HOUSE OVERSIGHT 033519 restart peace talks with Israel, however, the administration cut its contribution in early 2018 from $364 million to $60 million before ceasing payments altogether. Click here to read more... Donate Today How Obama Blew the Chance for Economic Peace by Mitchell Bard Iln 2009, Barack Obama had an unprecedented opportunity to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. For the first time, the Palestinians had a prime minister who was respected and admired by the Israelis, because he did not come from the same terrorist background as Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas. Unlike his ideological comrades who insisted on "liberating Palestine," Salam Fayyad, was interested in building the infrastructure for a future state, strengthening the West Bank economy, and improving the lives of the Palestinian people. Click here to read more...