Farouk Shami: Palestinian Immigrant, Entrepreneur and Texas Gubernatorial Candidate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Felice Friedson - (Interview) November 8, 2009 - 1:00am FAROUK SHAMI is Palestinian-American immigrant who invented an ammonia-free line of hair care products which he parlayed into a fortune. Passionate about his adopted United States, Shami recently made news by turning his Farouk Systems into an all-American operation, building a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Houston, Texas, creating thousands of jobs for the local community. Shami is running for the office of Governor of the State of Texas. He was interviewed by The Media Line’s Felice Friedson. *** » Read more

US and Israeli leaders hold talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News November 10, 2009 - 1:00am President Barack Obama has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as the US struggles to revive the Middle East peace process. The talks in Washington came amid heightened tension over Mr Netanyahu's refusal to freeze settlement building in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the meeting was unusual. There were no photos, no press calls, and none of the public warmth Israeli leaders usually get from US presidents. » Read more

Weisglass: Something happened during White House meeting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Daniel Edelson - November 10, 2009 - 1:00am Attorney Dov Weisglass said the fact that reporters were not allowed in the Oval Office during Monday night's meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, as well as cancellation of a briefing the Israeli leader intended to hold for reporters, was indicative of either a crisis or far-reaching understandings regarding the Mideast peace process. » Read more

Blair: Abbas leaving office due to frustration over stalled peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz November 10, 2009 - 1:00am The United Nations envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair, said Tuesday that he believed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision not to seek re-election was a reflection of deep frustration regarding the slow pace of peace negotiations. Speaking to Army Radio while on a visit to Jerusalem, Blair called Abbas a man of peace, and said he worried the decision would harm any chance of toppling Hamas' power in the Gaza Strip. "People are impatient to get into the negotiation regarding the Palestinian and Israeli states," Blair told Army Radio. » Read more

Obama reaffirms 'strong commitment' to Israel's security ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid - November 10, 2009 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama held a private meeting on Monday night, during which the two discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions as well as stalled Middle East peace talks. "The president reaffirmed our strong commitment to Israel's security, and discussed security cooperation on a range of issues," said a statement issued by the White House after the one hour and forty minute closed-door session concluded. » Read more

Abbas: Peace deal was close under Olmert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 10, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were close to reaching a peace deal in the last round of formal negotiations, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday. Abbas claimed that the two sides were nearing a breakthrough in talks that were broken off last year when Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip. The present Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said, is simply uninterested he peace, he said. » Read more

Abbas may quit Fatah, PLO posts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 10, 2009 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas is considering resigning from his roles on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday. The sources, who spoke on the condition that their names be withheld, also said that Abbas’ announcement last week that he will not seek reelection as president was a serious decision and not a political maneuver as analysts have said. Abbas is also waiting for the appropriate moment to announce his resignation from the PLO and Fatah governing bodies, the sources added. » Read more

As Netanyahu meets Obama, Israel ex-general offers Hamas talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - November 9, 2009 - 1:00am Shaul Mofaz, a leading opposition politician in Israel whose former posts include both army chief of staff and defense minister, said Sunday he has a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace – and he's willing to talk to Hamas to secure it. "I will also speak with the devil, if it will bring peace to the state of Israel," Mofaz reiterated Monday during a visit to Sderot, which has often been the target of rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "And if Hamas is chosen in elections to head the Palestinian Authority ... I am ready to speak with them." » Read more

Palestinian Authority’s Future Is in Question ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - November 9, 2009 - 1:00am The collapse of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s negotiating partner, was raised as a possibility on Monday, as several aides to its president, Mahmoud Abbas, said that he intended to resign and forecast that others would follow. If the Palestinian leader steps down, does this mean the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians are over? » Read more