Until last September, Fred Hof was the top advisor for US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Syria. He led efforts to relaunch the Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations in 2010, and met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad prior to the uprising of (...)
Even as tension rises between the Governments of Iraq and Turkey over Ankara's relations with the Kurdish leadership in the North, Washington still sees its partnership with the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as a “necessary and (...)
Even as tension rises between the Governments of Iraq and Turkey over Ankara's relations with the Kurdish leadership in the North, Washington still sees its partnership with the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as a necessary and (...)
Even as tension rises between the Governments of Iraq and Turkey over Ankara's relations with the Kurdish leadership in the North, Washington still sees its partnership with the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as a necessary and (...)
As the fighting rages in Syria and more civilians look for ways to flee their homes, the international community faces a growing humanitarian challenge in addressing the flow of refugees. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of (...)
As world powers make their way to Baghdad for another meeting with Iran in an attempt to resolve the nuclear standoff, former US negotiator Dennis Ross tells Al-Hayat that a political solution is still possible on the issue. Ross who closely worked (...)
The road from Al-Mansour Street where the U.S. embassy is headquartered in Damascus to Al-Rashid Street home of the Syrian Presidential Palace, has only been taken by handful of American diplomats in the last few decades.
Edward Djerejian strode (...)
As the political turmoil sweeps across the Middle East, former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski laments the declining American influence in the region . He tells Al-Hayat about a sense of disappointment among Washington's allies (...)
With the humanitarian and political situation worsening in Syria, Washington is considering more unilateral sanctions against the Syrian government, while increasing coordination with Turkey, the Europeans and the Arab states to ramp up diplomatic (...)
Washington-On the eve of his highly anticipated trip to the Middle East, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden emphasized in an interview with Al-Hayat the need for “bold steps” from Palestinians and Israelis to make progress on the Peace Process, and (...)
Washington- Creating a sense of unease in Syria's relationship with Iran as well as exploring areas of “common interest” particularly in counterterrorism and securing Iraq appear to be the short term objectives of the latest push by the Obama (...)
As Lebanese President Michel Sleiman arrives in Washington for his first official meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, the White House should provide him some concrete support for his goals of rebuilding state institutions, securing Israeli (...)
Following a five-month deadlock, the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Monday the formation of a national unity government after a marathon of consultations with domestic and regional players. While Mr. Hariri gave major concessions (...)
It would be an understatement to say that the Obama administration has shot itself in the foot this week by stepping back from its initial call for a total Settlement freeze in the Palestinian territories and instead complimenting a partial and (...)
Washington- As the Obama administration embarks on the different sets of defense challenges it faces in the Middle East, particularly ending the war in Iraq and containing the Iranian nuclear ambitions, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the (...)
Washington- In addressing one of its most pivotal foreign policy challenges in the Middle East, the Obama administration needs to moderate its lexicon in framing the negotiations and expectations on the Peace Process. Using words such as “normalize” (...)
Washington- In addressing one of its most pivotal foreign policy challenges in the Middle East, the Obama administration needs to moderate its lexicon in framing the negotiations and expectations on the Peace Process. Using words such as “normalize” (...)
The controversial outcome of Iran's Presidential elections has set off a policy debate in Washington over the Obama administration plans to directly engage Tehran. Critics of the strategy are cautioning that it might legitimize the Iranian (...)
Washington - As the Obama administration enters the final round of its consultations on the Peace Process and sets the pace for resuming negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, U.S. career diplomat Edward Djerejian who served in (...)
Washington - The Obama administration sees Lebanon's parliamentary elections on Sunday as pivotal in shaping the future of that country, while at the same time highlighting the composition and the program of the next Lebanese government as the (...)
Washington - In the wake of U.S. President Barack Obama visit to Egypt and his highly anticipated speech to the Muslim World from Cairo on Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke to Al-Hayat about his expectations on the speech, (...)
The Obama administration is planning to intensify its engagement in the Peace Process by taking an active role in resuming negotiations and mobilizing regional support for its efforts.
Despite the “different set of priorities and urgencies” that (...)
Washington - President Barack Obama is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss the prospect of an Israeli settlement freeze and ease Israeli concerns on the US strategy towards Iran.
Netanyahu, who arrives in (...)
Washington- President Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world from Egypt on June 4, and the upcoming visit of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to Washington signal a desire from both leaders to strengthen relations and increase cooperation on (...)
The Obama administration officially dropped the regime change option from its policies towards Iran clearing the way for engagement and realistic approaches in dealing with the Islamic Republic.
Washington, nearly two months after President (...)