The Annapolis Talks / Blaming The Other Guy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - November 20, 2007 - 1:55pm Israeli-Palestinian disputes over the anticipated Annapolis declaration resemble theological disputes from the Middle Ages: Negotiators argue over whether the road map's first stage should be implemented sequentially or simultaneously, and whether disagreements should be resolved by a trilateral Israeli-Palestinian-American committee or a single American arbitrator. » Read more

Fewer Americans Believe Israel Is Ready To Make Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shmuel Rosner - November 20, 2007 - 1:54pm My New York-based colleague Shlomo Shamir (and other reporters in other news outlets), wrote yesterday about the new Anti Defamation League survey dealing with American attitudes toward Israel. "Majority of Americans are still strong supporters of Israel" was the headline. That is certainly true, and the poll is definitely positive. But not all of it is positive, and the numbers merit another look. So here it is: » Read more

Sidetracked By The Roadmap ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) November 20, 2007 - 1:53pm The sudden reference by Palestinian and Israeli negotiators to the roadmap, drafted years ago in an attempt to rescue the parties from the quicksand of violence and recriminations, was a bit confusing for analysts on both sides. The shift seemed inconsistent with the major political issues that require sorting out through negotiations, particularly the final status issues. In addition, Palestinians and Israelis have already tried the roadmap--and failed to navigate it. » Read more

Documentary On Carter Offers Insights Into A Great Man ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Ray Hanania - November 20, 2007 - 1:52pm Even before anyone realized that Jimmy Carter’s book “Palestine: Peace not Apartheid” would stir up controversy and a lively but sometimes vicious debate, filmmaker Jonathan Demme decided to follow the former president during his book tour. Demme has produced a powerful documentary, “Jimmy Carter: A Man from Plains,” now showing in limited distribution in major cities around the country. » Read more

Will Annapolis Fail Like All The Others? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News by Paul Reynolds - November 20, 2007 - 1:50pm A veteran reporter on the Middle East asked me the other day: "Is it too late?" We had been discussing the prospects for the meeting in Annapolis in the United States scheduled for next week at which the Israelis and Palestinians are supposed to commit themselves to reaching a peace agreement. My instinct was to agree with him. We had first met in Jerusalem in the mid 1980s and have followed the ups and downs of negotiations since. The experience has not made us optimists. Aims of Annapolis » Read more

Un Aid Chief Attacks New Israeli Checkpoint Plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Rory Mccarthy - November 20, 2007 - 1:50pm The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees launched a scathing attack today on a new Israeli plan for a system of checkpoint terminals across the occupied West Bank. Karen AbuZayd, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said Israeli authorities had told them of plans to install six specially built terminals to check people and cargo, including aid deliveries. She said it would hamper the agency's work and dramatically raise costs. » Read more

Negotiations On A Knife-edge Ahead Of Middle East Summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald Macintyre - November 20, 2007 - 1:49pm Israeli and moderate Palestinian leaders were last night struggling to agree a joint declaration intended to be the centrepiece of the international United States-convened Middle East summit less than a week away. » Read more

Blair Gives Fillip To Mideast Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - November 20, 2007 - 1:48pm Tony Blair, in his new role as Middle East envoy, unveiled a package of measures on Monday designed to aid the moribund Palestinian economy and inject fresh momentum into Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The former British prime minister said the four development projects outlined on Monday had been the subject of debate for some time, and that their significance should not be exaggerated. But he insisted that “without hope of prosperity, rising living standards and an economic stake in the future for ordinary Palestinians, the politics will never succeed”. » Read more

Where Is Jewish Support For Annapolis? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ori Nir - (Opinion) November 20, 2007 - 1:47pm The call for American Jewish organizations to support the current peace efforts came from an unexpected direction: Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger. For years closely associated with the right-wing National Religious Party, Metzger recently asked representatives of American Jewish groups in Washington to “influence the American administration” to do their utmost for the success of the Annapolis peace conference. » Read more

In Annapolis, A Middle East Peace Meeting Defined By Fear ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Baltimore Sun by Trudy Rubin - (Opinion) November 20, 2007 - 1:43pm Thirty years ago, on Nov. 19, 1977, I stood at Israel's Ben Gurion airport as Anwar el-Sadat's plane landed on the tarmac. The scene defied imagination, as the Egyptian leader embraced Israeli leaders. Hope was in the air. Suddenly, anything seemed possible. Mr. Sadat's bold move led to Israeli accords with Egypt and Jordan and the tantalizing hope of a deal with the Palestinians. But over the last seven years, the peace process has virtually collapsed. » Read more