UNITED NATIONS: Israel's absence during Obama speech draws attention ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - (Blog) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am President Obama's call Thursday in an address before the U.N. General Assembly for Israel to extend its West Bank construction moratorium got little reaction from the Israeli delegation. That's because they weren't there. As Obama spoke about the importance of supporting U.S.-brokered peace talks, television cameras panned to empty chairs at Israel's U.N. desk. » Read more

Obama calls on Arab nations to support peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Christi Parsons, Paul Richter - September 24, 2010 - 12:00am President Obama on Thursday pushed Arab nations to provide more political and financial support for the Middle East peace effort, warning that they should not risk the failure of the latest initiative if they truly seek an independent Palestinian state and stability across the region. Obama deplored efforts — assisted by some Arab and Muslim countries — to isolate or "delegitimize" Israel. » Read more

Israel plays down scope of future settler projects ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - (Analysis) September 24, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Israel urged the Palestinians on Friday not to abandon recently resumed peace negotiations over the imminent expiry of a West Bank settlement moratorium, saying any new construction projects would be limited in scope. The scheduled end on Sunday of the 10-month partial halt to building in Jewish settlements has drawn Palestinian threats to quit the talks sponsored by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has repeatedly called on Israel to extend the freeze. » Read more