Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians might seem to have a simple solution: Create a Palestinian state next door to Israel in territory that the Jewish state seized from invading countries in 1967. But a “two-state solution” has eluded decades of attempts to reach agreement — most of them shepherded by American presidents and diplomats. Israeli and Palestinian leaders each charge the other with responsibility for the latest deadlock. Now, the Obama administration is warning that time is running out on the possibility of an accord. Indeed, hopes are dimming among both Israelis and Palestinians. However, a sense of urgency is building among neighboring Arab countries, which are being rocked by war and political turmoil. They have joined with Secretary of State John Kerry in trying to push both sides to the negotiating table over a new peace plan.