Missed opportunities

Gregg Carlstrom | June 10, 2009 7:24 AM | 0 | recommend (0) |   |      

Hamas chief Khaled Meshal was in Egypt yesterday, meeting with Omar Suleiman, the chief of Egypt's intelligence services.

The intra-Palestinian violence has always hurt the Palestinian cause. It gives ammunition to critics who say Israel shouldn't make concessions to a government that's incapable of governing its own territory.

And I have to believe Suleiman delivered that message to Meshal. Hamas and Fatah have an opportunity to make real progress here, with Obama (seemingly) taking a firm approach to Israel. They'll miss that opportunity, though, if they can't stop killing each other.

For updates throughout the day, follow us on Twitter, Facebook or RSS!

Categories: Israel & Palestine

Tags: Khaled Meshal, Omar Suleiman, peace process

No Comments

Post a Comment

Numero uno

Foreign Policy rates the top Middle Eastern intelligence chiefs. Omar Suleiman comes in #1. Mossad's Meir Dagan has to settle for the #2 spot.

Talking to Hamas

The settlement issue really seems to be the prime mover here. If the U.S. can convince Israel to accept a settlement freeze, there's a reasonable chance that Meshal will come to the table and negotiate.

EU's Stevenson alleges further voter fraud in Baghdad

Jumblatt to Assad: I'm sorry!

Petraeus: Israeli-Arab conflict endangering U.S. interests

Al-Akhbar: Our weekly brief

Peace Processing

Fallout from Biden's visit: West Bank sealed off; proximity talks appear stalled

Gregg Carlstrom | March 12, 2010 8:56 AM | 0 | recommend (0)
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas greets U.S. vice president Joe Biden in Ramallah. (Photo: AFP)
As Joe Biden wraps up his Middle East tour, Palestinian officials say they're unwilling to move forward with proximity talks unless Israel cancels its new construction in East Jerusalem; and the Israeli Defense Forces have sealed off the West Bank for 48 hours, reportedly for security concerns. Several people were injured and arrested in fighting at the Al-Aqsa mosque this morning.

Peace Processing

Biden arrives in Israel amid serious Palestinian doubts

Gregg Carlstrom | March 9, 2010 4:56 AM | 1 | recommend (0)
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife arrived in Israel on Monday.
As Joe Biden lands in Israel, the Israeli government -- obviously keen to demonstrate that it's serious about restarting peace talks -- announced Monday that it will violate its West Bank settlement freeze and build 112 new homes in Beitar Illit, a settlement west of Bethlehem.

Iraqi Elections

Polls close in Iraq; media reports suggest strong turnout, relative calm

Gregg Carlstrom | March 7, 2010 9:27 AM | 0 | recommend (0)
An Iraqi man on a bicycle displays his ink-stained finger after voting in Baghdad on March 7, 2010. (Photo: AP)
A handful of insurgent attacks around the country killed two dozen people, but Iraqi security forces seemed generally confident; the vehicle ban in Baghdad, scheduled to last all day, was lifted before noon. Anecdotal reports suggest a strong turnout across the country.

Bloggers

The "MSM"