January 4th

Israel calm but ready to pull trigger, analysts say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Omar Karmi - January 4, 2010 - 1:00am A year after the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the ceasefire continues to hold and 2009 saw Israel register the lowest number of incidents of Palestinian-Israeli violence in the decade just ended, according to a report released last week by the country’s internal security agency Nevertheless, Israeli analysts will not rule out another war on Gaza, even if Israeli leaders are wary of the political cost. The question is not whether, but under what circumstances, renewed conflict might break out, the analysts say. » Read more

Hung out to dry in the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) January 3, 2010 - 1:00am At first glance, the bedouin community of Ras al-Awja seem unaffected by the political turbulence that engulfs the rest of the region. Situated between the sprawling desert city of Jericho and the imposing mountains of the Judean desert, the bedouins' encampment is a hive of activity – not least because the birthing season is in full swing. » Read more

Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman tells envoys not to grovel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News (Editorial) January 3, 2010 - 1:00am Israel's hardline Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has told Israeli ambassadors to stop "grovelling" and defend their national honour. He told a shocked audience of some 150 envoys in Jerusalem to "stop turning the other cheek" whenever Israel was insulted, Israeli media report. The envoys were reportedly given no right of reply at the conference. "We received a monologue without being able to hold a discussion," one unnamed ambassador told Haaretz newspaper. 'A response to everything' » Read more

'Recent change of atmosphere may mean time is ripe for talks' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) January 4, 2010 - 1:00am Peace talks with the Palestinians must resume without preconditions, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday. Speaking at the opening of the Likud faction meeting, Netanyahu said, "My impression is that in recent weeks, there has been a change of atmosphere. I hope that the time is now ripe to move the peace process forward." » Read more

Abbas: Building freeze needed prior to peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - (Analysis) January 4, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas met in Sharm a-Sheikh with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Following the meeting, Abbas said that a complete cessation of settlement building is needed before peace talks can be taken up again. Abbas also said, "We are not opposed to renewing the peace process and the meetings with the Israelis. We are not putting up conditions, but at the same time, we believe that in order to return to the (peace) process, there needs to be a cessation of settlement building and recognition of the principles of the peace process."

Fayyad envisions 'state free of settlements' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - (Analysis) January 3, 2010 - 1:00am As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas embarks on his round of talks in Egypt in hopes of finding a basis for the renewal of peace negotiations with Israel, his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Sunday that the future Palestinian state will be "free of fences and of settlements." In a conference held near Ramallah, Fayyad urged the international community to intervene in order to "force Israel to stop ignoring international law and the Palestinians' rights." » Read more

Are Israel and apartheid South Africa really different? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 4, 2010 - 1:00am The day after the murder of the settler Meir Hai about 10 days ago, Major General (res.) Amos Gilad was asked to comment on the claim by settlers that the attack was able to take place because roadblocks had been lifted on West Bank roads. The security-political coordinator at the Defense Ministry told his radio interviewer that the policy of thinning out internal roadblocks has greatly contributed to the West Bank's impressive economic growth. » Read more

Settlers, tell us, what do you think will happen? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) January 3, 2010 - 1:00am What constitutes the life of a settler? A house on the cheap; a standard of living above the national average; a job usually subsidized by the government; a fierce religious, nationalist, uncompromising conviction on the justness of his cause; a supportive, heavy-handed social environment; a highway system; transportation arrangements; socially enriching activities; and, at times, a life that comes with the risk of danger. » Read more

Netanyahu: Change in the air over Israel-Palestinian peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Mazal Mualem, Barak Ravid - (Analysis) January 4, 2010 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday added weight to recent speculation that peace talks could soon resume between Israel and the Palestinians, telling lawmakers from his Likud party that he sensed "a change in the air." "In recent weeks I have felt that there is a certain change in the air, and I hope that this will mature, allowing the start of the diplomatic process," Netanyahu told the Likud Knesset faction. » Read more

Interview With Tzipi Livni ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Charles Levinson, Joshua Mitnick - (Interview) January 3, 2010 - 1:00am Late last month, Tzipi Livni was back in the news. Despite finishing first early last year in parliamentary elections, Ms. Livni declined to join a right-wing dominated coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu and instead went into the opposition. Then, just before Christmas, Mr. Netanyahu courted her, inviting her into his government. She ultimately refused. The Wall Street Journal's Joshua Mitnick and Charles Levinson caught up with Ms. Livni days before Mr. Netanyahu's offer. Below is an edited transcript of the interview. » Read more