Israel mulls interim peace plan Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Yahoo News - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Amid the stalled Middle East peace process, the Israeli government is considering proposing an interim arrangement with the Palestinians. But Palestinian leaders said they would not accept such a provisional arrangement that stops short of settling on final borders for the creation of a Palestinian state. » Read more

Israel mulls interim peace plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yahoo News by Laura Rozen - (Blog) March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Amid the stalled Middle East peace process, the Israeli government is considering proposing an interim arrangement with the Palestinians. But Palestinian leaders said they would not accept such a provisional arrangement that stops short of settling on final borders for the creation of a Palestinian state. » Read more

Gaza: Hamas Takes $500,000 From Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 3, 2011 - 1:00am All banks in the Gaza Strip temporarily shut down on Thursday after men affiliated with the ruling group Hamas forced a local branch to cash some $500,000 in checks. Gaza bankers said Hamas sent the police to confiscate the money from a branch of the Palestine Investment Bank. They said the police were accompanied by members of a committee Hamas had appointed in 2009 to oversee the Palestine Investment Fund, which is run by the rival Palestinian government in the West Bank. » Read more

UNRWA: A Good Investment for American Taxpayers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Philip C. Wilcox - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am The historic popular uprisings in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East are forcing the United States, for the first time in decades, to recalibrate American priorities there. In the past, we have weighted our diplomacy and resources toward order and stability, often at the expense of our commitment to freedom, democracy and development. The events of recent weeks make clear that we must give higher priority to supporting more just and accountable political institutions and to unfulfilled human needs. If we don't, the threat of violence and instability will surely grow. » Read more

Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine. » Read more

Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Ziad Asali - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine. » Read more

Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Ziad Asali - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine. » Read more