November 9th

Palestinians Ease Demands For Conference ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Josef Federman - November 9, 2007 - 5:45pm Encouraged by a conciliatory speech by Israel's prime minister, Palestinian negotiators have eased their demands that an upcoming U.S.-hosted peace conference lay out a plan for statehood, officials said Thursday. The Palestinians said they were pleased with Israeli pledges to resume peace talks after the conference this month — and were now less concerned with a pre-summit understanding that had bogged down earlier negotiations. » Read more

Israel And Palestinians Turn To U.s. As Talks Hit Snag ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Wafa Amr - November 9, 2007 - 5:43pm Palestinian and Israeli negotiators are turning to U.S. mediators to bridge serious gaps in drafting a common approach to peace negotiations, officials on both sides said on Thursday. A senior Palestinian negotiator told Reuters the two sides sought U.S. intervention on Tuesday after negotiators failed to resolve differences over a document they hope to present at a conference in the coming weeks in Annapolis, Maryland, that aims to set terms for relaunching peace talks. » Read more

November 8th

Whose Road Map? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jeff Halper - November 8, 2007 - 3:43pm As did his pronouncements last August in Jericho, where Prime Minister Ehud Olmert indicated a willingness to withdraw from an area equivalent to 100% of the occupied territories, his latest declarations to the Saban Forum, in the presence of Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair, sounded promising, even stirring. » Read more

If Not Annapolis, Then What? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) November 8, 2007 - 3:42pm Gideon Sa'ar, Likud's most fluent spokesman, believes that after Hamas took over Gaza, Israel should have understood the trap it had fallen into and "run for its life" instead of getting into another round of talks in Annapolis. The question is, of course, where does Likud want Israel to run to. Likud has no solution to the conflict with the Palestinians and has made do for 40 years with taking the wind out of the sails of every agreement. » Read more

No Understanding For The Region ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times November 8, 2007 - 3:41pm Tuesday, BBC radio ran a fascinating interview with former US undersecretary for public diplomacy Karen Hughes. Among her briefs, Hughes was in charge of “promoting American values and confronting ideological support for terrorism.” She was the first person to hold such a position. The interview was interesting for one particular response. » Read more

Good News And Bad News From Abizaid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - November 8, 2007 - 3:40pm I had the pleasure a few days ago of spending a morning and lunch with John P. Abizaid, when he visited Northeastern University in Boston. Now retired, General Abizaid served his country for 34 years in a long and distinguished career, culminating in his responsibility for US Central Command, when he led American forces in the Middle East and Asia during the Iraq war's early years. » Read more

Gaza And West Bank Viewpoints ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News November 8, 2007 - 3:39pm Palestinians describe how they think divisions between the separate administrations of Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza are becoming more entrenched. SHAIMA, 22, GAZA CITY We are running out of lots of materials because Israel is blocking the borders. Food, every day materials, medicine - it's very hard to find what you want. And it's all much more expensive. Things which used to cost one or two shekels now cost five or six. » Read more

Barak Still Bears The Scars From Camp David ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - November 8, 2007 - 3:37pm Even by the volatile standards of Israeli politics, the comeback of Ehud Barak has been a remarkable one. Ousted as prime minister in 2001 after the acrimonious failure of the Camp David peace talks, Mr Barak left the political stage for almost six years to pursue a career in business. Yet in June, Israel's most decorated soldier and former chief of staff was back, taking the helm of his centre-left Labour party and assuming the post of defence minister in the coalition government headed by Ehud Olmert. » Read more

Push For Annapolis Summit Triggers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - November 8, 2007 - 3:36pm The buildup to the U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian summit to be convened later this month in Annapolis, Md., has set off a flurry of lobbying efforts throughout the Jewish community. A newly formed coalition of Orthodox and right-wing organizations dedicated to preserving Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem held meetings last week in Washington with White House officials and members of both houses of Congress. » Read more

Palestinian Mayors Lobby For Christian Support ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - November 8, 2007 - 3:35pm Facing the growing influence of Christian Zionists in the United States, the dwindling Christian minority in the Palestinian territories is making a renewed push to capture American hearts and minds. A delegation of Palestinian Christian mayors came to Washington last week on a lobbying mission, during which they argued the Palestinian cause. It was the first such mission ever. » Read more