Date
Type

October 11th

The New York Times reports on the cash shortage in Gaza's banks due to the decision by Israeli commercial banks to stop all Palestinian banks in Gaza (2.) In Israel policy Forum, MJ Rosenberg identifies the critical steps needed in terms of both an agreement and actions on the ground if the fall Mideast meeting is to be a success (4.) The Guardian (UK) looks at the continued barring of Palestinian students from Israeli universities by the Israeli army despite an Israeli Supreme Court order to relax such restrictions (8.) The Economist (UK) reviews a book by Israeli historian Idith Zertal and Israeli journalist Akiva Eldar on how Israeli settlers have consistently thwarted Israeli law to establish settlements in the occupied West Bank greatly complicating two-state solution prospects (10.) In BitterLemons (Israel/Palestine) former Palestinian minister of planning Ghassan Khatib identifies Israeli actions on the ground that undermine prospects for a successful fall meeting (12.) In Haaretz (Israel), Aluf Benn analyzes how two parties in Israeli PM Olmert's coalition could determine the extent of flexibility in his negotiations with the Palestinians (14.) A Ynet News/Yedioth (Israel) opinion by Israeli Geneva Initiative director-general Gadi Baltiansky addresses the consequences of the current Israeli and Palestinian leaderships in reaching a peace settlement (15.)

The International Inversion Towards The Two State Solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Reut Institute
October 11, 2007 - 3:06pm

The International Inversion towards the Two State Solution refers to the danger that leading actors among the international community will abandon their support for the 'Two State Solution' and instead support the 'The One State Solution' on the basis of 'one man one vote'. Definition The concept 'The International Inversion towards the Two State Solution' refers to the danger that leading actors among the international community will abandon their support for the 'Two State Solution' (or any other option establishing the principle of separation between Israel and the Palestin

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Splintering As A Strategy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Meron Benvenisti - (Opinion) October 11, 2007 - 3:01pm

Take note of the collection of items that were published on a single day this week: negotiating teams discussing a declaration of intentions that will be presented at the Annapolis conference; the prime minister's deputy reiterates his plan to remove "neighborhoods on the edge" of Jerusalem from the city's municipal borders, and causes a stir; the Knesset Finance Committee discusses a draft law that will permit the Jewish National Fund to lease land only to Jews; and the firing of a Katyusha rocket from the Gaza Strip leads to a noisy debate about the issue of taking control of ar

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Legitimate Expectations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
(Opinion) October 11, 2007 - 2:57pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has laid out his clearest vision yet for what he expects any final agreement with Israel to give Palestinians. There is nothing truly new in it: as expected, it simply outlines the traditional Palestinian demands for a complete end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sovereignty over the natural resources of that land as well as its borders, and a just resolution to the Palestinian refugee problem.

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Awaiting American Arm-twisting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) October 11, 2007 - 2:44pm

One cannot help but feel dubious about the chances of success at next month's "meeting" in nearby Annapolis, home of the American Naval Academy, to lay the groundwork for a final Palestinian-Israeli settlement. The reasons are many and, in major part, the key players are three lame-ducks. But, should these leaders chose, they can capitalise on this weakness and perceivably come up with reasonable "principles" for the much-awaited settlement that can be supported by all, if the participants in the conference endorse the document.

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Hamas Ready For Talks With Rival
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
October 11, 2007 - 2:43pm

The Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, has said it is ready to hold reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah group of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya hinted Hamas might be willing to relinquish control of Gaza, which it seized from Fatah in June, in a statement on its website. Mr Haniya said his group's control of the coastal territory was "temporary". Mr Abbas has ruled out reconciliation with Hamas until it gives up the Gaza Strip and submits to his authority.

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Abbas Lays Out Territorial Demand
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Conal Urquhart - October 11, 2007 - 2:41pm

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, insisted yesterday that Israel must give up 2,400 square miles of territory under its control for a Palestinian state, as he set out his demands before a US-sponsored peace conference next month. The area is the sum of territory of the West Bank and Gaza which Israel conquered in 1967, and which the Palestine Liberation Organisation has argued should be set aside for a Palestinian state.

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Us Silent On Israel Grab Of Arab Land
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 11, 2007 - 2:40pm

The United States refused to immediately comment Wednesday on Israel's decision to confiscate Arab land near Jerusalem, one day before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to head to the region. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that Washington had not yet determined what its official reaction would be. "(I'm) still looking into it," he said. "I want to understand better the facts on the ground from our people in the field." "As soon as I have those, I'll be happy to provide you with a reaction."

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Palestinians Set To Trade Away Parts Of West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Karin Laub - October 11, 2007 - 2:37pm

The Palestinians are ready to yield parts of the West Bank to Israel if compensated with an equal amount of Israeli territory, the lead Palestinian negotiator said in an interview yesterday. Ahmed Qureia, a former prime minister who has dealt with five Israeli prime ministers during 14 years of failed peacemaking, is trying again with No. 6, Ehud Olmert.

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A Guide To A Successful November International Conference
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum
by Frederic C. Hof - (Special Report) October 11, 2007 - 2:35pm

President Bush has announced an international meeting devoted to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be held in the fall, presumably mid-November, and likely in Washington, D.C. This is a potentially important step in moving the stalled peace process forward, especially given the recent appointment of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as the Quartet’s Middle East envoy.

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