Netanyahu's new-old methods of stalling peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) April 21, 2009 - 12:00am When Jordan's King Abdullah sits down today with a president whose middle name is the same as that of his father, he probably won't miss the opportunity to warn Barack Obama about one of the biggest dangers to his Mideast peace plan. During his last meeting with then-foreign minister Tzipi Livni, the monarch said he was tired of hearing about "the peace process" - a phrase that has become synonymous with a perpetuation of the conflict. » Read more

U.S. Congresswoman denies interceding in AIPAC spy case ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press January 1, 2009 - 1:00am A former member of the House Intelligence Committee denied Tuesday interceding in an investigation into two pro-Israel lobbyists now facing a trial on espionage charges California Democrat Rep. Jane Harman's office said she never contacted the Justice Department about its prosecution of present or former AIPAC employees, and the Justice Department never informed her that she was or is the subject of or involved in an investigation. » Read more

Wiretap reveals reach of US pro-Israel lobby ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Barbara Ferguson - April 21, 2009 - 12:00am Rep. Jane Harman, the California Democrat with longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on a National Security Agency (NSA) wiretap telling “a suspected Israeli agent” that she would lobby the Justice Department to reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the most powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington, according to a report released Sunday night in Congressional Quarterly (CQ). » Read more

Hamas's Shortsightedness ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Jameel Theyabi - (Opinion) April 20, 2009 - 12:00am While the Palestinian Hamas was accusing the Egyptian authorities of "concocting" the issue of the Lebanese Hezbollah-related cell in the media, the State Security Court in Jordan sentenced three people to prison on charges of spying for the movement, after they "monitored positions, possessed weapons and gathered things and information that must be kept secret." » Read more

NU's Katz reminds Emanuel he's Jewish ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Matthew Wagner - April 20, 2009 - 12:00am National Union chairman Ya'acov "Ketzele" Katz sent a letter to White House chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel last week admonishing him not to forget his Jewish and Israeli origins. Katz's missive came in response to a reported verbal exchange between Emanuel and an unidentified American Jewish leader. Katz claims that in a private meeting with the unnamed leader, Emanuel said, "In the next four years, there will be a peace agreement with the Palestinians on the basis of two states for two peoples, and it does not matter to us who is the prime minister." » Read more