US hits back at Lieberman: The goal is two states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 8, 2009 - 12:00am The US State Department hit back at Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's warning on Tuesday to those pressuring Israel on its foreign policy agenda. The Yisrael Beitenu chairman and recent appointment to the top ministerial position also said that the world was willing to listen to his ideas, accusing the Israeli left of attacking his positions to score points abroad. "We have never interfered with other people's affairs and we expect of others not stand with a stopwatch in hand," Lieberman told party members at a conference. » Read more

Palestinians injured by IDF fire near settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - April 8, 2009 - 12:00am At least 16 Palestinians were injured Wednesday morning during a clash which broke out between settlers and residents of the West Bank village of Khirbat Safa, near the Bat Ayin settlement. An Israeli citizen was lightly hurt in the incident. Last Thursday, a 13-year-old youth was killed in a terror attack in the Gush Etzion community. His family ended its seven days of mourning Wednesday morning. » Read more

Abdullah holds ‘productive’ talks with Obama’s envoy to Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Erika Niedowski - April 8, 2009 - 12:00am Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks on Monday with the Obama administration’s special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, in a meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs described as “productive”. “America, Europe and Arab nations must continue to work together towards a practical solution that will ensure the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations,” Sheikh Abdullah said in a statement after the session. “Today we had a productive discussion that confirmed our two countries’ mutual commitment to regional peace and stability.” » Read more

Netanyahu and Barak won't get an American free ride ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Amnon Lord - (Opinion) April 8, 2009 - 12:00am The second government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is centered on the Likud's partnership with Labor party leader Ehud Barak. This new and seemingly unlikely collaboration between rivals Netanyahu and Barak was born out of their mutual recognition that, regarding the two major challenges facing Israel, they think alike. » Read more

Abbas 'reshuffles Fatah military posts' in Lebanon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star April 8, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the reshuffling of Fatah's military posts in Lebanon, Palestinian sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper Tuesday. "The move follows last month's assassination of Kamal Medhat, the deputy of Palestine Liberation Organization representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki," Al-Liwaa said. Medhat was killed along with three other people in a bombing that targeted his motorcade at the entrance to the southern refugee camp of Mieh Mieh on March 23. » Read more

Obama strong on Palestinian state Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In Reuters - April 8, 2009 - 12:00am US President Barack Obama reassured Arabs with his unambiguous support for a Palestinian state this week and he nudged Israel's conservative government, which has carefully avoided committing itself to that goal. Visiting Turkey, Obama twice in two days said he backed a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict despite the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shied away from the phrase. » Read more