April 14th

Mitchell visit to see if Netanyahu really against 2-states
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Prominent voices from within Benjamin Netanyahu's government have already made it clear they oppose the two-state solution and the understandings agreed upon at the Annapolis Peace Summit. Ascertaining whether this is indeed the genuine position of the new Israeli government is the top priority for US President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, during his visit this "It's one thing to hear statements in the press, it's another to hear it in a one-on-one meeting," a source in Washington told Ynet on Monday evening.

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Hizbullah planned 3 simultaneous attacks in Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roee Nahmias - April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Hizbullah planned three simultaneous terror attacks against Israeli and Egyptian targets in three different tourist spots in Sinai, head of a Hizbullah cell in Egypt Sami Shihab told police in his investigation. Parts of Shihab's investigation were published in Egyptian daily al-Ahram on Tuesday, and according to the report, the organization planned to publish an announcement after the attacks claiming responsibility for them.

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Egypt's rage at Hezbollah isn't on Israel's behalf
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - (Analysis) April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

It is sometimes hard to believe the remarks coming out of Cairo over the past 48 hours are actually directed at Hezbollah. The Egyptian press has tagged its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with denigrating epithets like the "monkey sheikh," and remarks from security officials in Cairo to the Israeli press sound reminiscent of how generals speak in times of war.

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Hamas agrees to probe deaths of alleged Israel collaborators
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh approved last week the recommendation of the local interior ministry's special investigative committee to dismiss and court-martial 11 policemen on suspicion of causing the death of detainee Zayad Ayash Jaradat. A decision on the death of another detainee is still pending.

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Why new Palestinian talks will fail
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by George Giacaman - (Opinion) April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The second round of Palestinian reconciliation talks in Cairo have been postponed for several weeks, and even if they resume toward the end of April as announced, it is not likely that they will succeed. At best the parties might agree on the composition of the new Cabinet, but all other issues, even if there is agreement in principle over them, will not be implemented any time soon.

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US-Israeli relations on shaky ground
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Linda Heard - (Opinion) April 13, 2009 - 12:00am

The US administration and the new right-wing Israeli government may be on a collision course over Middle East peace as well as how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, although any disputes are likely to be muted or behind firmly closed doors. It is the policy of Israeli and American governments to be viewed by the outside world as being joined at the hip with neither side wishing to air their dirty laundry in public.

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So many words, but so little action
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Linda Heard - (Opinion) April 14, 2009 - 12:00am

President Barack Obama definitely talks a good talk but when it comes to implementing his stated foreign policy goals, he appears to be dragging his heels. He's certainly been decisive on the economy and has upset many in the process. But three months into his presidency, his Middle East policy is still vague and he has yet to officially approach Iran to hold what he terms mutually respectful talks.

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What is Left of Egypt's Mediation between the Palestinians?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) April 13, 2009 - 12:00am

If there was any hope for negotiations between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo to reach an agreement that would end the state of division between the Palestinians, such a hope has become less likely today as a result of the repercussions of the exchange of smear campaigns between the Egyptian government and Hezbollah, on the background of the cell arrested by the Egyptians, who claim that it had been planning activities that pose a threat to Egypt's security.

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April 13th

New Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says that peace talks with the Palestinians are “deadlocked” (1), while Prime Minister Netanyahu pledges that the talks will continue (10). In an article for Foreign Policy, Professor Stephen Walt examines the American-Israeli political relationship (2). In an op-ed for the New York Times Paul McGeough discusses the change in attitude of Hamas’ senior leadership (3). The BBC reports on the state of affairs in postwar Gaza (5). The once-notorious West Bank town of Jenin shows serious improvement since the introduction of Palestinian Security Forces (6). An unmanned fishing boat explodes off the Gaza coast (7). U.S. Mideast Envoy George Mitchell returns to the region (11).

Israel: New govt and old policies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) April 13, 2009 - 12:00am

Lest it not be clear or be forgotten, Palestinians and other Arabs are spelling out what a peace settlement in their view entails: The two-state formula in accordance with the agreed references, particularly the Arab peace initiative. These policy positions, recently expressed by the chief Palestinian negotiator in Palestine, and in neighboring Jordan where Arab foreign ministers met to review of the Middle East peace process, were meant to reiterate the ways of reaching peace.

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