Israeli Neighborhood Haunts Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Sarah El Deeb - December 18, 2007 - 12:23pm The Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, with its white stone buildings and billboards hawking new real estate projects, now has managed to disrupt Israeli-Palestinian peace talks for the second time in a decade. Israel's announcement this month that it plans to build 307 new homes in this east Jerusalem neighborhood, on land Palestinians want for the capital of their future state, drew international condemnation. The plan was the first wrench thrown into peace negotiations relaunched last week after a violent seven-year hiatus. » Read more

Conferees Pledge $7.4 Billion In Aid To Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by John Ward Anderson - December 18, 2007 - 12:22pm Countries and international organizations pledged $7.4 billion in assistance to the impoverished Palestinian Authority at a conference in Paris on Monday, saying that an infusion of cash would help the peace process begun by the United States last month in Annapolis, Md. » Read more

Israel To Allow Building In Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Adam Entous - December 18, 2007 - 12:20pm Israel will allow construction within built up areas of existing Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, but will not expand beyond those areas, Israeli officials said on Monday. The position could widen the rift in U.S.-backed peace talks launched by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Annapolis, Maryland last month. » Read more