Ghaith al-Omari
Non-resident Fellow







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Ghaith Al-Omari is a non-resident fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP). Prior to that, he served in various positions within the Palestinian Authority, including Director of the International Relations Department in the Office of the Palestinian President, and advisor to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. In these capacities, he provided advice on foreign policy -- especially vis-à-vis the United States and Israel -- and security. He has extensive experience in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, having been an advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team throughout the permanent status negotiations (1999–2001). In that capacity, he participated in various negotiating rounds, most notably the Camp David summit and the Taba talks. After the breakdown of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, he was the lead Palestinian drafter of the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial model peace agreement negotiated between leading Palestinian and Israeli public figures. Mr. al-Omari is a lawyer by training and a graduate of Georgetown and Oxford universities. Prior to his involvement in the Middle East peace process, he taught international law in Jordan and was active in human rights advocacy.

Publications, Press and Speeches

Al-Omari calls for leveraging Gaza war toward ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict July 31, 2014
The Conflict in Gaza: Recalculating the Political-Military Equation July 23, 2014
Operation Protective Edge: The spreading conflagration in the Middle East July 16, 2014
Gaza conflict sidelines Abbas, but U.S. still betting on Palestinian leader July 15, 2014
ATFP Exec. Dir. Ghaith al-Omari's Remarks at Presbyterian meeting June 14, 2014
Experts Outline Challenges, Propose Solutions for Gaza at ATFP-UNRWA Briefing May 19, 2014
J Street U speakers discuss Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the 2-state solution April 29, 2014
Panel Talks Palestine Peace March 28, 2014
Prospects for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations March 19, 2014
Real models for Arab-American advocacy in the U.S. December 15, 2013
A Nuclear Deal Inspires More Questions Than Answers December 3, 2013
Chaos in Middle East Grows as the U.S. Focuses on Israel July 1, 2013
Experts warn time running out for two-state solution for Mideast crisis May 16, 2013
At Cornell, Panelists Call for Solution to Conflict in Middle East April 24, 2013
Obama Trip Renews Debate over Israeli-Palestinian Solution March 26, 2013
Why Obama Picked Philip Gordon For NSC Post March 25, 2013
Obama’s Israel Itinerary Includes Some Standard Stops, but Not Others March 13, 2013
A campaign to talk up a two-state solution March 1, 2013
The Future Of Palestinian-Israeli Security Cooperation January 14, 2013
Report From the Two-State Frontlines July 20, 2012
The perils of alienation over Palestine June 26, 2012
Palestinians: US refugee bill may delay peace June 5, 2012
The Visionary May 4, 2012
Gingrich calls Palestinians an ‘invented’ people December 12, 2011
Despite UNESCO victory, Palestinian statehood push running aground November 8, 2011
Congress Moves To Punish Palestinians, But Even Israel Objects September 26, 2011
After Palestinian Statehood Bid, Where Do Mideast Talks Stand? September 23, 2011
The Palestinian Bid for UN Membership: Rationale, Response, Repercussions Featuring Ghaith al-Omari, Amos Yadlin, and David Makovsky September 20, 2011
A Palestine State: A Discussion with Ghaith al-Omari September 19, 2011
Barack Obama caught between Israel and his Palestinian 'promise' September 19, 2011
Palestinians Seeking Statehood at UN May Get Same Rights as Pope September 8, 2011
David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari debate the Israel-Palestine conflict and discuss creating mutual respect and dialogue May 27, 2011
What should we take away from the ‘Palestine Papers’? January 26, 2011
Palestinians insist leaked memos from peace process reveal nothing new January 25, 2011
PLO Flag Raised in Washington, D.C. January 21, 2011
Palestinians raise flag at Washington diplomatic mission January 19, 2011
Six Years After His Death, Divided Palestinians Laud Arafat as Unifying Figure November 12, 2010
Finding an optimist in the Middle East peace process September 15, 2010
Camp David Redux: A Look Back At Lessons Learned September 3, 2010
Q+A-Settlements loom as Middle East talks resume September 3, 2010
Israel, Palestinians agree to more peace talks September 3, 2010
The Peace Talks Resume: Prospects for Success September 2, 2010
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks: What Will Help, Hinder? August 25, 2010
Mideast talks offer promise, peril for Obama August 25, 2010
Stakes are high in Mideast peace talks August 25, 2010
US gambles on new Middle East talks with no clear plan August 25, 2010
A message for Palestinians in the Israel-U.S. disagreement? March 22, 2010
East Jerusalem Settlement Plan Deepens Rift With Washington November 19, 2009
Expanding 'settlements' in eastern Jerusalem? Part 1 November 19, 2009
Obama's Middle East Strategy Stalls November 12, 2009
Obama's Middle East Strategy Stalls November 11, 2009
U.S. Eases Pressure on Israel, Leans On Palestinians November 5, 2009
Administration missteps hamper Mideast efforts November 5, 2009
Israeli envoys stay on in US for talks October 15, 2009
Fears of third intifada as tension grows in Israel October 8, 2009
Talks go on despite W. Bank construction September 9, 2009
The Obama World Order June 22, 2009
Pro-Palestinian Advocates Sense Winds of Change in Washington June 11, 2009
Obama tells Israel to halt expansion June 5, 2009
Analysts See Growing US-Israeli Rift Over Settlements Issue June 5, 2009
Rival Messages as Obama Lands in the Mideast June 4, 2009
Obama's Cairo speech rabbis June 4, 2009
With Speech in Egypt, Obama Calculates Risk of Alienating Israel June 3, 2009
Israeli Minister's Visit Aims To Calm Settlements Dispute June 2, 2009
U.S. Weighs Tactics on Israeli Settlement June 1, 2009
Obama tells Israel to halt expansion May 29, 2009
Questions of Legitimacy Loom Over Abbas In Meeting with Obama May 28, 2009
Obama Deserves Palestinian Support May 27, 2009
Different Agendas Of Netanyahu, Obama April 27, 2009
Numerous Odds against a Lebanese Model for Palestinian Unity Government April 26, 2009
Obama strong on Palestinian state April 8, 2009
US Affairs: Unsettling buzz April 3, 2009
Obama Administration Overhauls US Mideast Policy March 11, 2009
Middle East envoy George Mitchell no stranger to conflicts January 24, 2009
As Obama Visits State Dept., Clinton Announces Two Special Envoys January 23, 2009
Obama Defers to Bush, for Now, on Gaza Crisis December 28, 2008
Putting the Arab Peace Initiative Into Action December 11, 2008
Abbas, Bush stress need for peace push September 25, 2008
'Making Sense of the Arab-Israeli Nightmare' September 1, 2008
Israel’s Political Situation Dims Hopes for Peace Deal August 1, 2008
Olmert departure makes Mideast peace more elusive July 31, 2008
Amid Pessimism on Peace Prospects, Rice Meets Parties in Last-Ditch Push for Accord July 30, 2008
Making Sense of the Arab-Israel Nightmare June 28, 2008
The Perils Of Unconditional Engagement May 1, 2008
In Search for Peace, a Shrinking White House Role March 3, 2008
Bolstering Palestinian Moderates February 10, 2008
Egypt opens its borders January 3, 2008
Engaging Hamas: The When And The How October 10, 2007
Challenges Facing The Palestinian-american Community September 23, 2007
U.S. to free up aid to Palestinians In balancing act, millions go to Abbas, needy in Gaza Strip June 21, 2007
U.S. Lifts Embargo To Help Abbas June 19, 2007
Few Good Options for U.S. on Palestinian Violence June 14, 2007
The Geneva Initiative June 3, 2007
Ten Commandments for Mideast Peace June 1, 2007
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