Ambassador Daniel C Kurtzer, S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Middle East Policy Studies at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of federal ministries, government agencies and selected think tanks to discuss the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian talks which were resumed in September 2010. The discussion focused on concrete policy recommendations to the US and the EU. Moreover, Germany's specific contribution to a potential peace settlement was discussed.

Kurtzer remarked that at the moment it was difficult to discern a comprehensive and long-term US strategy for the Middle East. Against the background of the new balance of power in Congress and in the light of the scepticism about the Middle East peace process among the Republicans, it was important that President Obama should press on with his efforts to bring about a rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians.

He was also hoping that new ideas would emanate from the EU, Kurtzer added. Furthermore, it was important to upgrade the role of the Middle East Quartet, which has recently lost some of its influence.

Körber Foundation regularly invites a small circle of high-ranking actors within Berlin’s foreign policy community to its Political Background Discussions. As in the Bergedorf Round Tables, the discussions take place shielded from the public, so as to enable a confidential, frank, and constructive exchange.

See also:

• Political Breakfast with John Ging, Head of Operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza
• Political Breakfast with Dr. Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority
• Political Background Discussion with Avi Primor, Director of the Center for European Studies at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and former Israeli Ambassador to Germany
• Political Background Discussion with Saad Hariri, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon
• Körber Network Foreign Policy – Field Trip to Syria and Lebanon