March 30th, 2009

Arab League tells Israel: Accept Saudi initiative now or never
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yoav Stern - March 30, 2009 - 12:00am

Arab leaders in Qatar for the Arab League summit sent Israel an ultimatum Sunday: Accept the Saudi Peace Initiative or it will be rescinded. The draft proposal of the statement states: "The peace initiative being proposed today will not be on offer for a long time. Arab commitment to this initiative is dependent on Israeli acceptance." The draft proposal was formulated by the Arab foreign ministers, and will be presented to the Arab League's leaders Monday for approval.

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Israeli military in PR offensive to explain civilian deaths in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Donald MacIntyre - March 30, 2009 - 12:00am

The Israeli military has moved to deflect a mounting barrage of criticism over the deaths of hundreds of civilians during its 22-day offensive in Gaza. The public relations drive by the Israeli Defence Force has been given impetus by allegations made by some soldiers that permissive rules of engagement failed to protect civilians.

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PA: Netanyahu peace plan will prolong occupation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
March 28, 2009 - 12:00am

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for "economic peace" will only prolong Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, the chief Palestinian negotiator wrote in an opinion piece published Saturday. "Rather than ending the occupation, Netanyahu has proposed an 'economic peace' that would seek to normalize and better manage it," wrote Saeb Erekat in the Washington Post. "Instead of a viable Palestinian state, his vision extends no further than a series of disconnected cantons with limited self-rule."

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There will be no peace without unity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) March 30, 2009 - 12:00am

The focus of this year’s Arab League summit, which begins today, is expected to be a push for greater unity among member states. A host of diplomatic initiatives hinge upon the Arab nations’ ability to set aside political and ideological differences. On the issue of the Palestinian peace process, for example, the divide between nations is deep and long standing. A draft declaration released ahead of the conference renews calls for Israel to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative, while cautioning that it will not remain on the table for much longer.

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March 29th

United They Fall; Divided They Stand
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from National Journal
by James Kitfield - March 28, 2009 - 12:00am

Israelis and Palestinians are rapidly approaching a fork in the road between a two-state division or an enforced, unsteady unity that redefines Zionism, democracy, and the meaning of Israeli citizenship. CYCLE OF VIOLENCE:

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March 27th

Ben Caspit, chief political commentator for Ma'ariv, examines the coalition government taking shape in Israel (1). The Media Line reports on the troubled state of the Palestinian health care system (2). The Israeli military denies claims that it used white phosphorous shells unlawfully during the Gaza war (3). Israel is suspected to be behind an airstrike earlier this year against alleged smuggling convoys in Sudan (5). Following continued criticism of IDF conduct (7), an Israeli soldier faces disciplinary action for a reckless shooting during the Gaza war (6). Palestinian officials report that Israel has revised the list of prisoners it might release in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit (8).

Palestinians say Israel revises prisoner swap list
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Abraham Rabinovich - March 26, 2009 - 12:00am

A Palestinian official said on Thursday Israel had revised a list of Palestinian prisoners it might release in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier. The official said the offer had been passed to the Hamas Islamist group, which controls the Gaza Strip, through Egyptian mediators. Hamas officials said Wednesday that indirect negotiations had been renewed to free Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian militants who tunneled into Israel from the Gaza Strip in 2006.

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Israeli PM's "final offer" to Palestinians revealed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from China View
March 26, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed to return 93 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians and to handle the Jerusalem question under an international framework as his "final offer," local news service Ynet reported Thursday. Olmert made the promises to Palestinian National Authority (PNA)Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting in September, said the report, quoting senior officials as saying that the pledges marked Olmert's "final offer to end the conflict."

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Moment of truth
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ahram
by Nicola Nasser - (Opinion) December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm

In view of a world consensus on a two-state solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict most political analysts and commentators concluded that Israeli prime minister-designate Benyamin Netanyahu, who still refuses to affirm his commitment thereto, would face a "moment of truth" during his recent meetings with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US presidential envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell. Yet the outcome of Clinton's first regional tour as secretary of state and Mitchell's second tour as envoy proved the opposite.

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After 30 years peace must make progress
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
March 27, 2009 - 12:00am

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Yasser Reda marked the occasion by stating that while the signing of the treaty was a courageous act by the leaders of both countries, the peace never developed into a warming of relations as was intended. Considering how the peace process has languished over the past 30 years, this is hardly surprising.

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