October 21st

Accountability: core of Goldstone's report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) October 21, 2009 - 12:00am The Goldstone Report on the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that was released by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) late last month generated a brief flash of publicity because it criticized Israel and Hamas over conduct in the war that could be classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The deeper and wider implications of the report, however, have not been sufficiently discussed or acted upon, which is a shame. » Read more

Hamas Demands Guarantees before Reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naeimi - October 20, 2009 - 12:00am The Hamas movement has stressed that it needs guarantees for implementing any agreement reached with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. Ismail Radwan, a leading movement figure, asserted that the countries sponsoring the reconciliation should offer such guarantees so that any future agreement would not have the same fate as that of agreements reached in the past between the two movements. He stressed at the same time that reconciliation is the movement's strategic option and that it is committed to its success. » Read more

Attacks on J Street as parley approaches ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Eric Fingerhut - October 20, 2009 - 12:00am Days before the inaugural conference of the left-wing pro-Israel group J Street, critics’ attacks on the organization are having an effect on the planned event. » Read more

Trust remains an issue in Obama-Bibi relationship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - October 20, 2009 - 12:00am With the major knots that bedeviled U.S.-Israel ties this summer largely behind them, U.S., Israeli and American Jewish leaders say the relationship between the two countries is much improved. But with some misapprehension and mistrust persisting, all sides appear to agree that things could bear further improvement. Among the thorniest issues: a mutual perception between the Obama and Netanyahu administrations that each side is playing the other using leaks. » Read more

Israel Cabinet split over calls for war inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - October 21, 2009 - 12:00am A meeting of Israel's inner security cabinet yesterday left ministers split over whether to yield to growing diplomatic pressure to hold a major public investigation to deflect the findings of the UN's Goldstone report on last winter's war in Gaza. The meeting postponed any decision on an independent investigation as it emerged that the Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has so far led opposition to the setting up of an inquiry. » Read more

Israel's missed opportunity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Richard Goldstone - (Opinion) October 21, 2009 - 12:00am Five weeks after the release of the report of the fact-finding mission on Gaza, there has been no attempt by any of its critics to come to grips with its substance. It has been fulsomely approved by those whose interests it is thought to serve and rejected by those of the opposite view. Those who attack it do so too often by making personal attacks on its authors' motives and those who approve it rely on its authors' reputations. » Read more

China against report's referral to UNSC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post October 21, 2009 - 12:00am Beijing will oppose discussing the Goldstone Commission's report at the UN Security Council and allowing the document to serve as a basis for law suits against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Chinese members of parliament told a visiting delegation of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in Beijing on Wednesday. » Read more

Solana: Palestinian state in 1967 borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews October 21, 2009 - 12:00am EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana said the European Union's goal is to establish a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders. Speaking in Ramallah on Wednesday, Solana said the sooner this happens, the better. Solana met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday morning, and is scheduled to meet later with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. His visit to the Palestinian Authority is aimed at highlighting the EU's commitment to the region and supporting the PA leadership. Solana is slated to visit Israel on Thursday, and meet with Israeli officials. » Read more

Palestinian official: We're ready for talks with U.S., but not Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - October 21, 2009 - 12:00am Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat arrived in Washington Tuesday, where he is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other American officials to discuss the first phase of the road map for Mideast peace and the renewal of final-status talks. » Read more

Senior Shin Bet official: Hamas completely lost Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - October 21, 2009 - 12:00am A senior official in the Shin Bet security service argues that Hamas failed militarily during Operation Cast Lead and did not achieve any of its aims. According to the official, the group's battle doctrine was proved hollow and failed to cause any real damage to Israel. This is the first assessment of its type published by a senior Shin Bet official since the end of the Gaza offensive nine months ago. The report was published on the Web site of a major research institute based in the United States. » Read more