Can the Peace Process be Saved?

Fallout from the Israeli Raid and Prospects for Abbas’s Visit to Washington

Date:Monday, June 7, 2010 Time: 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Speakers: Michele Dunne, Taghreed El-Khodary, Henri Barkey, and Nathan Brown

Israel’s raid on a flotilla of humanitarian aid ships bound for Gaza, which reportedly left at least nine people dead, drew condemnation from international leaders and leaves prospects for Israeli-Palestinian talks even more dismal. Given these developments, what will President Mahmoud Abbas be looking for when he meets with President Obama on June 9? Is resolving the divide between the West Bank and Gaza required before the peace process can move forward?

Carnegie experts assess the latest developments and what they will mean for Abbas’s visit to Washington. Taghreed El-Khodary, longtime New York Times correspondent in Gaza, will describe the situation in Gaza. Michele Dunne will outline a new direction for U.S. policy based on her forthcoming Carnegie paper, which will be released at the event. Henri J. Barkey will look at the implications for Turkey’s relations with Israel and the United States. Nathan J.Brown will comment and moderate the discussion.

A light breakfast will be served. 

Speakers

Michele Dunne

Michele Dunne is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment and editor of the Arab Reform Bulletin. She is a former specialist on Middle East affairs for the U.S. Department of State and White House.

Taghreed El-Khodary

Taghreed El-Khodary is a visiting scholar in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment, where her research focuses on the future of Gaza. Since 2006, she has been based in the Gaza Strip, reporting on political developments for the New York Times and serving as a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Henri J. Barkey

Henri J. Barkey is a visiting scholar in the Carnegie Middle East Program and the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Professor at Lehigh University. He served as a member of the U.S. State Department Policy Planning Staff and authored the Carnegie reportPreventing Conflict Over Kurdistan.

Moderator

Nathan J. Brown

Nathan J. Brown is a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, a nonresident senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, and a distinguished scholar and author of four well-received books on Arab politics.