Ban shocked at persisting ruin of Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 22, 2010 - 12:00am On his first visit to Gaza since the end of Israel's Operation Cast Lead, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the ongoing siege "not sustainable" adding that the continued closure "is wrong." More than a year after he spoke in front of the smoldering remains of the UN warehouse in Gaza City, hit by Israeli missiles during the December 2008-January 2009 war, Ban addressed Gazans in Khan Younis, saying they "are striving to provide for their families amid unacceptable, unsustainable conditions." » Read more

Security sources say settlers behind fire on Israeli patrol car ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian security source cast doubt Monday on Israeli news reports alleging young men opened fire at an Israeli patrol car south of Hebron overnight. The incident, where young men were said to have attacked an Israeli military patrol car near the Nahal Negohot settlement, was reported by several Israeli media outlets, all unsourced. The Palestinian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security services learned from the Israeli liaison department that the news reports about shooting in the area were false. » Read more

Taking cue from US anger, Mahmoud Abbas digs in heels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am With Israel-US ties in crisis and tensions subsiding after the worst riots in Jerusalem in years, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dug in his heels on peace talks on Wednesday. Sharing US anger over the announcement of a 1,600 home building project in East Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden's visit last week, Abbas retreated to a prerequisite that he dropped just a week ago in order to give a chance to a US initiative for indirect negotiations. » Read more

EU condemns Israel over e. J'lem intent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 22, 2010 - 12:00am The European Union on Monday condemned Israel's intent to continue building in east Jerusalem, saying it represents a roadblock to international peace efforts. "The European Union has condemned all the settlement activities," said Spanish Foreign Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose nation holds the EU's rotating presidency. "We ask for a total freeze of settlement activity. We will pursue this policy." EU foreign ministers met in Brussels a day after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will not restrict construction in east Jerusalem. » Read more

Israeli-Palestinian peace hopes rise as US envoy prepares to get talks moving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Luke Harding - March 19, 2010 - 12:00am The US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is due to fly to the region on Sunday to try to secure a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks amid optimism about a breakthrough. Mitchell had been due to visit Israel on Tuesday but his trip was cancelled – a victim of US-Israeli tensions. It was reinstated after Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, bowing to US pressure, phoned the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, last night to offer concessions.Mitchell is scheduled to see Netanyahu in Israel and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah. » Read more

Strains in US 'special relationship' with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - (Analysis) March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Amid unusually high tensions between the US and its closest ally, Israel, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today addresses AIPAC – the strongest Israel lobby in Washington. At issue is just how far the US should push Israel to make difficult choices in the name of peace. Nearly half of Israel supports Quartet call for Israeli settlement freeze US Israel settlements fight marks lowest point since 1970s: ambassador Netanyahu faces 'moment of truth' after US slams Israel 'insult' Clinton call to Netanyahu: Israel settlement move a 'deeply negative signal' » Read more

Tensions rise as Israeli soldiers kill 2 Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked Sunday on a trip to Washington to mend U.S.-Israeli ties, tensions built in the West Bank when Israeli soldiers shot dead two Palestinian teenagers they say threatened them with a pitchfork and ax. The shootings brought the Palestinian death toll to four during the last two days in the Nablus region. On Saturday, two Palestinian teens were shot by soldiers after a clash with Jewish settlers over a water well. » Read more

In the fight over settlements, who are Israel's real friends? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Stephen Walt - (Opinion) March 22, 2010 - 12:00am When Vice President Biden arrived in Israel on March 8, seeking to smooth U.S. ties with the Netanyahu government and jump-start peace talks, he began by reaffirming America's "absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel's security." The nearly simultaneous announcement by Israel that it plans to build another 1,600 homes in disputed East Jerusalem was not the warm embrace he was expecting. » Read more

A message for Palestinians in the Israel-U.S. disagreement? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Eric Fingerhut - March 21, 2010 - 12:00am Jeffrey Goldberg lamented the other day that the AIPAC policy conference had too many speakers from the center-right and not enough from the left. One exception he did cite was Ghaith al-Omari, advocacy director for the American Task Force on Palestine, who spoke Sunday afternoon on a panel entitled "Prognosticating Peace: Are Direct Israeli-Palestinian Talks in Sight?" And al-Omari had an interesting perspective on the recent flareup in tensions between the U.S. and Israel, believing there was an important message in the episode for Palestinians, as well. » Read more

A familiar obstacle to Mideast peace: Mahmoud Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Jackson Diehl - (Opinion) March 22, 2010 - 12:00am U.S. diplomats had labored for months to persuade Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace negotiations. Just as it appeared they had succeeded, there came a provocation: Israel took a step toward expanding a Jewish settlement in Jerusalem. Headlines appeared around the globe; the European Union protested; Palestinians cried foul. Some threatened to boycott the new talks unless the decision were reversed. » Read more