November 27th

Beyond Cynicism, Reason For Real Hope ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Orlando Sentinel by Rafi Dajani - (Special Report) November 27, 2007 - 1:29pm Few events in Mideast peacemaking history have been subjected to as much cynicism as today's Annapolis meeting. This is due to the perceived lack of planning in the lead-up to the meeting, mismanagement of expectations, and the reported gaps between Israelis and Palestinians over the text of a joint declaration at the meeting's conclusion. » Read more

Bush: 'battle Is Underway For The Future' Of Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Michael Abramowitz, Glenn Kessler - November 27, 2007 - 1:25pm Opening a Middle East peace conference in Annapolis this morning, President Bush said that peace must be pursued because "a battle is underway for the future" of the region "and we must not cede victory to the extremists." » Read more

Israelis And Palestinians Try To Set Pace For Peace Talks As Bush Plans Speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Helene Cooper, Steven Erlanger - November 27, 2007 - 1:24pm Israeli and Palestinian negotiators made progress on Monday toward completing a joint statement for the planned Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md., and President Bush appeared ready to paper over remaining differences between the two sides with his planned speech on Tuesday. » Read more

November 26th

The Price Of Arab Inclusion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) November 26, 2007 - 1:08pm U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice can chalk up an important achievement with the Annapolis summit that begins tomorrow: The Arab countries acceded to the American request and are taking part in the conference with a high profile, let alone taking part. Foreign ministers and not ambassadors will represent them. This decision's significance goes beyond Arab backing for the Palestinians, or a pat on the back for the American president, whose stature is eroding greatly in the region. » Read more

No Such Thing As A Free Summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) November 26, 2007 - 1:06pm It is true that, to date, U.S. President George W. Bush has not exhibited a great deal of wisdom in his dealings with the Middle East. But it hard to believe that the leader of the superpower and his aides do not recognize the risk they have taken by holding the Annapolis summit. One doesn't have to be Henry Kissinger to appreciate that the summit cannot end in nothing - zero. The size of the achievement, or the depth of the failure, will be proportional to the delegation level in attendance and the number of hours of TV broadcasts, mostly to the Arab world. » Read more

Bush Might Fail At Annapolis, But Give Him Credit For Trying ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) November 26, 2007 - 1:04pm Many flaws have been identified in the organization of the Middle East peace conference this week at Annapolis, in the US state of Maryland. Arab officials, in particular, harbor deep-seated fears that their participation may be used as cover for a gathering that fails to achieve anything of substance toward settling the dispute at the core of the region's troubles, that between the Palestinians and the Israelis. » Read more

High-stake Meet ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) November 26, 2007 - 1:02pm President Bush probably saved his blushes when announcing that the Arab-Israeli conflict would not be solved in a day and a night at Annapolis, but that a full year would be needed — basically the rest of his term — for the US to try to broker a peace. Washington hopes that the two sides work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state before Bush leaves office and that the negotiations will be launched at the conference in Annapolis. » Read more

Defiant Hamas Rules By Fear In Isolated Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Marie Colvin - November 26, 2007 - 1:00pm The nights in Gaza belong to the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades. On potholed streets in the border city of Rafah last week, disciplined rows of fighters bristling with guns and rocket launchers listened to a midnight pep talk from their commander before melting into the darkness. The militia that was once the underground military wing of Hamas, the Islamic extremist organisation, has become a feared unofficial army controlling this isolated strip of Palestinian territory. » Read more

The Middle East Summit: Mission Impossible? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Rupert Cornwell - November 26, 2007 - 12:59pm This week will see George Bush make his first, and almost certainly his only, major attempt to bring an end to the world's most intractable conflict. As participants gather for tomorrow's Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, the spotlight is on the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Syrians and the Saudis – but the most important consideration lies closer to home: how will President Bush fare in a belated attempt to play peacemaker. » Read more

Deja Vu, Again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian (Editorial) November 26, 2007 - 12:58pm Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Saud al-Faisal, said yesterday that he would attend next week's Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland. Syria might also attend, although it is not clear at what level. The two last building blocks appear to be in place for an event which will relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks for the first time in seven years. The real question is: will any of the noble declarations that we will get next week - from Mahmoud Abbas, Ehud Olmert and George Bush - mean anything? » Read more