Netanyahu: I never promised to extend West Bank settlement construction freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - August 26, 2010 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Likud ministers on Sunday that he had not made any promises to U.S. President Barack Obama or any other American government official regarding an extension of the settlement construction freeze in the West Bank. "We made no proposals to the Americans on extending the freeze," Netanyahu said. "We said that the future of the communities will be discussed as one of the elements of a final-status settlement, along with the other issues. We promised nothing on this issue to the Americans." » Read more

Obama's Mideast push is foreign policy gamble ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Matt Spetalnick - (Analysis) August 30, 2010 - 12:00am When President Barack Obama finally brings Israeli and Palestinian leaders back to the negotiating table this week, it will mark not only his deepest foray into Middle East peacemaking but also his riskiest. In a congressional election year, Obama is putting his presidential prestige on the line with a hands-on push for Middle East peace despite broad skepticism about his chances for success where so many of his predecessors have failed. » Read more

Palestinian traders clear shops of settlement goods ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 30, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian traders have submitted 25,000 applications for a Dignity medal to certify their compliance with the government ban on trading in settlement produce, an official said Sunday. National Dignity Fund director Omer Qabaha said 8,000 traders have already received the medal, following inspections to check their stores are free of settlement goods. Qababa praised merchants for their keenness to commit to the new policy, noting that they voluntarily requested checks on their shops. He urged traders who have not applied yet to do so promptly. » Read more

Abbas: Negotiations must be serious ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 30, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel would be fully responsible if negotiations fail as a result of settlement expansion, as he gave a speech in Ramallah before heading to Washington to relaunch talks. Talks, which are set to begin on 2 September, will address final status issues including Jerusalem, refugees, prisoners and security among others but that "security must not continue to be a security for the continuation of the occupation and settlements," Abbas said. » Read more

Once more into the breach ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Freep (Editorial) August 30, 2010 - 12:00am "When you're dealing with the Middle East, 2,000 years is the normal wait for something to happen." So said Marlin Fitzwater, White House spokesman under the first President George Bush, more than 20 years ago. And, indeed, it seems as though in the generations-long quest for Middle East peace, Israel and the Palestinians have been in an endless cycle of negotiations punctuated by violence and hope destroyed by hatred. » Read more

Obama goes out on a limb for Middle East peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Christi Parsons, Paul Richter - August 30, 2010 - 12:00am After 18 months of faltering efforts to launch Middle East peace negotiations, President Obama is dramatically increasing his personal stake and his own political risk by hosting direct talks this week. Obama personally helped coax Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to come to Washington to meet with him Wednesday and resume talks the next day. » Read more

In Israel, Settling for Less ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Gadi Taub - (Opinion) August 29, 2010 - 12:00am WILL Israel remain a Zionist state? If so, what kind? These are the important questions in Israeli politics today, and will be looming over the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority scheduled to begin Thursday in Washington. » Read more

In Israel, Settling for Less ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Gadi Taub - (Opinion) August 29, 2010 - 12:00am WILL Israel remain a Zionist state? If so, what kind? These are the important questions in Israeli politics today, and will be looming over the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority scheduled to begin Thursday in Washington. » Read more

Actors’ Protest and Rabbi’s Sermon Stoke Tensions in Israel Ahead of Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - August 29, 2010 - 12:00am Israel was in an uproar on Sunday over a refusal by Israeli theater artists to perform in West Bank Jewish settlements, and Palestinians were outraged by a virulently anti-Palestinian sermon by a Jerusalem rabbi, further fueling the atmosphere days before the expected resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington. » Read more

Early Obstacle, and Test, at Start of Mideast Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Helene Cooper - August 29, 2010 - 12:00am President Obama will begin his one-year effort to achieve Middle East peace on Wednesday, joining a long list of his predecessors who have tried to achieve a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians. But unlike the presidents before him, Mr. Obama will know within three weeks whether the two sides are serious this time about reaching a deal. » Read more