August 18th

Report: Obama, Mubarak to discuss compensation for refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roee Nahmias - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his American counterpart, Barack Obama, are expected during their White House meeting Tuesday to discuss "an initiative of leaders" for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, in which the Palestinians will waive the right of return in exchange for compensation, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Tuesday. » Read more

Orly Taitz: Obama policies are 'clear and present danger to Israel' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Benjamin L. Hartman - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am U.S. President Barack Obama's domestic and foreign policies pose "a clear and present danger to Israel," says the driving force behind the campaign to prove Obama was not born in the United States and therefore ineligible to serve as president. » Read more

Hilltop Youth push to settle West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News August 18, 2009 - 12:00am While many Israeli teenagers spend the summer hanging out on beaches or in shopping malls, Evyatar Slonam, 17, is sitting on an exposed hillside in the southern West Bank at the Jewish outpost of Mitzpe Avichai. "We want there to be a mall right here," explains his friend Yehoyada, 15, indicating the hilltop surrounded by Palestinian houses and olive groves. "Tel Aviv once looked like this, too." » Read more

Mubarak firm on Arab-Israeli ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News August 17, 2009 - 12:00am Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said Arab states would recognise Israel and normalise ties, but only as part of a comprehensive peace deal. Mr Mubarak is currently in Washington for talks with US officials. The US is asking Arab states to begin normalising ties in return for a proposed temporary freeze in settlement building on the occupied West Bank. But he said states which had trade ties with Israel might consider reviving them if it resumed peace negotiations. » Read more

Growing threat to Hamas: Gazans who think it has sold out ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Erin Cunningham - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Two years after its takeover of the Gaza strip, Hamas has faced down its greatest challenger: A militant, Al Qaeda-inspired organization that says Hamas is not Islamic enough. Last Friday, Hamas forces and the Jund Ansar Allah (Soldier of God) movement fought a day-long gun and artillery battle that killed about 30 in the southern Gaza town of Rafah after the group's spiritual leader, Sheikh Abdel Latif Moussa, declared an Islamic emirate in Gaza and denounced Hamas. Mr. Moussa was killed in the fighting, centered on the mosque where he and his followers had gathered. » Read more

New Fatah Leadership Boosts Mideast Peace Efforts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Fatah has elected a rejuvenated leadership that will likely bring the mainstream Palestinian movement more in line with President Barack Obama's vision for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement, according to unofficial results released Tuesday. But a reluctant Israel and militant Islamic Hamas stranglehold on the Gaza Strip pose formidable obstacles on the road toward a peace accord. » Read more

Palestinians prefer Abbas and Fatah to Hamas: poll ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Support among Palestinians for president Mahmud Abbas and his secular Fatah party is greater than that for his Islamist Hamas rivals, according to the results of a poll released on Monday. The survey carried out by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) found that 52 percent of Palestinians would vote for Abbas to remain president, up three percentage points from three months ago. » Read more

Settlers say 'old Bibi' is back ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Efrat Weiss - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Settler leaders were furious Tuesday morning after learning of the agreement to freeze building starts in the territories, including in the settlement blocs and east Jerusalem, as reported by Ynet. "If the prime minister implements the policy of (Opposition Chairwoman) Tzipi Livni, (former Defense Minister) Amir Peretz and Talia Sasson (author of government report on illegal outposts) – this government's days are numbered," warned Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman. » Read more

Israel agrees to freeze settlement construction as gesture to US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am In a subtle overture to the US, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Housing Minister Ariel Atias agreed upon a de facto moratorium on new building in the settlements. According to the estimates of officials involved, the freeze will be in effect until the beginning of 2010. The objective is to provide an opportunity for a Mideast peace process to gain momentum in hopes that the new "waiting" tactic will allow international recognition of Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem and the large settlement blocs. » Read more

Officials: Netanyahu froze new West Bank projects ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 18, 2009 - 12:00am Israel has quietly stopped approving new building projects in the West Bank while publicly still refusing U.S. demands for an official settlement freeze, government officials said Tuesday. The decision to temporarily shelve new construction was made jointly by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Housing Minister Ariel Atias, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no formal measure has been announced. » Read more