January 11th

Stairway To Paradise & Obama’s Religion
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum
by M.J. Rosenberg - (Opinion) January 11, 2008 - 3:31pm

At this point, it is far from clear if President George W. Bush’s visit to Israel and Palestine will have tangible results. Certainly his rhetoric was strong and Presidential rhetoric matters.

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Many Palestinians Offer A Bleak Opinion Of Bush
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - January 11, 2008 - 3:26pm

President Bush did not come to this oasis city of beige hills, lush green plantations and ancient ruins on his visit to the Palestinian Authority on Thursday. Given the apparent antipathy of the local population, it is probably just as well.

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U.s. Expectations For Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
January 11, 2008 - 3:24pm

The U.S. expectations President Bush set out Thursday for negotiations and a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, following two days of separate meetings with leaders on both sides: _A peace agreement can and should be complete within the year. _Bargaining must be serious, "starting right now." Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should continue their regular summit meetings.

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Bush Ends Peace Mission Without Breakthrough
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Tabassum Zakaria - January 11, 2008 - 3:23pm

U.S. President George W. Bush wrapped up his mission to Israel and the occupied West Bank on Friday, emboldened enough to have predicted a peace treaty within a year but with no major breakthroughs for his efforts. Bush arrived on Friday evening in Kuwait, the first of five stops with Arab allies he hopes will aid the fragile peace process and help contain Iran's growing regional clout. Bush met Kuwait's ruler, who thanked him for his efforts to make progress on issues crucial to the Middle East.

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Bush Alters Stand On Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Michael Abramowitz, Jonathan Finer - January 11, 2008 - 3:21pm

President Bush said Thursday that Palestinian refugees should receive compensation for the loss of homes they fled or were forced to flee during the establishment of Israel and declared that there should be an end to Israel's "occupation" of lands seized in war four decades ago. Bush made his comments after becoming the first U.S. president to visit Ramallah, the West Bank city that is the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, in an effort to invigorate negotiations aimed at securing a peace accord before the end of his presidency.

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January 10th

The Washington Post gauges whether statements by President Bush regarding an Israeli-Palestinian settlement represent a shift in U.S. policy (1.) The Associated Press lays out U.S. expectations regarding Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and a peace deal as articulated by President Bush during his visit (3.) The New York Times reports on deep Palestinian public skepticism regarding the Bush visit and its ability to achieve progress (4.) In Israel Policy Forum, MJ Rosenberg stresses the importance of concrete steps on the ground in order to transform Presidential rhetoric on Israel-Palestine to reality (5.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency parses the Bush summary of his Israel-Palestine during his visit for statements of substance regarding negotiations and a final settlement (7.) A San Francisco Chronicle editorial compliments President Bush on the clarity of his statements on Israel-Palestine during his visit and urges him keep up a sustained engagement (8.) The Independent analyzes the tougher-than-usual language employed by President Bush towards both the Israelis and Palestinians during his visit, particularly regarding the Israeli occupation (10.) The Economist (UK) is skeptical that President Bush can realize his two-state vision by the end of his presidency, instead setting a realistic goal of bringing peace closer and making it easier for the next administration to achieve (12.) A Guardian (UK) comment by Jonathan Steele is critical and skeptical of President Bush's ability and desire to effect Israeli-Palestinian peace (14.) Al JAzeera (Qatar) reviews the reaction of press across the Arab world to the Bush Mideast visit (16.) In Haaretz (Israel) Bradley Burston lays out how the Gaza disengagement initiated by former Israeli PM Sharon was meant to greatly diminish Palestinian statehood prospects (18.)

A New Two-way Street Called Bush
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) January 10, 2008 - 5:00pm

The objective of the US president is to rally the Arab neighbours of Iran against the latter's nuclear ambitions These are not the best of times for George W. Bush. The unpopular US president, a lame duck to boot, should not even consider venturing abroad, certainly to areas such as the turbulent Middle East where America's image has hit rock bottom during his tenure. The blame is attributed to his administration's policies which have wrecked havoc in the region and yielded little to brag about.

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The Case Of The White Bird
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Uri Avnery - January 10, 2008 - 5:00pm

Tzipi Livni, as her name indicates, is the white bird of Israeli politics (Tzipi is short for Tzipora, “bird”, and Livni comes from Lavan, “white”). As against the hawk Binyamin Netanyahu, the vulture Ehud Barak and the raven Ehud Olmert, she was seen as the immaculate feathered friend. In public opinion polls, she has enjoyed a remarkable popularity. She trumps all the other politicians in the governing coalition. While the rating of the two Ehuds — Olmert and Barak — was going down, hers was on the way up.

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Palestinians Believe Bush Won't Pressure Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yoav Stern - (Analysis) January 10, 2008 - 4:58pm

U.S. President George W. Bush was not the bearer of big news for the Palestinian people when he spoke in Ramallah after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday. Apart from a broad presentation of his vision for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Bush spoke inarticulately about his concerns over Israeli settlements, said his convoy managed to get through Israel Defense Forces checkpoints without delay and suggested the Palestinians abandon United Nations resolutions, because they were of no help to them in the past.

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The Evil Decree
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) January 10, 2008 - 4:55pm

The scene shown Tuesday night on television was one of the most harsh and shameful seen here in recent times: a two-and-a-half-year-old boy, Ahmed Samut from Khan Yunis, and a nine-and-a-half-year-old girl, Sausan Jaafari, of Rafah, as they entered the Erez crossing alone, after being torn from the arms of their weeping parents. The two children have heart conditions and need urgent surgery to save their lives. Wolfson Medical Center in Holon agreed to care for them, as part of their Save a Child's Heart program that saves the lives of children around the world.

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