August 13th

Settlers agree to evacuate West Bank outpost Bnei Adam
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - August 13, 2009 - 12:00am

Residents of the Bnei Adam outpost have agreed to evacuate voluntarily three caravans in their West Bank settlement, after being advised to do so by leading rabbis of the national religious movement. The High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that the outpost would be evacuated within five days, after hearing a petition from Bnei Adam residents who oppose the move. Earlier in the week, Binyamin Regional Council head Avi Roeh visited the outpost and negotiated with the IDF over the voluntary evacuation.

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Two Israeli Civilians Shot And Wounded In West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 12, 2009 - 12:00am

Armed Palestinians shot and lightly wounded two Israelis driving in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the Israeli army said. A military spokesman and the Zaka rescue service said the shooting occurred after dark near the Jewish settlement of Maaleh Levonah, situated between the cities of Ramallah and Nablus, and that troops were searching for suspects. "Two Israeli civilians were lightly wounded when terrorists opened fire at a vehicle" in the West Bank, the military spokesman said. He said both were taken to hospital.

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US delegates blame Palestinians for no peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am

The head of a delegation of US Democratic members of Congress blamed the Palestinians on Thursday for failing to hold talks with Israel, calling it the "largest thing" impeding the peace process. "I think the largest thing impeding the negotiations at this point is simply the unwillingness of (Palestinian president Mahmud) Abbas to sit down (with the Israelis)," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters in Jerusalem.

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Gaza white flag deaths probe call
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel must investigate the "unlawful" killing of 11 civilians carrying white flags during its Gaza operation earlier in 2009, Human Rights Watch has said. Five women and four children were among those killed in seven incidents detailed by the US-based rights group. Researchers said the soldiers at best failed to protect civilians, and at worst deliberately shot at them. Israel has launched investigations into five "white flag" incidents, but says Hamas exploited civilians with flags.

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Rights group: IDF killed Gazans waving 'white flags' during war
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am

Human Rights Watch called on Israel on Thursday to investigate seven incidents in which it said Israeli troops shot and killed Palestinian civilians who were flying white flags during the war in the Gaza Strip in January. Expressing disappointment with Israel's response so far to a range of allegations of war crimes made by international bodies, the New York-based lobby group said governments should press for prosecutions under international law if Israel and its enemies in Gaza's Islamist authorities did not act themselves.

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August 12th

Concrete Steps Forward
Interview with Ghaith al-Omari - Middle East Progress - August 11, 2009 - 12:00am

What do you think administration officials are referring to when they say that Arab states have responsibility toward the Palestinian Authority, toward improving relations with Israel and for preparing their publics for peace?

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Middle East Progress interviews ATFP Advocacy Director Ghaith al-Omari. Fatah concludes its party congress, electing a largely new leadership committee and prompting speculation on a new beginning for the party. The New York Times reports that many Israelis are worried that this tranquil summer may be ‘the calm before the storm.’ Kadima party chairwoman Tzipi Livni voices her opposition to releasing jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. The Israeli organization Peace Now reports that construction is underway to expand an existing Jewish settlement north of Jerusalem. Israel and the US are reportedly discussing the status of the West Bank settlement of Ariel. Israeli officials reportedly visited Jordan last week to assuage concerns that Israel plans to transfer Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan.

Concrete Steps Forward
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress
(Interview) August 11, 2009 - 12:00am

What do you think administration officials are referring to when they say that Arab states have responsibility toward the Palestinian Authority, toward improving relations with Israel and for preparing their publics for peace?

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Two opposing trends, the same failure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) August 12, 2009 - 12:00am

Two opposing trends were visible in Israel and Palestine on Monday, and one of them must disappear. The Fatah congress in Bethlehem reaffirmed the strategic decision among a majority of Palestinians to seek a negotiated peace with Israel, while a string of senior Israeli officials said that they would continue expanding settlements in East Jerusalem and would not repeat the “mistake” of withdrawing from Gaza.

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For the Arab states, doing nothing is not an option
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Emile Hokayem - (Opinion) August 12, 2009 - 12:00am

When the Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al Faisal publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the slow and incremental US push for peace between Israel, Palestine and its other Arab neighbours two weeks ago, the Arab world was quick to applaud him. His frustration and impatience were made abundantly clear in the presence of the rebuffed US secretary of state Hillary Clinton: “Incrementalism and a step-by-step approach has not and we believe will not achieve peace. Temporary security, confidence-building measures will also not bring peace.”

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