November 2nd

We Aren’t One: American Jewish Voices For Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Lewrockwell.com by Murray Polner - (Opinion) November 2, 2007 - 4:49pm Back in the 1980s the major American Jewish welfare organization adopted as its fundraising slogan "We are One." The implication was that American Jews were a united bloc. But we are not "one" and never have been. Ideologically, we are everything from anarchists to Zionists, working people to the gilded rich. Noam Chomsky is as Jewish as Irving Kristol, and Norman Finkelstein as Jewish as Alan Dershowitz. We are neither angels nor saints. » Read more

Sderot & Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum by M.J. Rosenberg - (Opinion) November 2, 2007 - 4:46pm The terrorist shelling of Sderot and other towns and villages neighboring Gaza has to stop, but the policies Israel has adopted to achieve that goal will not do the job.  The most significant thing to know about the shelling is that Sderot is in Israel itself—not in the occupied territories. Accordingly, it is ridiculous to refer to the attacks as representing “resistance” unless, of course, the resistance is to the existence of Israel and not the occupation. In the case of Sderot, and neighboring towns, it clearly is. » Read more

Abizaid: Mideast Wars May Last 50 Years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 2, 2007 - 4:44pm It might take as long as half a century before U.S. troops can leave the volatile Middle East, according to retired Army Gen. John Abizaid. » Read more

Abbas Holds Rare Meeting With Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Dalia Nammari - November 2, 2007 - 4:42pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with members of Hamas on Friday for the first time since the militant group ousted his forces and took over the Gaza Strip in June. Abbas' aides described the meeting with four West Bank-based Hamas members as an informal gathering after Friday prayers at Abbas' presidential compound, saying it was not an official contact between the two movements. Abbas has repeatedly said he would have no contact with Hamas until it cedes power in Gaza. But one of the Hamas men, Hussein Abu Quaik, said Abbas invited them to prayers. » Read more

Palestinian Force Enters Nablus In Security Drive ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Atef Saad - November 2, 2007 - 4:40pm Hundreds of Palestinian security officers arrived in Nablus on Friday in the first stage of a Western-backed drive to crack down on gunmen in the occupied West Bank ahead of a peace conference with Israel. Israel, which is trying to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas against his Hamas rivals, approved the deployment in the flashpoint West Bank city. Israeli government spokesman David Baker said the move would improve security and could be repeated elsewhere in the West Bank if it worked well. » Read more

November 1st

You Can Learn It In A Negotiations Course ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - November 1, 2007 - 2:49pm It is not easy to discuss the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in a practical manner, without past grudges. Too many emotions, historical memories and political interests are involved, turning every discussion of a solution to the conflict into a slogan contest: "diplomatic horizon," "partition of Jerusalem," "right of return." » Read more

Reaping The Occupation's Fruit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - November 1, 2007 - 2:48pm If the plot of land belonging to Dr. Salam Fayad, the Palestinian prime minister, were located 50 meters west of its present location, in the level part of the village of Deir al-Ghusun, it would now be growing thorns and thistles. If it were located 50, or at most 100 meters, to the west, Fayad's plot would have found itself on the other side of the separation fence, on the other side of Gate 609, which soldiers open and close three times a day to allow entrance to those who have managed, after investing considerable efforts, to get permits in order to get to their land. » Read more

'fence Driving Christians Out Of Holy Land' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Matthew Wagner - (Blog) November 1, 2007 - 2:47pm Socioeconomic hardships caused by the West Bank security barrier are contributing to the decline in the Christian population in the Holy Land, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. "I recently met with Christians in Bethlehem, people by no means extreme, and they told of the daily burdens driving in and out of the city that were created by the wall," Williams said by telephone during a break in his 24-hour visit to these parts. » Read more

From Payer To Player In The Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by El - Hassan Bin Talal - (Commentary) November 1, 2007 - 2:45pm The European Union's policy in the Middle East is the litmus test of its common foreign and security policy. Many Europeans share this belief, but, as the EU considers entering the fray of Middle East peace talks, it must respond to former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's jibe that in the region "you are payers, not players." » Read more

America And Gaza In Darkness ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - November 1, 2007 - 2:43pm Although the Bush administration may be on the verge of taking a big leap forward in paving the way for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, brewing for nearly 60 years, none of the US presidential candidates have yet bothered to make any noteworthy comment about the upcoming Mideast peace meeting in Annapolis at the end of November. » Read more