October 26th

Abbas says elections decree irrevocable
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Facing criticism from the Hamas movement and others, President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Saturday that elections would be held as scheduled. "The decision is irrevocable," he said, speaking in Ramallah at the opening session of the PLO's central committee. Abbas issued a presidential decree late Thursday night, setting the date for the next round of Palestinian legislative and presidential elections for 24 January 2010. Hamas wants the date moved back six months.

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Unrest after Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

At least 30 Palestinians were injured and 20 arrested when clashes between Israeli forces and youth erupted anew in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, Palestinian and Israeli officials said. In violence that followed a reported police raid on the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Israeli forces fired stun grenades, tear-gas canisters and rubber-coated bullets at protesters. Palestinian youth hurled stones and set tires and piles of trash ablaze, according to Ma'an's correspondent, who was reporting from the scene.

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No fix soon on Palestinian question
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times
by Arnaud De Borchgrave - (Opinion) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Unless former Sen. George J. Mitchell, President Obama's special Middle Eastern envoy, is prepared to commute by government executive jet for the next five to 10 years, this isn't a bad time to turn in his badge.

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Israel conference to open amid controversy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Dan Eggen - October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

A Washington conference hosted this week by a new liberal Jewish advocacy group has sparked a diplomatic row and proxy battle over the Obama administration's stance on Israel at a time of simmering tensions between Washington and Israel's right-leaning government. J Street, an advocacy and lobbying firm created 18 months ago, is holding its first annual conference beginning Sunday, with participation from about 150 Democratic members of Congress, many current and former Israeli politicians and U.S. national security adviser James L. Jones, who will be giving a keynote speech Tuesday.

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'In spite of everything, there will be peace'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

In Israel, the office of the president is meant to be ceremonial. But at 86, President Shimon Peres, the last founder of the Jewish state to remain active in Israeli politics and a frequent counselor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, hardly stays on the sidelines. Although Israelis are feeling pressured by a recent U.N.

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'Just means against an unjust attack'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Lally Weymouth of Newsweek and The Post interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Q: What did you think of the Goldstone report?

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'Institution building' in Palestine
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Lally Weymouth of The Post and Newsweek interviewed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad this week in Ramallah. Excerpts: Q: So you have a plan to create institutions and a state within two years? We've committed ourselves to a path of completing the task of institution building. [This means] the capacity to govern ourselves effectively in all spheres of government within two years. So does that mean a central bank, roads?

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Israeli Police Clash With Palestinians at Sacred Compound in Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - October 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli police officers clashed Sunday with stone-throwing Palestinians at a site sacred to Muslims and Jews, in the latest sign of tension in this volatile city. The police said that their forces had entered the Temple Mount compound twice after Palestinians hurled rocks at officers patrolling there, and that they dispersed rioters with stun grenades. Palestinian medics at the scene said at least 17 Muslims were wounded. Nine police officers were slightly hurt by rocks, a police spokesman said.

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October 23rd

Judge Goldstone asks the United States to clarify its concerns about his report into the Gaza war. Secretary of State Clinton reports modest progress on Middle East peace to President Obama, but Special Envoy Mitchell says he is "not in the slightest discouraged." The LA Times profiles a new Palestinian version of Sesame Street. Israel confirms increased settlement activity including in outposts. Protesters assail former Prime Minister Olmert in San Francisco after a similar incident in Chicago. Foreign Minister Lieberman complains that the PA cannot negotiate with Israel locally and combat it on the international stage simultaneously. The Israeli High Court of Justice orders the IDF to allow Palestinians to drive on some "Jewish-only" roads in the West Bank. The BBC profiles costs to the people of Gaza from Hamas rule. In Foreign Policy, Rebecca Abou-Chedid says Arab and Jewish Americans can and should work together to promote Middle East peace.

White House urges Israel, Palestinians to resume negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yitzhak Benhorin - October 22, 2009 - 12:00am

The White House urged Israel and the Palestinians on Thursday to do more to open the way to renewed peace negotiations as President Barack Obama received a report on the status of US peacemaking efforts. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with President Obama earlier in the day and presented him with her report on the progress in the efforts to resume negotiations in the Middle East, which according to her was scant.

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