Abbas lays down terms for peace talks with Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz April 6, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday laid down his conditions for renewing stalled peace negotiations with Israel. The new Israeli government "would have to accept the creation of a Palestinian state, stop construction in West Bank Israeli settlements and remove army roadblocks crippling life in the West Bank so that we can resume dialogue in order to reach a political solution," Abbas said. The Palestinian leader was speaking during a visit to Baghdad. » Read more

Arabs urged to continue peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Abdul Jalil Mustafa - April 6, 2009 - 12:00am Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the Board of Directors of King Faisal Center for Islamic Researches and Studies, yesterday urged the continuation of the Middle East peace process, saying Arabs “have no other option at this stage.” Speaking at the Strategic Studies Center of the University of Jordan, Prince Turki said, “Given the present situation, we don’t have other than the option of the peace process and we have to push ahead with peace which we have accepted as our strategic choice” » Read more

Palestinian Deliberateness Is Sound ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Mohammad Salah - (Opinion) April 5, 2009 - 12:00am There is no reason to be anxious about the delay in an agreement among Palestinian factions to solve pending issues and reach a true national reconciliation. If anything has given cause for anxiety, it was the exchange of pleasantries, hugs and kisses before the cameras and television camera lights, along with the issuing of receptive and affectionate statements, and perhaps ones of praise and "polishing," while each side harbors non-positive sentiments vis-à-vis the others. » Read more

Israel demolishes Palestinian house in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 1, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli forces on Monday demolished five homes belonging to Palestinians in East Jerusalem, locals said. The demolitions, in Khan al-Ahmar near the illegal Israeli settlement Maale Adumin, displaced 71 people, including 60 children, according to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. ICAHD, a prominent Israeli non-governmental organization, said Monday that Israel was forcing Palestinians out of East Jerusalem as part of a deliberate policy that might constitute a war crime. » Read more

Netanyahu to Evade Two-State Solution- Israeli Official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Nazar Majli - April 6, 2009 - 12:00am In an exclusive statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, a senior Israeli government diplomat said that the new-old Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is coming under great pressure from abroad to move forward in the Palestinian negotiations on the basis of a two-state solution. He added that Netanyahu intends to circumvent this principle and to take a new approach that might be surprising. » Read more

Israel Anticipated a Stronger Hamas in Gaza War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - April 4, 2009 - 12:00am The small house near Gaza City posed no immediate threat -- there was no sniper fire or evidence it was wired with explosives. But as the Israel Defense Forces approached with plans to position soldiers on either side, Maj. Gur Rosenblat said he still regarded the structure with suspicion, and called in a bulldozer to tear it down. There was nothing inside. » Read more