November 25th

Netanyahu's Syrian distraction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Chris Phillips - November 24, 2009 - 1:00am A glimmer of hope in the moribund Middle East peace process surfaced in Paris recently when Nicolas Sarkozy separately hosted both the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. Reports suggested that Netanyahu passed on a message to his Syrian counterpart about reopening peace negotiations. Though both leaders were quick to play down any talk of detente, recent announcements in both Tel Aviv and Damascus suggest that talks "without preconditions" may not be far off. » Read more

Obama still has leverage over Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by David Gardner - (Analysis) November 23, 2009 - 1:00am Has Barack Obama made a hash of his Middle East peace diplomacy? That seems to be the verdict of international commentators and – more to the point – of Palestinian leaders in despair at ever getting their own state and an Israeli government exulting that it made the US president blink first. Yet, it is worth stepping outside the hothouse for a minute to examine whether it is that simple: whether Mr Obama will be content to see his ambitious strategy of reconciliation with the Arab and Muslim worlds held hostage by the obdurate obstruction of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more

Inside Israeli jails, the real victims of a cry for justice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jesse Rosenfeld - (Opinion) November 24, 2009 - 1:00am Amid the growing media fever over a possible prisoner swap involving the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held by Hamas, another young captive has a less visible public profile – but personifies Israel’s chokehold on Palestinian self-expression. » Read more

As the enemy sees us ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam by Hassan Al-Battal - November 24, 2009 - 1:00am Who is this man, this “dour official leading a revolutionary cultural change?” Salam Fayyad is not always formal, though mostly to be seen wearing a necktie. He did, however, wear shorts and ran in the handicap marathon in Nablus. And what are these “revolutionary cultural changes” as perceived by certain deep Israeli analyses, but dismissed as irrelevant by other Israeli analysts? According to Dr. Einat Wilf of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, Israel would do itself a favor if it took Mr. Fayyad seriously. Why? » Read more

Prisoner Swap Deal Stalled Over One Detainee ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naeimi, Nazar Majli - November 24, 2009 - 1:00am The prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel hinges upon one prisoner that Hamas insists is added to the hundreds of other Palestinian prisoners who will be released in exchange for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Asharq Al Awsat has learned. » Read more

Hamas leaders in Syria for '24 critical hours' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews November 25, 2009 - 1:00am The next 24 hours will be critical in terms of the prisoner exchange deal with Israel, senior Hamas sources told Arab media on Wednesday morning. The organization's leaders, who left Cairo on Tuesday evening, are meeting in the offices of Hamas' political bureau in Damascus to decide whether to accept Jerusalem's latest offer. » Read more

Libya urges UN to take up Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) November 25, 2009 - 1:00am Libya indicated on Tuesday that it would introduce a fresh draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council demanding that Israel end its settlement activity in Palestinian territory. "We are discussing it with the Palestinians and other members of the Security Council. We are going to do that, yes," Libya's UN Ambassador Mohamed Shalgham told reporters about the plans. Arab countries could quickly reach an agreement on the principles and terms of the text, perhaps before the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday on Friday, he said. » Read more

Barghouti: Shalit abduction achieved what no dialogue could ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - November 25, 2009 - 1:00am Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti said in an interview on Wednesday that he intends to run in the next Palestinian presidential election, and remarked that the abduction of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit by Gaza militants achieved what no negotiations could ever achieve. » Read more

Obama Under Siege ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Mostafa Zein - (Opinion) November 24, 2009 - 1:00am The neoconservatives in the United States were defeated, but they were victorious in Israel and for Israel. They achieved a single victory during the administration of President George Bush, who spread chaos in the manner of the nihilists, believing, stupidly, that it was the way to spread American values. » Read more

Hamas leader accuses Israel of holding up Shalit deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff, Jack Khoury - November 25, 2009 - 1:00am Prisoner swap talks between Hamas and Israel have hit a snag over some of the top militants the Islamic group wants freed in return for Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, and a deal is unlikely in the coming days, Hamas officials said Wednesday. Israel is objecting to some of the names put forward by Hamas, a senior official of the militant group familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. He said the German mediator shuttling between the sides has presented an alternative list of names provided by Israel, and Hamas leaders are studying it. » Read more