Jordan Hosts Peace Talks Between Israel and Palestine

On February 26, representatives from the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government met in Jordan for previously agreed-upon peace talks, reports Reuters. The talks, while initially perceived as successful, were abruptly halted due to increased violence in the West Bank.

Read more

U.S. Opens Investigation into Israeli Killing of American Journalist

On November 14, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would be opening an investigation into the May 11 killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist, who was shot and killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank.

Read more

A Two-State Solution is not Viable for Palestine

The prevailing suggestion within international relations to resolve the Israeli-Palestine conflict is a two-state solution that would see Palestine and Israel divided into two independent states. However, two-state solutions from the powers which denied Palestine statehood fall short when they fail to recognize the theft of the Palestinian homeland and the continued violence ravaging Palestinian communities. 

Read more

Palestinians Executed in Gaza for First Time in 5 Years

For the first time in five years, five Palestinian nationals were executed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in early September. According to Al Jazeera, Hamas announced that two of the five condemned to capital punishment were found guilty of collaborating with the Israeli occupation and were given the right to due process.

Read more

Is Israel Being Unfairly Targeted by the UN Human Rights Council?

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) recently created a special commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of crimes of apartheid committed by the Israeli government against Palestinians. The fact-finding mission is being used to respond to allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by Israel, according to the UNHRC.

Read more

FOCUS on Frozen Conflicts: Israel-Palestine

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict made recent headlines in May after Israeli forces launched devastating airstrikes on Gaza. This latest Gaza war was sparked after Israeli Defense Forces raided one of the holiest sites in Islam, the Al Aqsa Mosque, during the holy month of Ramadan. Israeli forces dispersed worshippers with flashbangs and rubber bullets, wounding nearly 300 people, reports The Guardian.

Read more

Egypt and Israel Seek to Reduce Tensions Through Bilateral Summit

The recent visit to Egypt by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on September 13 marks a key point in the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli struggle. This is especially noteworthy after the conflict in the Gaza Strip last May between Israel and Hamas.

Read more

FOCUS on Vaccine Diplomacy: Israel

The world’s most pressing challenge is the rush to inoculate everyone against COVID-19 and achieve herd immunity. Some countries choose to exchange vaccines with foreign nations to reward compliant behavior, while others seek to help countries that do not have access to vaccines. The Soufan Center, a non-profit research center, calls this a “new arms race,” states  France 24. Amid this “vaccine diplomacy” race, Israel is demonstrating its power to the international community and stands as number one in global vaccine rollouts. The country vaccinated almost 60 percent of its residents over 16 years old with the first dose, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

Read more

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Speaks on Middle East Peace Plan

On November 19, the School of Diplomacy held a discussion on the Middle East Peace Plan with Dr. Riyad Mansour, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN. Ambassador Mansour delivered remarks about the Palestinian perspective on the conflict in the Middle East and answered questions from attendees.

Read more