'We are running out of time for a two-state solution' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - August 15, 2008 - 8:00pm At the end of my conversation with Sari Nusseibeh at the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem, the highly respected president of Al-Quds University - and cosignatory of "The People's Choice," a peace plan that he formulated with former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon - told me he wouldn't be surprised if one of the Palestinian residents of the city ran for mayor in the municipal elections in November. The candidate would not run as a representative of Jerusalem per se, Nusseibeh stressed. Rather, he would be running on behalf of all Palestinians in the occupied territories. » Read more

Palestinian PM: Israel should free more than just 200 prisoners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Shahar Ilan, Barak Ravid - August 17, 2008 - 8:00pm Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Sunday welcomed Israel's decision to release close to 200 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to the Palestinian Authority, but said Israel should release even larger numbers of prisoners. The cabinet approved the release of the Palestinian prisoners, including two prisoners "with blood on their hands," meaning they were directly involved in the killing of Israelis, during the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday morning. » Read more

Olmert: Barak blocking cabinet debate on defense issues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Tal Levy - August 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday accused Defense Minister Ehud Barak of blocking cabinet debate on issues of security. "Because of you, it is impossible to conduct a serious discussion on the defense establishment," Olmert told Barak during the cabinet's weekly meeting in Jerusalem. The criticism came amid debate on the 2009 defense budget, which according to Olmert, was never even raised for cabinet discussion, after National Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer attacked the Treasury's proposal the cabinet decides whether to invest in defense or welfare. » Read more

Hamas may try Fatah general in absentia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - August 15, 2008 - 8:00pm In the first case of its kind, a Hamas "security court" in the Gaza Strip has issued a warrant for the arrest of Gen. Rashid Abu Shabak, the former commander of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service. The warrant gives Abu Shabak 10 days to hand himself over to the Hamas security forces in Gaza City or face being tried in absentia. The court ruled that Abu Shabak should be arrested for misusing public funds and abusing his powers. » Read more

What happened to the "vision" of a two-state solution? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yisrael Harel - August 17, 2008 - 8:00pm A few years ago, at a dialogue meeting between Israelis and Palestinians, the Palestinians were asked what they thought of the idea voiced by Ariel Sharon that Jordan, with more than two-thirds of its population Palestinian, is in fact a Palestinian state. And if that is not today the case, then when Jordan becomes a constitutional monarchy or enjoys some other form of regime that expresses the will of the majority, it will indeed become Palestinian. » Read more

Livni, after Quartet meet: I’m not repeating mistakes of Camp David ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 9, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel and the Palestinian Authority presented the Quartet for Mideast peace with several agreements on Sunday on the way negotiations will proceed next year on the conflict's core issues. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who updated the Quartet at Sharm el-Sheikh with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, said she was convinced she has not repeated the mistakes of Camp David in 2000. She said although no deal was reached this year, both sides are determined to continue talks. Livni and Abbas stressed "the need for continuous, uninterrupted, direct bilateral negotiations." » Read more

IDF: Army may need to respond to fresh terror alerts from Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - November 9, 2008 - 8:00pm Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip may be planning to execute terror attacks against Israel which would require responsive military operations like the one carried out last week, Israeli defense officials said on Sunday. Over the next two days, Defense Minister Ehud Barak will determine whether to reopen the border crossings with Gaza, which were shut down last Wednesday after Gaza militants resumed rocket fire on the western Negev. » Read more

Hamas and the Art of Time-Wasting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - November 9, 2008 - 8:00pm An official Egyptian statement released the day before yesterday expressed regret over Hamas's decision to boycott the reconciliation talks with Fatah in Cairo and in the process wasting an opportunity for national unity, despite the strenuous efforts exerted by the Egyptians the statement said. But the question here is; what's new about that? » Read more

Netanyahu: Peace Talks Will Continue if Elected ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 9, 2008 - 8:00pm Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pledged to continue negotiations with the Palestinians if he wins February elections, backing away from earlier hints he would abandon U.S.-backed peace talks. But Netanyahu gave no indication he would make significant concessions. » Read more

Olmert says time running out for two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 9, 2008 - 8:00pm Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday time was running out for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At an annual memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister killed by an ultranationalist Jew in 1995, Olmert again advocated a peace deal under which Israel would withdraw from nearly all of the occupied West Bank. » Read more