U.s. Supports Abbas At Expense Of Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Joshua Mitnick - October 19, 2007 - 8:25pm The U.S. is beginning work on tens of millions of dollars worth of aid projects aimed at boosting the Palestinian economy and President Mahmoud Abbas at the expense of Hamas. Along a mile-long stretch of road leading to Ramallah — the seat of Mr. Abbas' government — bulldozers ripped up a street notorious for its crater-sized potholes and sprawling traffic backups at the Israeli military checkpoint near the Qalandiya refugee camp. » Read more

Teams To Take Up Issues Of Palestinian Statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Scott Wilson - October 19, 2007 - 8:24pm Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed Monday to form negotiating teams that would begin resolving issues central to the creation of a Palestinian state in advance of a U.S.-sponsored peace conference proposed for later this year. » Read more

Israeli And Palestinian Leaders Meet In Jerusalem To Move Toward Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Steven Erlanger - October 19, 2007 - 8:23pm Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, met Monday and agreed to set up a team of negotiators to flesh out their understandings of what a permanent, two-state solution would look like and require. » Read more

Saudi Says Israel Future Hangs On Palestinian State ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 19, 2007 - 8:22pm Saudi Arabia said on Monday Israel was increasing tensions in the region and its future hinged on recognising Palestinian rights to statehood. The unusually strong comments from the Muslim kingdom, which has traditionally close ties to Washington, come as the region awaits a U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference expected to take place in November. » Read more

Why Failure Is Not An Option At Annapolis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by David Kimche - October 19, 2007 - 4:49pm After the failure of the Annapolis conference two years ago, the two-state solution has finally been buried. The Palestinian Authority has disbanded itself, proclaiming that the official policy of the Palestinians will henceforth be a one-state solution, a democratic state with the right to vote for all its citizens over the age of 18. "The battle of the womb," they call it. "We will win through the womb. There will be a majority of Palestinians in this state." » Read more

The Missing Link ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by George Hishmeh - (Opinion) October 19, 2007 - 4:46pm The continued give-and-take over the predawn Israeli air strike at an unmanned Syrian site, reportedly a nascent nuclear facility close to the Turkish border, remains a mystery several weeks after it happened. Even the United Nations watchdog organisation handling nuclear issues, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has pleaded ignorance on the subject. » Read more

When It Comes To Diplomatic Contests, Israel Tends To Win By Default ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) October 19, 2007 - 4:42pm Israel offered a free lesson to its Arab and Islamic neighbors on Thursday, launching a diplomatic offensive designed to gain Russian and Chinese acquiescence in new UN sanctions against Iran over that country's nuclear program. Immediately following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran for a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert headed for Moscow, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni reportedly will travel to Beijing on Saturday. » Read more

Progress Eludes Condoleezza Rice In Middle East Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Richard Beeston - (Editorial) October 19, 2007 - 4:41pm After five days of shuttle diplomacy, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, returned home empty-handed yesterday, having failed to pin down participants, an agenda or a firm date for a planned Middle East peace conference. At the end of a punishing round of talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders, Dr Rice said that she was “encouraged” by her mission, but admitted that serious obstacles remained. » Read more

Palestinians Pessimistic On Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Sharmila Devi - October 19, 2007 - 4:40pm As a series of high-profile international visitors, including Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair, traipse through the Holy Land, Palestinians are looking on with a mixture of indifference and despair. The US secretary of state and former British prime minister are spear-heading efforts to prod Israel and the Palestinians towards meaningful peace talks and reform of Palestinian institutions and economy. » Read more

Gaza Absent In Conference Build-up ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News by Martin Patience - October 19, 2007 - 4:38pm US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been in the Middle East working to try and bring the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams closer together ahead of a planned Middle East conference in the US next month. Her current trip includes meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as trips to Egypt and a meeting in with Jordan's King Abdullah in London. » Read more