January 26th

Remarks to Americans for Peace Now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Committee on Foreign Affairs by Howard Berman - January 24, 2010 - 1:00am Thank you, Luis (Lainer), for that introduction, and thanks as well to Americans for Peace Now for this invitation to speak with you. I am very gratified that you have awarded the Yitzhak Rabin Peace Prize to my friend of nearly 50 years, Irwin Levin. Everyone here knows how much he deserves it. We’ve had a warm and productive relationship for many years now. I admire and share your firm commitment to peace, even on those occasions when we disagree about how best to achieve it. » Read more

The PA will have to yield to pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Sami Abdel-shafi - (Analysis) January 18, 2010 - 1:00am It seems ever more evident that while the US-led international community is urging a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Palestinians increasingly feel the exercise is fruitless. More and more Palestinians are questioning the use of what has become a perpetual on-again off-again process. » Read more

Mitchell’s futile diplomacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) January 26, 2010 - 1:00am The long-awaited tour of American envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell consisted of much fanfare but yielded no tangible results to speak of. Both parties to the conflict refused to budge: the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, refuses to join the peace process until Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to freeze settlement activity, and the Israeli government refuses to meet this Palestinian demand, considering it an unacceptable precondition. » Read more

Middle East needs bridges, not walls ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Linda S. Heard - (Opinion) January 26, 2010 - 1:00am Middle East peace has rarely seemed as remote as it does now. Instead of coming up with solutions, those involved are hurling accusations, erecting fences or throwing up their hands in despair. The longer this dangerous impasse continues the more the cauldron of violence threatens to boil over. None of the parties are immune from criticism, although some are more to blame than others. » Read more

Palestinians study US idea for Mideast talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews January 25, 2010 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas is studying a US proposal for talks between the Palestinians and Israel at a level below full-scale negotiations between their leaders, a Palestinian official said on Monday. The proposal is the latest idea by US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell to bring about a resumption of peace talks that have been frozen for 13 months. Palestinian sources familiar with Mitchell's weekend round of diplomacy said he had proposed confidence-building measures that would improve conditions in the Palestinian territories. » Read more

US diplomat against Israeli security guards ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Eichner - January 26, 2010 - 1:00am A senior American diplomat recently told representatives of the Israeli Defense and Foreign ministries, "I don't want your security officers to check our cars. What if there are settlers among them? I will not have my people end up like (slain Prime Minister Yitzhak) Rabin." The remark was made by Tim Laas, the regional security officer at the American Consulate in Jerusalem, during a discussion in the office of Deputy Inspector General Meir Ben-Yishai, head of security at the Israel Police. » Read more

Abbas offended by Egypt, turns to Saudia Arabia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roee Nahmias - January 26, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is under firm Egyptian pressure aimed at forcing him to agree to the resumption of peace negotiations with Israel. According to the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, Abbas refused to restart the talks based on an American proposal that he must waive his demand for a complete freeze in the construction of settlements. » Read more

Only an idiot would say Israel has frozen settlement activity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 26, 2010 - 1:00am Monday morning, as George Mitchell was on the way home from another diplomatic mission short on breakthroughs, Saeb Erekat did not sound dismayed. On the contrary, the head of the Palestinian negotiation team vehemently argued that the American envoy's last visit actually moved up the moment of truth for the White House. The veteran adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's favorite move of throwing the ball into the Palestinians' court stopped working with the Americans. » Read more

Settlers aim to beat building ban with 'freeze-busting' tent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 26, 2010 - 1:00am Israeli settlers on Tuesday unveiled the latest weapon in their battle against government restrictions on building in the West Bank - an 'instant outpost' that can be put up in minutes, Army Radio reported. The tent, a creation of a team of activists including an engineer and West Bank resident recently released from military service, has been specially designed to aid settlers in their cat and mouse game with authorities on West Bank hilltops. » Read more

Barak: Peace process failures greater threat than Iran nukes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 26, 2010 - 1:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday said that Israel's failure to strike a peace deal with the Palestinians was a greater threat to the country than a nuclear Iran, Army Radio reported. "The lack of a solution to the problem of border demarcation within the historic Land of Israel - and not an Iranian bomb - is the most serious threat to Israel's future," Barak told a Tel Aviv conference. » Read more