June 17th

Israel Seems To Make Progress In Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - June 17, 2008 - 5:07pm

JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered mutual cease-fire for the Gaza area starting Thursday morning, Egyptian and Hamas officials announced on Tuesday. “The Palestinian and Israeli sides have accepted the first stage of a reciprocal and simultaneous period of calm, starting in the Gaza Strip, from 0600 on Thursday,” an unidentified senior Egyptian official told the state news agency MENA.

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What Lies Ahead for Gaza?
Policy Focus by ATFP - March 5, 2008 - 1:00am

The confrontations last weekend between Hamas and Israel in Gaza have brought two facts into sharp focus. First, Hamas and Israel have locked themselves into a logic of progressively increasing violence that – unless broken – will inevitably lead to a wide scale land operation against Gaza. Second, unless accompanied by a policy of strengthening the Palestinian Authority (PA) under President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad by enabling them to deliver concrete results, the strategy of pressuring Hamas will not work and would likely be counterproductive.

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Defining Success: The Fall Mid-East Meeting
Policy Focus by ATFP - October 1, 2007 - 12:00am



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Palestinian National Unity: The Question of Hamas
Policy Focus by ATFP - June 16, 2007 - 12:00am

Two months into the Hamas violent takeover of the Gaza Strip (GS), one thing has become clear: for all practical intents and purposes, the West Bank (WB) and GS represent two separate spheres of control for the foreseeable future. While ultimately, for political, economic and geopolitical reasons, the WB and GS must be one territorial unit, the prospects for reunification at the short or even medium term are very slim.   The Buildup

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June 16th

The New York Times reports on progress being made by Israel on three diplomatic fronts (1). Israeli police arrest the two Jewish settlers involved in a recent assault on Palestinians that was caught on film (4). Reuters reports that a truce between Hamas and Israel has been reached and will begin on Thursday (5). Though the prospects for the success of the truce seem somewhat tenuous (9) (10). Claude Salhani reports on a relatively new Los Angeles based organization called the Israeli Palestinian Confederation (6).

Take Advantage Of Ceasefire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yossi Beilin - (Opinion) June 16, 2008 - 5:12pm

  The decision has apparently been taken. After we already tried all other solutions, perhaps we have come to realize that the best way to stop the attacks on the western Negev is to reach a ceasefire. This is no great bargain, and certainly no substitute for peace. The fact that we are forced to reach either a direct or indirect agreement with Hamas is unpleasant.

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On A Collision Course
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al- Ahram
by Saleh Al-naami - June 16, 2008 - 5:11pm

Over the past 10 months, observers have been expecting an Israeli offensive in Gaza, notwithstanding Egyptian efforts to arrange a truce between the Israelis and Hamas. Yediot Aharonot 's military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai says that it is impossible for Israel to agree to the Egyptian initiative, not after the recent attacks by the Palestinian resistance. Israeli leaders, commanders, and intelligence officials believe that a truce would be seen as a victory of Hamas. The latter says that the rocket attacks are its way of telling Israel to lift the blockade.

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What Us Role Between Syria And Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Ariel Kastner - (Opinion) June 16, 2008 - 5:10pm

The recent announcement that indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria are being conducted in Turkey has led many to ask whether this round of negotiations represents anything more than political games. Given that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is facing a deepening corruption investigation with louder calls for him to step down, and in light of floundering negotiations with the Palestinians, many Israelis presume he might be using the cover of peace talks with Syria to divert attention from his political challenges.

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It's Either Land For Peace, Or Expect Little Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Rana Sabbagh-gargour - June 16, 2008 - 5:08pm

There is an argument in some political quarters that the land for peace formula, upon which efforts to realize comprehensive Arab-Israel peace and a settlement to the Palestinian problem were based, is clinically dead.

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Israel Brushes Aside U.s. Pressure Over Statehood Deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Adam Entous - June 16, 2008 - 5:06pm

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel sought on Monday to lower U.S. expectations for any deal with the Palestinians this year, brushing aside pressure over settlements and calling for decisions on Jerusalem's future to be deferred. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended her sixth trip to the region this year with no sign of progress in nudging both sides toward a peace deal by the end of 2008. She held three-way talks with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad before making a surprise visit to Beirut.

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