DC think tank hires ex-Palestinian negotiator

Influential Washington institution names former director of American Task Force on Palestine as fellow

Gaith al-Omari, fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former director of the American Task Force on Palestine, speaking at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 2013. (screen shot: YouTube)

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy named a former Palestinian negotiator to its think tank team.

Ghaith al-Omari, who until recently directed the American Task Force on Palestine, is joining the think tank as a senior fellow, a Washington Institute statement said.

Al-Omari worked with the Palestinian team during the 1999-2001 talks with Israel.

The Washington Institute is known for its ties in the US and Israeli governments and for hosting guest speakers from a broad range of Middle Eastern countries.

Dennis Ross, a Washington Institute counselor, was a top Middle East adviser to President Obama, and among its previous fellows is Moshe Yaalon, currently Israel’s defense minister.

The ATFP, the premier Palestinian advocate in the United States of a two-state solution, recently downsized, citing difficulties in fundraising.

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