January 26th

Israel's first step to Mideast peace: Opening the door, Obama style ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) January 21, 2011 - 1:00am In the last few weeks an important event was largely missed by the Israeli media, which was busy covering the Moshe Katsav ruling, among other issues. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas presented his offer for a final status agreement with Israel to the United States, and is now awaiting an Israeli response. It has been reported that Yitzhak Molcho, on behalf of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, refused to receive this document from the Americans. His justification: making this document public would immediately destroy Netanyahu's coalition. » Read more

Ireland upgrades PA mission ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - January 25, 2011 - 1:00am Ireland becomes first EU member to take such measure; Israel says move detrimental to peace process The Irish government decided Tuesday to upgrade the Palestinian diplomatic mission in the country. Ireland is the first European Union member to announce such a move, which was initiated by the Irish foreign minister. However, the upgrade does not constitute Irish recognition of a Palestinian state. » Read more

Israel worries over possible EU states' recognition of Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Dave Bender - January 25, 2011 - 1:00am Israel's efforts to stem a rising tide of recognition of a Palestinian state received a blow Tuesday afternoon, with Ireland's decision to upgrade the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Dublin to that of an embassy. The announcement, broadcast by Israel Army Radio, followed a symbolic gesture of recognition by Peru on Monday. Sources at Israel's foreign ministry said officials had been discussing the possibility, and foresaw even more states following suit. » Read more

Abbas to Peres: We must not kill the peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Greer Fay Cashman - January 26, 2011 - 1:00am PA president calls counterpart to express condolences on wife's passing, says should "stand together" against forces seeking to delegitimize PA. "We must not kill the peace process," Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told President Shimon Peres on Wednesday when he telephoned to express his condolences on the passing of the president's wife, Sonia Peres. » Read more

PLO: US credibility at stake in UN settlement vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Abdullah Rebhi - January 26, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian negotiator Nabil Sha'ath warned that Washington risks losing "any credibility as a peace broker" if it vetoes a UN Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement building. The Palestinians will address the 15-member Security Council "whether or not the United States wants it," Sha'ath told reporters late on Monday in Doha, where he was speaking to Al-Jazeera TV, and confirming the authenticity of the leaked "Palestine Papers" on peace talks with Israel. » Read more

In Abandoning the Labor Party, Barak Solidifies Coalition With Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Nathan Jeffay - January 26, 2011 - 1:00am Most See Barak’s Formation of a New Party, Ha’atzmaut, as a Temporary Move To Ensure His Political Survival Overnight, he went from leader of Israel’s most illustrious left-wing party to an appendage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. What next for Ehud Barak? Since his January 17 break with Israel’s Labor Party — taking that once mighty, now shriveled faction down yet one more peg by his departure — the retired general and former prime minister is voicing high hopes for the new party he has founded with fellow Labor Party defectors. » Read more

Hamas withdraws authorization of Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 26, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas on Tuesday withdrew its authorization of President Mahmoud Abbas as the head of negotiations. Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said Abbas' mandate was not valid without the party's recognition. He also dismissed the PA's claim that it negotiated on behalf of Palestinians. Hamas does not participate in talks with Israel. The move follows the release of secret PLO documents covering a decade of negotiations with Israel, leaked to the Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera. » Read more

The Palestine Papers expose an Israeli-dominated process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) January 26, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestine Papers being published this week by Al-Jazeera TV and The Guardian newspaper provide many important and, often problematic, insights into several key aspects of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to achieve a comprehensive, permanent peace agreement. Reading through the entire archive of over 1,600 documents, however, as I had a chance to do at the Al-Jazeera offices in Doha, Qatar, this week, provides a useful overview of, and insights into, the three principal actors in the process: the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli government, and American officials. » Read more

What should we take away from the ‘Palestine Papers’? Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In PBS - January 26, 2011 - 1:00am In recent months, peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have been fitful, to say the least. There was reason for hope when President Obama took office two years ago promising a recalculation of American foreign policy. By the time his administration restarted the negotiations in September, however, veterans of the peace process were skeptical that progress could be made. Now, just four months later, even the most optimistic observers have reason to be despondent. » Read more

What should we take away from the ‘Palestine Papers’? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from PBS by Sal Gentile - (Opinion) January 25, 2011 - 1:00am In recent months, peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have been fitful, to say the least. There was reason for hope when President Obama took office two years ago promising a recalculation of American foreign policy. By the time his administration restarted the negotiations in September, however, veterans of the peace process were skeptical that progress could be made. Now, just four months later, even the most optimistic observers have reason to be despondent. » Read more