October 11th

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. » Read more

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. » Read more

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. » Read more

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. » Read more

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." » Read more

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. » Read more

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. » Read more

Hamas Seeks Fatah Talks, Hints At Giving Up Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal Al-mughrabi - October 11, 2007 - 2:31pm Hamas said on Wednesday it would hold reconciliation talks with the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and hinted it might be ready to cede control of the Gaza Strip, which it seized in June. » Read more

Talk Grows In Israel About Splitting Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - October 11, 2007 - 2:30pm Jerusalem, the perennially divided city, is again becoming a central point of contention as Israelis and Palestinians prepare for the first serious peace discussions in years. Last Monday, one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s closest allies, Haim Ramon, brought the issue into the open when he suggested in an interview that Israel would be willing to cede some parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. » Read more

Fatah Uses 'morality Police' To Burnish Image ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - October 11, 2007 - 2:28pm With a red armband identifying himself as "morality police," Lt. Ameen Theeti describes his job of the past few weeks as combing the streets of central Ramallah to maintain both "public order" and "tradition." The new Palestinian Authority (PA) outfit\'s mission has been to bust anyone caught violating the fast during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month ending this week. That means potential arrests and jail time for simply chewing gum. » Read more