October 21st

Palestinians mull alternatives to peace talks, including UN recognition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - October 20, 2010 - 12:00am

With Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations in limbo over a dispute regarding settlement expansion, Palestinians are starting to think out loud about possible alternatives to peace talks. After investing all of his political capital in talks with Israel, what would President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority (PA) do if he concludes there's no chance for a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

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Moves to free convicted spy Pollard pick up in U.S. and Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Vita Bekker - October 21, 2010 - 12:00am

As convicted spy Jonathan Pollard approaches 25 years behind bars, Israelis and others are renewing efforts to secure freedom for the former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, who is serving a life sentence for relaying military documents to Israel. Pollard's case has been a source of constant friction between Israel and the United States, its staunchest ally. Israeli leaders have failed to persuade Washington to release the 56-year-old American Jew, whom Israelis and some U.S. officials say was given an unduly long sentence for spying for a friendly government.

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Palestinians Shift Focus in Strategy for Statehood
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - October 20, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leadership, near despair about attaining a negotiated agreement with Israel on a two-state solution, is increasingly focusing on how to get international bodies and courts to declare a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

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Just Knock It Off
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) October 21, 2010 - 12:00am

Some of Israel’s worst critics are fond of saying that Israel behaves like America’s spoiled child. I’ve always found that analogy excessive. Say what you want about Israel’s obstinacy at times, it remains the only country in the United Nations that another U.N. member, Iran, has openly expressed the hope that it be wiped off the map. And that same country, Iran, is trying to build a nuclear weapon.

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Clinton urges Arabs to give more money to Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 20, 2010 - 12:00am

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday urged Arab countries to offer greater financial support to the Palestinian Authority. "It takes more than plans and commitments to support making the state of Palestine a reality," Clinton told the annual dinner of the American Task Force on Palestine, a pro-Palestinian group which calls for a Palestinian state. The chief US diplomat paid tribute to the Palestinian Authority's efforts, saying it needs a "larger, steadier, and more predictable source" of financial support.

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Talks the only way forward for Mideast peace: Clinton
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ottawa Times
by Andrew Quinn - October 20, 2010 - 12:00am

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesday there was no "magic formula" to break an impasse over peace talks, but said hard work could still yield a deal. Clinton, speaking to a Palestinian advocacy group that supports a peaceful end to the conflict, said both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remained committed to a two-state solution despite a standoff that threatens to torpedo the U.S.-brokered peace talks less than two months after they were launched.

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October 19th

PM Netanyahu says Israel's new loyalty oath will also be mandatory for Jews. Israel is pushing for Palestinian recognition of its “Jewish character.” Israel claims Hamas has antiaircraft missiles. A report suggests that jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi might be included in an Israel–Hamas prisoner swap. Palestinians say Israel seeks to retain the West Bank as a market. Israeli officials say a settlement freeze extension might be possible. Palestinians say Israel is seeking de facto recognition of annexation of Jerusalem. Netanyahu is still resisting court ordered demolitions of unauthorized outposts. Palestinians may propose a UN resolution calling for settlement evacuation. The ongoing olive harvest has been the most violent on record. An animated model of former PM Sharon in a coma goes on display in Tel Aviv. The BBC looks at a new film about Palestinian nonviolent protests. Khaled Diab says the Israeli military is not a charitable organization. A leading Israeli rabbi says non-Jews only exist to serve Jews. Tony Karon asks who made Netanyahu the leader of the Jewish people. Linda Heard says Washington should do more to control Israel. Victor Kotsev looks at problems facing Palestinian citizens of Israel.

INTERVIEW-Israel might extend settlements freeze-ambassador
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Louis Charbonneau, Patrick Worsnip - October 18, 2010 - 12:00am

[-] Text [+] | Subscribe | Email | Print | RSS INTERVIEW-Israel might extend settlements freeze-ambassador 18 Oct 2010 23:19:18 GMT Source: Reuters * Israel govt "looking into possibilities" - Israel envoy * Peace talks with Palestinians not dead, Reuben says By Patrick Worsnip and Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Israel might renew a moratorium on building Jewish settlements in the West Bank after its end last month abruptly froze peace talks with the Palestinians, Israel's new U.N. ambassador said on Monday.

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Israel pushes Palestinians to acknowledge its Jewish character
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - October 19, 2010 - 12:00am

It sounds at first like a familiar Mideast tussle: Israel demands recognition, Arabs refuse to give it. But Israel's recent push to be recognized as a "Jewish" state is actually a new twist on an old struggle, and one that is rapidly turning into the latest stumbling block to faltering peace talks. Israel defines itself as a Jewish state in its declaration of independence. U.S. Presidents Obama and George W. Bush have embraced the term, which was used in the 1947 U.N. resolution calling for the establishment of two states, one Jewish and the other Palestinian Arab.

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Hamas has antiaircraft missiles, Israel says
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
October 18, 2010 - 12:00am

Jerusalem — The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers have obtained antiaircraft missiles, Israel's prime minister said Monday, in a potentially game-changing development that could threaten the Israeli air force's ability to strike at the Islamic militant group. Israeli aircraft have long dominated the skies over Gaza, striking suspected Hamas military installations and assassinating dozens of wanted militants. The Israeli air force played a key role in a fierce three-week Gaza offensive in the winter of 2008-09, which began with airstrikes that killed hundreds of Hamas fighters.

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