Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry talked about the challenges and opportunities facing the Obama administration in the Middle East. He focused on the way forward in the Middle East peace process including discussion of the recent Israeli elections, the conflict in Gaza, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, troop withdrawals in Iraq, U.S.-Syria relations, and Islamic extremism. Senator Kerry recently returned from the Middle East, where he traveled to Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Martin Indyk provided introductory remarks. After the program, Senator Kerry took audience members' questions.