Hope for peace talks remain despite tensions in east Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Catrina Stewart - September 23, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has said he may remain in peace talks even if the Israelis resume construction in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after a 10-month building moratorium expires. His comments signal a dramatic about-turn days before the end of the moratorium, and could head off an early challenge to the newly revived peace negotiations. » Read more

Clashes in Jerusalem as Talks Snag ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Isabel Kershner - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — With Israel’s construction freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank scheduled to end this weekend, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were seeking an elusive formula on Wednesday to keep their peace talks going while both sides warned that if the talks ended, violence could erupt. » Read more

Clashes in Jerusalem as Talks Snag ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Isabel Kershner - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — With Israel’s construction freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank scheduled to end this weekend, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were seeking an elusive formula on Wednesday to keep their peace talks going while both sides warned that if the talks ended, violence could erupt. » Read more

Meeting again with Jewish leaders, Abbas broaches substance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am For Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. Jewish leaders, their second date featured a little more substance and a little less flirtation. And this time the Palestinian Authority president brought a wing man. Abbas and his prime minister, Salam Fayyad, met separately Tuesday evening with Jewish leaders in New York -- a sign of understanding on the Palestinian side of the importance of Jewish sensibilities, in Israel and the Diaspora, to advancing the peace process. » Read more

Abbas Extends a Hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward (Editorial) September 22, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have opened a new front in the Middle East conflict: a charm offensive. One can wonder why it has taken so long, yet welcome the move just the same. » Read more

Clashes in Jerusalem as Talks Snag ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Isabel Kershner - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — With Israel’s construction freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank scheduled to end this weekend, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were seeking an elusive formula on Wednesday to keep their peace talks going while both sides warned that if the talks ended, violence could erupt. » Read more

Israel jails Arab activists for vague ‘contact with a foreign agent’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jonathan Cook - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am A vague security offence of “contact with a foreign agent” is being used by Israel’s secret police, the Shin Bet, to lock up Arab political activists in Israel without evidence that a crime has been committed, human rights lawyers alleged this week. The lawyers said the Shin Bet was exploiting the law to characterise innocent or accidental meetings between members of Israel’s large Arab minority and Arab foreign nationals as criminal activity. » Read more

The bad gift that keeps giving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am Just when one thought that the direct peace talks might be able to produce a breakthrough, one got an awakening jolt. Crossing the bridge over the Jordan River must be the world's worst gift that keeps giving. This gift has been giving grief, anger, frustration and an overall realisation of what the occupation is all about. September 18 is a case in point. Palestinians, and others, wishing to cross the nearly dried up river into the West Bank faced over 10 hours of unnecessary wait. Women, men, senior citizens and infants were caught up in this 44-year-old continuous drama. » Read more

Abbas Extends a Hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward (Editorial) September 22, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have opened a new front in the Middle East conflict: a charm offensive. One can wonder why it has taken so long, yet welcome the move just the same. » Read more

Abbas Extends a Hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward (Editorial) September 22, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have opened a new front in the Middle East conflict: a charm offensive. One can wonder why it has taken so long, yet welcome the move just the same. » Read more