, more than security debates, are likely to determine the left/right composition of the next Knesset.

This week's Israeli election will not mark the end of this season's political maneuvering, just the end of the beginning.