September 23rd

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.

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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.

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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.

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Fatah trying to calm tensions in east Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - (Analysis) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Police forces remain on high alert in Jerusalem in view of the riots following the death of Silwan resident Samar Sarchan, as Fatah is trying to curb any further escalation in the situation. Radical elements in the east Jerusalem village threatened to renew the riots, but sources in Fatah said that the group has issued an order to its members in Jerusalem to ensure the riots do not spread further.

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Arab Peace Initiative is now of utmost importance, says Clinton
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Analysis) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded Wednesday the Arab Peace Initiative for Israel and the Palestinians, saying its principles are now "more important than ever," the French news agency AFP reported. The 2002 deal offers normalized Arab-Israeli ties in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Clinton sent a message to Saudi King Abdullah to mark the Saudi national day on Thursday, and applauded Abdullah's backing of the initiative, calling it a "far-sighted vision for comprehensive regional peace."

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Arab Peace Initiative is now of utmost importance, says Clinton
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Analysis) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded Wednesday the Arab Peace Initiative for Israel and the Palestinians, saying its principles are now "more important than ever," the French news agency AFP reported. The 2002 deal offers normalized Arab-Israeli ties in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Clinton sent a message to Saudi King Abdullah to mark the Saudi national day on Thursday, and applauded Abdullah's backing of the initiative, calling it a "far-sighted vision for comprehensive regional peace."

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September 22nd

Barely months into talks, will the freeze freeze a peace deal?
Media Mention of ATFP In Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) - September 22, 2010 - 12:00am

When the fat lady sings on Sept. 26, it may only be an intermission. That’s the word from an array of Mideast experts across the political spectrum. They are predicting that the seeming intractability between Israel and the Palestinians over whether Israel extends a settlement moratorium beyond its end date will not scuttle the peace talks. Instead, the observers say, the sides are likely employing the brinksmanship that has come to characterize Middle East peacemaking.

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Beyond optimism or pessimism: the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
In Print by Hussein Ibish - Common Ground News Service - September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

Washington, DC - While the build up to the renewed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations – the first direct talks in almost ten years to be brokered by the United States – was largely greeted with an excess of pessimism on the part of many observers, the fact that they have been resumed is, on its own, something of an achievement for US President Barack Obama and his administration. Indeed, it took almost a year of intensive diplomacy in order to get to these direct negotiations to get them going.

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Netanyahu’s subtle, insidious, unworkable demand
In Print by Hussein Ibish - NOW Lebanon (Opinion) - September 21, 2010 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently been reiterating the demand he has focused on since regaining power that Palestinians and other Arabs recognize Israel as not only a “Jewish state” but specifically as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” This demand has been flatly rejected not only by the Palestinian leadership, but more recently by the Arab League.

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The UN says both Israel's and Hamas' accounts of the Gaza war are unacceptable. Sec. Clinton pressures Arab states to aid the PA. Controversy surrounds the assassination of a Hamas operative by Israel in the West Bank. At least one Palestinian is killed by Israelis in the Silwan area of occupied East Jerusalem. The PA announces a boycott against Israeli shops selling settlement goods. Israel's flotilla inquiry is wrapping up. Hamas' hunt for collaborators spreads panic in Gaza. Pres. Abbas hints at a compromise on settlements. Palestinians continue to work on Israeli settlement construction. A meeting between PM Fayyad and Deputy FM Ayalon reportedly ends badly. Aluf Benn says PM Netanyahu should freeze settlements. Settlers complain about the moratorium. The Israeli government is preparing for the aftermath of failed talks. Omar Rahman says it's unreasonable to ask Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Ali Ibrahim says Hamas has no credibility. Rami Khouri says the Palestinians need to regroup. Hussein Ibish analyzes Netanyahu's demand Palestinians recognize Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.” Hussein Ibish analyzes Netanyahu's demand Palestinians recognize Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people,” and rejects both optimism and pessimism about the negotiations.

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