Hamas Not Budging in Negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press March 18, 2009 - 12:00am An opening of Gaza's blockaded borders, access to billions of dollars in foreign aid, a popularity boost — Hamas would have much to gain by working out a prisoner swap with Israel and a power-sharing arrangement with its West Bank rivals. Instead, the Islamic militants have been clinging to their demands and displaying a stubbornness that would seem irrational considering the enormous stakes. Hamas apparently believes that time is on its side and that its adversaries — Israel, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the West — will eventually fold. » Read more

Why did Fayyad resign? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Avi Issacharoff - March 16, 2009 - 12:00am A few days after Salam Fayyad's surprising announcement of his resignation, the Palestinian prime minister convened senior journalists in his office in Ramallah. For three and a half hours he laid out his "credo" regarding the peace process with Israel and explained his decision to resign by the end of March. A single motif stood out in all of Fayyad's remarks: pessimism. » Read more