May 13th

Israel Sets Terms For Gaza Truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
May 13, 2008 - 6:08pm

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Egypt’s intelligence chief yesterday to tell Gaza fighters a truce would be conditional upon progress being made toward freeing a captive Israeli soldier. Olmert also asked Omar Suleiman to tell the Palestinian armed factions they would have to stop smuggling arms into Gaza if they want Israel to accept the Egyptian-brokered proposals to halt the violence in the besieged territory.

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The Other Nakba
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-ayyam
May 13, 2008 - 6:08pm

(ATFP Transation by Mike Husseini)

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Tony Blair Unveils Deal To Boost Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by David Byers - May 13, 2008 - 6:06pm

ony Blair today unveiled the first fruits of his labours as Middle East peace envoy, outlining an economic deal between Israel and the Palestinians which he claimed would boost the West Bank. The former Prime Minister said that Israel had agreed to remove trade and travel barriers for Palestinians in order to allow the territory to grow economically ahead of a final peace deal between the sides.

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Hamas Rejects Israeli Truce Terms
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
May 13, 2008 - 6:04pm

Hamas has said that the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured in 2006, will not form part of any truce agreement with Israel. Israel has said a ceasefire deal must include the release of the soldier. Cpl Shalit was seized in a cross-border raid two years ago by Palestinian militants, including members of Hamas. Egyptian intelligence chief was in Jerusalem on Monday talking to Israeli officials about a ceasefire offer by the Gaza Strip's militant groups.

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Israel To Relax West Bank Restrictions, Says Blair
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by James. Orr - May 13, 2008 - 6:03pm

Israel has agreed to ease severe travel and trade restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the Middle East envoy Tony Blair said today. In an announcement aimed at bolstering forthcoming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Blair described the breakthrough as a "significant first step". The news came on the eve of a visit by the US president, George Bush, to Israel to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

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Econ Progress In The West Bank Lays Basis For Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal
by John D. Mckinnon - May 13, 2008 - 5:58pm

President Bush departs Tuesday for a Mideast peace mission that on the surface appears unpromising. But administration officials say there is quiet movement on the outlines of a future Palestinian state and that momentum is building on the economic-development front, particularly in the Palestinian West Bank. Even if Mr. Bush's 11th-hour push for a peace deal ultimately fails, growing investment in the area is pointing the way toward possible longer-term progress, officials say.

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Rice: Mideast Peace 'not Impossible'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI)
May 13, 2008 - 5:57pm

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday peace in the Middle East may be "improbable" but "not impossible." In a taped interview in Washington on CBS's "The Early Show," Rice said she remains convinced her upcoming trip to the Middle East with U.S. President George Bush will push the process forward. The trip begins Tuesday. "Well, if the parties want to do this and will put the energy and the will into it, I think they can do it (reach a peace agreement)," Rice said.

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Bush: Israeli Peace Independent Of Olmert
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
May 13, 2008 - 5:56pm

U.S. President George W. Bush said in interviews published Tuesday ahead of a visit to Israel that the country's peace process with the Palestinians does not depend on embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Police suspect Olmert illictly took hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from an American fundraiser. The Israeli leader has said he would resign if indicted.

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Bush's Legacy On Israel Debated On Eve Of Visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Michael Abramowitz - May 13, 2008 - 5:52pm

Appearing at an Israeli Embassy reception last Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state, Vice President Cheney voiced a sentiment that is common among many American Jews, evangelicals and others. "Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than the 43rd president of the United States," he said.

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May 12th

The Bush Administration leads today’s roundup as President George W. Bush returns to Jerusalem this week (1-3, 10). The Wall Street Journal highlights economic development efforts in Palestine, including the U.S. Palestinian Public Private Partnership (4). ATFP provides a translation of an Al-Ayyam article by Hassan Khader (8). Wilson Center Scholar Aaron David Miller discusses the application of U.S. power in seeking an Israeli-Arab Peace (11). Daniel Kurtzer, an advisor to Democratic candidate Barack Obama, argues that Jerusalem must be included in any peace deal (13).

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