September 25th

Mid-East Quartet 'has lost grip' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News September 24, 2008 - 8:00pm The Quartet of international powers has "lost its grip" on the Middle East peace process which it is meant to foster, a group of aid agencies says. In a damning report, the agencies say the Quartet - Russia, the US, the EU and the UN - is failing in its mission. Conditions for Palestinians, which it was meant to improve, have worsened since peace talks recommenced under US sponsorship in 2007, the agencies say. In the West Bank there was an increase in Israeli settlement and travel curbs. The report was issued ahead of a Quartet meeting in New York on Friday. » Read more

Bomb attack on Israeli academic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News September 24, 2008 - 8:00pm A well-known Israeli critic of Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, Zeev Sternhell, has been slightly wounded in a bomb attack. Police suspect ultra-nationalists Israelis were behind the attack. Professor Sternhall has also strongly opposed the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, describing it as immoral and ineffective. Earlier this year, Professor Sternhall was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for political science. Mr Sternhell suffered minor shrapnel wounds in one leg. » Read more

Bush meets with Middle Eastern leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press September 24, 2008 - 8:00pm In separate meetings with Middle East leaders Thursday, President Bush applauded Lebanon's efforts to forge a national reconciliation and told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the administration has not given up hope on an agreement to create a Palestinian state. "I appreciate your determination and your desire to have a Palestinian state," Bush told Abbas in front of reporters before an Oval Office meeting. "I share that desire with you. It's not easy." » Read more

September 24th

Israel's population on eve of Rosh Hashanah: 7.3 million, 76% Jewish ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Moti Bassok - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm On the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5769, Israel's population stands at 7,337,000 people, including 5,542,000 Jewish Israelis (75.5 percent) and 1,477,000 Israeli Arabs (20.1 percent). The figures, published Wednesday in the Central Bureau of Statistics annual report, also include another 318,000 Israelis listed under the category of "others," in which some 200,000 foreign workers were counted. The report stated that the population has grown by 1.8 percent since last year. » Read more

Peres: Israel isn't willing to give Syria land in exchange for rocket fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoav Stern - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm President Shimon Peres on Wednesday told his Turkish counterpart President Abdullah Gul that Israel "is not willing to take painful steps and return territories in exchange for rocket fire," referring to peace negotiations between Israel and Syria. The two heads of state met on the sidelines of the opening of the 63rdl United Nations General Assembly in New York. Turkey has been acting as a mediator in the recently relaunched indirect talks between Israel and Syria. » Read more

Playing Palestinians off against each other ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - September 21, 2008 - 8:00pm In spite of their recent fierce confrontations and the continuing hostile rhetoric, there are apparently three levels of direct and indirect dealings between Israel and Hamas of Gaza. A ceasefire was reached and is still maintained, negotiations are taking place through third parties on a likely prisoners' exchange and the two sides are exchanging views over the possible opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. » Read more

Naalin commander admits wrongdoing, but disputes criminal charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Aviad Glickman - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm Lt. Colonel Omri Burberg, a Naalin regiment commander who was indicted following an incident in which a bound Palestinian was shot in the foot during an anti-fence protest in the West Bank village, contested a petition submitted by human rights organizations asking to charge him with more serious offenses. Burberg was dismissed after the incident. His attorneys said Wednesday that "the inquiry into the regiment commander's behavior has led to the conclusion that this is not a case in which a mark of disgrace should be planted on his forehead, warning the public against him." » Read more

Palestinian, Jordanian, or both? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service by Arwa Aburawa - September 22, 2008 - 8:00pm ?I love Jordan,? whispered a young refugee girl. ?I love Jordan even though I?m Palestinian.? Listening to Ibtisaam, a proud Palestinian who lives in the expansive refugee camps of Jordan, I could see that this was a hard confession to make. In light of her Palestinian pride it was hard to justify her love of Jordan since this was seen as a denial of her Palestinian self ? a direct challenge to her Palestinian roots. » Read more

Voluntary Evacuation and Compensation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress by Colette Avital - September 23, 2008 - 12:00am What challenges do settlements present and what is their impact on the peace negotiations? » Read more

Forget Palestine? Surely You Jest. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times by Claude Salhani - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm Okay. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are getting nowhere fast. Some experts are starting to say that maybe it's time to look at the future of Palestine with a completely set of new lenses. The paradox in the comatose peace negotiations is that although the details calling for a two-state solution are generally accepted by all sides, a solution is not truly desired by either the Palestinians or the Israelis for various reasons. See the Sept. 15 issue of the Middle East Times » Read more