Outside the Beltway

The Vatican has announced that it will recognize Palestinian statehood, but this is not going to resolve the underlying issues that prevent a Palestinian state from actually coming into existence.

Rand Paul bucks Republican orthodoxy on Iraq, Libya, and negotiations with Iran.

Conditioning an Iranian nuclear deal on recognition of Israel is foolish, unrealistic, and very bad diplomacy.

One freshman Senator seems to think that war with Iran would be easy, just like Republicans used to think that war against Iraq would be easy.

The Iranian nuclear accords are barely 24 hours old and some people have already made up their mind about them.

Talks in Geneva have reached a framework agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, if it’s complied with, appears at first glance to be about the best deal available under the circumstances.

More than ever before, even mild criticism of Israel seems to be verboten among Republicans.

Yet another probable rift between the U.S. and Israel over Iran.

After appearing to be behind in pre-election polling, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have secured a victory in Israel’s elections.

Benjamin Netanyahu is trailing in the final polls leading to Tuesday’s election, but he still may be able to form the coalition needed to stay in power.

Senate Republicans have done more harm to the goal of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than they have done good.

Another lesson in incompetence in governing from House Republicans.

By a wide margin Americans think it was wrong of the GOP to invite Israel’s Prime Minister to speak to Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently realizing that speaking to Congress may not be a good idea after all.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s speech to Congress is becoming even more partisan, much to the apparent chagrin of the Israelis.

Some Congressional Democrats are considering skipping a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a Joint Session Of Congress.

By inviting Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress, Republicans are damaging the U.S. relationship with Israel.

My latest for The National Interest, “Obama’s Paris Blunder: Part of a Much Bigger Problem,” has posted.

Some are criticizing the President for not going to Paris for yesterday’s rally.

The two sides in Gaza keep extending the humanitarian cease fire, but remain miles apart on the major issues dividing them.

A glimmer of hope in Gaza is quickly snuffed out.

The Israeli public if overwhelmingly behind the war in Gaza, and that means it will probably continue for awhile.

An effort yesterday to bring about a cease fire in Gaza came to naught when Hamas rejected the proposal.

Contrary to the oft-repeated slogan, the United States has negotiated with terrorists before. And we will do it again.

There’s little evidence for the conservative contention that the President has damaged America’s position in the world.

Open mouth, insert foot.

Middle East peace talks are apparently in such bad shape that the U.S. is thinking of releasing Jonathan Pollard as an incentive to Israel.

After eight years in a coma, Ariel Sharon has passed away.

Secretary of State Kerry becomes the latest American official to wade into the Middle East’s longest lasting quagmire.

In another sign that things may not be going so well between Washington and Jerusalem, President Obama will not be meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he’s in the United States.

An attack on Iran’s nuclear program would be far more complicated than a one-off attack.

A new IAEA report may make an Israeli strike on Iran in the near future more likely than it has ever been.

Some troubling, sad, and downright puzzling stories

Lt Gen Benny Gantz says Iran “is going step by step to the place where it will be able to decide whether to manufacture a nuclear bomb. It hasn’t yet decided to go the extra mile.”

The differences between the parties when it comes to Iran are far less substantial than the candidate’s rhetoric would suggest.

Mitt Romney’s view of the ideal relationship between the United States and Israel is, at the very least. quite odd, and, potentially, dangerous.

Obama to Sarkozy on Netanyahu: “You’re sick of him — but I have to deal with him every day!”

It’s time for another round of speculation about Iran and its nuclear program.