The settlers' presence is a time bomb waiting to happen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Saed Shukhy - (Opinion) December 17, 2008 - 1:00am The settler riots earlier this month were some of the worst instances of violence in Hebron in many years. But they were not isolated incidents and cannot be divorced from the brittle situation in Hebron that is a direct result of the city's fanatical settler presence, nor from the provocation of the settlement project in occupied Palestinian territory in general. » Read more

Middle East needs Obama’s touch ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Richard N. Haass, Martin Indyk - (Opinion) December 17, 2008 - 1:00am President Barack Obama will face a series of challenges in the Middle East demanding urgent attention: an Iraq that could still unravel, an Iran approaching the nuclear threshold, a faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and weak governments in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories challenged by strong militant Islamist groups. He will also discover that time is working against him. But with changes in policy, the incoming president can capitalise on new opportunities rather than be overwhelmed by old realities in this critical and troubled region. » Read more

Quartet makes fresh bid to revive talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News December 17, 2008 - 1:00am The UAE participated in a meeting held by the Arab liaison group of the Arab League with the Middle East Quartet to discuss ways of reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and stepped up calls to both sides to take the necessary steps to bolster negotiations. The Quartet, in a top-level meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called on the Palestinians to continue their efforts to reform the security services. » Read more

Israelis Continue to Abuse Palestinian Prisoners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mel Frykberg - December 17, 2008 - 1:00am Israel released over 200 Palestinians from Israeli jails in a "goodwill gesture" Monday. This followed the Muslim feast of Eid Al-Adha and was an attempt to boost the waning popularity of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Several prisoners spoke to the assembled local and international media about their time in detention. They accused the Israelis of maltreating and physically abusing detainees despite Israeli claims that torture and the abuse of prisoners have been outlawed and no longer occur. » Read more

Brown urges Olmert to lift curbs on Palestinian economy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) December 17, 2008 - 1:00am British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday urged Israel's caretaker leader Ehud Olmert to ease constraints on the struggling Palestinian economy. Brown held talks with Olmert at Downing Street a day after joining Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister, at a forum in London to promote British investment in the Palestinian territories. The pair also discussed the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Brown described Monday as a "barrier that's got to be overcome" in the Middle East peace process. » Read more

Bush to meet Abbas on Friday: White House ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) December 17, 2008 - 1:00am President George W. Bush plans to meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Friday at the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Tuesday. "President Bush will welcome Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas to the White House on Friday, December 19th," Perino said. "The president looks forward to discussing with him our shared efforts toward peace in the Middle East, including progress in building capable Palestinian institutions, fostering economic development, and training and deploying Palestinian security forces in the West Bank," she said. » Read more

Rockets hit Israel after killing of Islamic Jihad man ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) December 17, 2008 - 1:00am Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza responded to the killing of one of their members by Israeli forces in the Occupied West Bank by firing rockets into Israel on Tuesday. The retaliation by Gaza-based fighters was met with an Israeli air strike on the impoverished territory later in the day. » Read more

Charities…Again! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - December 17, 2008 - 1:00am The issue of charities has been raised once again in news reports in light of the recent Mumbai terror attacks. Accusations have been levelled against the Pakistani Islamist movement Lashkar-e-Taiba for carrying out the attacks and Pakistani authorities have cracked down on Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Islamabad’s largest charitable organization. » Read more

UN adopts Middle East resolution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News December 17, 2008 - 1:00am The draft describes US-brokered talks between Israelis and Palestinians as "irreversible" and urges greater diplomatic efforts to secure a deal. The resolution is the first on the Middle East issue adopted by the 15-member council in almost five years. It passed by 14 votes to zero. One council member, Libya, abstained. The draft calls on both parties to "refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations". It also urges an "intensification of diplomatic efforts" to build lasting peace in the Middle East. » Read more