Daniel Levy has published in National Interest a thoughtful and provocative critique of the recent collapsed American effort to seduce the Israelis and Palestinians into temporary negotiations.

In some of the comments posted in earlier entries, a mentor of mine posted a note to me: Steve, I have followed The Washington Note periodically and have been increasingly concerned to see in the “Comments” how your website has attracted progressively more and stronger reactions of the vilest racist kind in response to your…

Richard Holbrooke has been one of my most important touch points in Washington and has been a close friend, adviser, and in recent years — a partner in sorting through and discussing in private some of America’s biggest national security and foreign policy challenges.

(Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch of “Glee” pay tribute to CURE Epilepsy Volunteer of the Year Tammy Haddad) Susan Axelrod, Connie Milstein and Tammy Haddad — three powerhouse players in Washington — have quickly raised DC consciousness about the debilitating brain disorder epilepsy.

A senior administration official told me yesterday that those who think that President Obama is simply going to give up on Palestine-Israel piece don’t understand him.

Barack Obama’s latest effort to seduce Benjamin Netanyahu to stop expanding illegal settlements in occupied territories as a portal into renewed Palestine-Israel talks has collapsed.

(graphic credit: Barrie Maguire) Richard Vague has written an interesting short essay criticizing his fellow American fiscal conservatives for their silence on the Afghanistan War. Vague opens: My fellow fiscal conservatives are letting me down.

This is abhorrent — and Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh, if he wants to be taken seriously in the modern world, needs to get modern. This kind of statement puts him right up there with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson blaming 9/11 on gays, liberals, and feminists.

Many thanks to Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon for responding to my post and tweet @SCClemons. He has amended his piece with the following Tweet: @Danny Ayalon: Too many countries, too little space. “Immediate neighbors” includes Egypt, Jordan and the PA.

Israel Deputy Foreign Minister penned a heartfelt oped in the Jerusalem Post expressing thanks to various international players for their offered and provided relief in the terrible Carmel fire disaster in Israel.