Former U.S. envoy: Mideast peace stalemate could lead to West Bank violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - October 26, 2011 - 12:00am The United States' former special envoy for Mideast peace warned recently that the continued impasse in diplomatic contacts between Israel and the Palestinians is liable to ignite violence on the West Bank. In a lecture delivered last week at London's Chatham House, George Mitchell stressed that the Shalit release deal strengthened Hamas, and weakened Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Netanyahu must treat Abbas as a genuine peace partner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) October 25, 2011 - 12:00am Haaretz's Barak Ravid reported Monday that the Israel Defense Forces' top officers are crafting a proposal to mitigate the damage to the Palestinian Authority's status caused by Hamas' success in freeing over 1,000 prisoners. In addition to the release of Fatah prisoners in the Shalit deal's second stage, the IDF recommends significant gestures that will allow PA President Mahmoud Abbas to present accomplishments to the Palestinian people. One proposal considers handing over empty lands to the PA (lands that remain under Israel's security authority under the Oslo Accords ). » Read more

Palestinian official: no new U.S. proposals for resuming peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 25, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian negotiator on Tuesday denied reports that the United States presented new proposals for resuming peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. Saeb Erekat, the negotiator, said the Palestinian leadership received no offers from the Obama administration regarding Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Erekat also stressed that the settlement construction must be completely suspended, not partially. » Read more

Jordan’s King Abdullah on Egypt, Syria and Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 24, 2011 - 12:00am LW: How do you see Egypt’s future? KA: I went to Egypt after visiting the U.S. in May. I had a message from the administration for General Tantawi. [Mohammed Hussein Tantawi is head of Egypt’s military ruling council.] WP: How did your visit to Egypt go? KA: With Tantawi — fantastic. We had a very good meeting. WP: It is astounding that Tantawi did not take President Obama’s call for hours the night the Israelis were trapped in their embassy in Egypt. » Read more

International envoys seek to restart Mideast talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Amy Teibel - October 25, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — International mediators will sit down with Palestinian and Israeli officials in Jerusalem on Wednesday in the hope of finding a formula to restart the deadlocked peace talks. But in a telling commentary on the beleaguered state of peacemaking, they will be huddling separately with officials from each side and will not be meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. » Read more

World Bank agency insures Palestinian investors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 25, 2011 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A World Bank fund announced on Monday it will give investment guarantees to a Palestinian consortium to help inject $15 million into date palm farms in Jericho. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency -- established 14 years ago to attract investment into the West Bank and Gaza -- will provide $4.8 million in investment guarantees to support Palestinian contributors to the Nakheel Palestine for Agricultural Investment Company's date farms. » Read more

Peres, Ashton defend Abbas after attack by Israeli FM ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 26, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres came to the defense of Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday after Israel's far-right foreign minister called the president an obstacle to peace. "Abbas and Prime Minister (Salam) Fayyad are serious leaders that want peace and are working to prevent violence and extremism in our region," said Peres in public remarks. » Read more

In memoir, Rice says 'historic peace' nearly reached ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 26, 2011 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (Ma'an) -- In Condoleezza Rice's new memoir, No Higher Honor, the former US secretary of state claims a "historic peace deal" between Israel and the Palestinians was once close at hand in 2007. In the memoir, Rice says Israel's then-prime minister, Ehud Olmert, was ready to make "an extraordinary offer" to President Mahmoud Abbas, Newsweek Magazine reported Tuesday citing an advance copy. » Read more

A textbook case of politicization ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times (Editorial) October 25, 2011 - 12:00am Last week we wrote about California's decision to require teachers and textbooks to include positive messages about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in their lessons. We opposed that law — not because we think schools shouldn't teach about the contributions of people of all sexual orientations (they should!), but because we're concerned about the continuing politicization of California's classrooms. » Read more