A wheelless cart before a lame horse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Zalman Shoval - (Opinion) November 18, 2009 - 1:00am One should never underestimate the propensity of the Palestinians for shooting themselves in the foot, to wit, the situation Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has put himself in with regard to the peace process. True, this may not have been entirely his fault - mixed signals from abroad also had something to do with it, but Abbas seems to be bent on doing everything to get himself into an even deeper hole by adopting ever more intransigent positions. Then there was his zigzagging on the Goldstone Report, after first having asked Israel during the Gaza war to "smash" Hamas. » Read more

Israel building Jewish homes with one hand, destroying Arab homes with the other ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - November 19, 2009 - 1:00am The World Likud movement held a cornerstone-laying ceremony yesterday for the expansion of the neighborhood of Nof Zion, despite - or possibly because of - American pressure against building in East Jerusalem. The Jewish settlement is in the middle of the Arab village of Jabal Mukkaber. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem municipality razed two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem yesterday. » Read more

US-Israel relations: Is there a crisis? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Naama Lanir - November 19, 2009 - 1:00am The charged relationship between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been topped with open outrage by the US administration over construction plans in Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood. Does this unprecedented protest point to a serious crisis with Washington? » Read more

Analysis / Will Netanyahu's behavior push Obama into Abbas' arms? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) November 19, 2009 - 1:00am The crisis surrounding the expansion of Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood is making waves all the way to China now. U.S. President Barack Obama, an amazing orator in his own right, was able to easily duck a question from a reporter from the conservative Fox network on the Jerusalem issue. But Obama did not want to hide his anger in diplomatic phrasings this time. There are at least three reasons for Obama to take out his anger on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gilo affair. » Read more

Ahmed Qureia: Two-state solution becoming hopeless ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 19, 2009 - 1:00am Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israel’s decision to build 900 settlement homes in Gilo is “another nail in the coffin of the peace process,” member of the PLO executive committee and Chairman of the Department of Jerusalem affairs Ahmed Qurei said Wednesday. The PLO official called the decision one “disrespectful” to the personal efforts of US President Barack Obama who has been attempting to revive the peace process since he stepped into office more than a year ago. » Read more

Israeli warplanes strike Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 19, 2009 - 1:00am Gaza/Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli warplanes bombed the Gaza Strip in three locations early on Thursday, according to the country’s military and Palestinians in the coastal Strip. A military spokesperson said the strikes targeted a “weapons manufacturing facility in the southern Gaza Strip and two smuggling tunnels in the Rafah border area.” Sources in Gaza confirmed that two tunnels were bombed, in addition to a facility said to be operated by Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. » Read more

Ramallah's road map to statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by David Ignatius - (Opinion) November 19, 2009 - 1:00am Looking at this city, you can imagine what a Palestinian state could someday be like if folks got serious: The streets are clean, there's construction in every direction and Palestinian soldiers line the roads. A visitor sees new apartment buildings, banks, brokerage firms, luxury car dealerships and even health clubs. » Read more

Real Estate Shopping Is Used as Political Theater on Jerusalem’s Contested Ground ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - November 18, 2009 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Dov Hikind, a member of the New York State Assembly, was in this disputed city on Wednesday looking for property to buy. He said he was most excited about a new apartment complex overlooking the Old City called Nof Zion. At noon, Mr. Hikind led a group of about 50 American Jews in laying a cornerstone for the next phase of Nof Zion, with construction scheduled to start next spring. “I want to buy here,” Mr. Hikind said. “I might make a deal while I am here this time.” » Read more

Mideast Peace Talks Hang in Balance Over Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - November 18, 2009 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Two weeks after the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, vowed not to run for re-election and hinted that he might resign, the Middle East peace process has sunk into a deep crisis amid urgent efforts to revive it. » Read more

East Jerusalem Settlement Plan Deepens Rift With Washington Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Wall Street Journal - November 19, 2009 - 1:00am WASHINGTON -- The U.S. sharply criticized Israel's decision to move ahead with a building expansion in East Jerusalem, underscoring the rift between the Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to push forward the stalled Middle East peace process. The U.S. has unsuccessfully lobbied Mr. Netanyahu over the past nine months to agree to a total Israeli construction freeze in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to underpin negotiations aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state. » Read more