Israeli FM pushes for new settlement construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Matti Friedman - September 6, 2010 - 12:00am Israel's hard-line foreign minister said Monday that his party will try to block any extension of Israel's settlement slowdown, a move that could derail the recently launched Mideast peace negotiations. Avigdor Lieberman said the Israeli government must keep its promise to voters that the 10-month slowdown, declared last November under U.S. pressure in order to draw the Palestinians to the negotiating table, will end as scheduled at the end of the month. » Read more

Israel PM sees deal possible in year, spokesman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - September 6, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told visiting U.S. congressmen he thinks it could be possible to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians in a year despite huge differences, his spokesman said. Netanyahu told the visiting delegation that he "believes it possible, through such direct and contiguous negotiations, held without breaks or delays, to achieve a peace agreement within a year", spokesman Nir Hefez said on Monday. » Read more

Top Abbas aide: We're trying to reach deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Nasser Laham - September 7, 2010 - 12:00am If there is one man on the Palestinian side capable of assessing the prospects of these new direct talks between Israel and the PLO, it is President Mahmoud Abbas' top aide and spokesman. Known as "the black box" due to his vantage point as presidential spokesman for the administrations of both Abbas and former president Yasser Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudaineh has shadowed the Ramallah leadership for more than a decade. » Read more

Israeli-Palestinian talks: How to keep saboteurs at bay ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Clayton Jones - (Blog) September 3, 2010 - 12:00am In coming weeks, if all goes well, the spotlight in the Middle East will be on direct talks that started Thursday between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). The two sides promise to meet every two weeks. But beware. Sabotage of the talks began even before they were launched in Washington. The likely aim? The derailing of any peace deal that creates a Palestinian state, a result known as the two-state solution. » Read more

Middle East peace talks, and the problem of land ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Todd Gitlin, Liel Leibowitz - (Opinion) September 5, 2010 - 12:00am The latest round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which began this week in Washington, leaves even the most loquacious Middle East experts without much to say. No bold offers have emerged from either side, and President Obama has yet to show the blend of grit, gregariousness and ingenuity that made Bill Clinton an effective mediator. All we can expect with certainty are more bouts of brinksmanship. » Read more

Abbas asks US to intervene in dispute with Israel over settlement restrictions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Mohammed Daraghmeh - September 7, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he has asked the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion that is threatening to derail Mideast peace talks. Israel's 10-month partial freeze on new construction in West Bank settlements ends Sept. 26, and Israeli officials have indicated they will not extend the freeze as is. Abbas has said he'll quit peace talks with Israel unless the restrictions remain in place. Abbas said late Monday that he has asked the U.S. "to intervene in the settlement issue." » Read more

Hamas attacks show group is still strong in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - September 3, 2010 - 12:00am Deadly drive-by shootings by Hamas gunmen this week proved that the Palestinian militant group can still operate in the West Bank when its leadership demands, despite a sustained crackdown by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has pledged to follow up on the attacks, which appeared timed to the re-launch in Washington of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

Palestinian Authority upset over Ahmadinejad's criticism of Mideast peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Blog) September 5, 2010 - 12:00am WEST BANK For a long time, statements by Iranian leaders about the Palestinian conflict have upset the Palestinian Authority and drew harsh criticism. This was evident again on Saturday, as the Palestinian Authority reacted to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's criticism of its participation in last week's Washington meeting with Israel to reopen peace talks. Ahmadinejad lambasted Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas for meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said Abbas was a hostage of Israel and that the talks were doomed. » Read more

Even if peace talks fail, Palestine's independence is inevitable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, WEST BANK A Palestinian state is coming -- it's just not clear whether it will result from the current peace talks. It is easy to be pessimistic, or even apathetic, about the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. History is a witness to the lack of Palestinian accomplishments in incremental negotiations. All successful efforts to date have stemmed from secret talks made public only once a package agreement was reached. » Read more

Mideast Leaders Hopeful After Opening of Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - (Analysis) September 5, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Palestinian  and Israeli leaders expressed satisfaction and hope on Sunday in their first public utterances after the opening round of Middle East peace talks in Washington last week. » Read more