Palestinian attorney and analyst
Diana Buttu is a Palestinian attorney and analyst. She is a former legal advisor to the Palestinian Liberation Organization, she has worked as a legal adviser and negotiator on peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian organizations. From 2000-2005, she served as legal adviser to President Abbas.
Israel and the Palestinians: Trump says it's time for peace President Trump took office with no experience in foreign affairs. Now, he's addressing one of the world's most intractable land disputes of recent decades in an interview with Reuters last week, "But I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians, There's no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians." Palestinians step on posters depicting President Donald Trump during a protest against the blockade on Gaza, in the central Gaza Strip May 2, 2017. The poster reads, "Abbas does not represent me." Photo by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Even if Israel were pushing hard for a "two-state solution," the Palestinians are still divided among themselves. On his way to a White House meeting tomorrow, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas cut off power to Gaza, ruled by the militant group, Hamas. Meantime, Hamas has announced a new charter, less hostile to Israel but closer to the Authority than it's been before. Trump's first foreign visit since taking office may be to Israel — and the Territories. Will enough have changed that he can make a difference?
John Kerry's Gamble on 'Middle East Peace' John Kerry has acknowledged that there is skepticism — even cynicism — about renewing the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that broke off five years ago. But, during his first months as Secretary of State, that's what he's focused on, with repeated visits and at least ten long phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He says improving the West Bank's economy would be a good start, but neither side has shown any change on issues necessary to a two-state solution. Israeli settlements, Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem and national boundaries are as divisive as ever. Palestinians are politically and geographically divided. Polls show that neither side really believes that peace has a chance. Does the US have the power — and the commitment -- to make a difference?
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
