U.S. to give $900 million in aid to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Helene Cooper - February 24, 2009 - 1:00am The Obama administration intends to provide some $900 million to help rebuild Gaza after the Israeli incursion that ended last month, administration officials said Monday. In an early sign of how the administration plans to deal with Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza, an official said that the aid would not go to Hamas but would be funneled through nongovernmental organizations. » Read more

Netanyahu Rebuffed Again in Efforts to Form Coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 24, 2009 - 1:00am Ehud Barak, the leader of Israel’s center-left Labor Party, turned down a proposal on Monday by the prime minister-designate, Benjamin Netanyahu of the conservative Likud Party, to join a broad governing coalition. The refusal dealt a further blow to Mr. Netanyahu’s efforts to forge a unity government. His meeting on Sunday with Tzipi Livni, the leader of the centrist Kadima Party, ended without agreement. » Read more

Abbas: Hamas must recognize Israel to gain world legitimacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press February 24, 2009 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday a new national unity government that includes rival Hamas must be in place and internationally recognized to manage humanitarian aid for Gaza and the West Bank. Abbas said he hopes the upcoming round of reconciliation talks would lead Hamas to accept deals with Israel agreed to by previous Palestinian administrations even if they are not in line with the group's own political platform. » Read more

An Intra-Arab Calm before the Dialogue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Mohammad Salah - (Opinion) February 22, 2009 - 1:00am Postponing the intra-Palestinian dialogue came as no surprise, as all indications have shown that the Palestinians are not yet ready for dialogue. However, the real surprise was when Egypt announced a few weeks ago that the Palestinian factions would embark on dialogue on February 22nd. At that time, dialogue seemed illogical in light of the conflicting interests, clashing positions and different agendas. Also, it was not logical for the "brother enemies" to hold a dialogue before Egypt secures a truce between Israel and Hamas. » Read more

Syria has more need to talk than the US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National February 24, 2009 - 1:00am With two congressional delegations having visited Damascus since the US presidential election, Barack Obama appears to be keeping his promise to engage with Syria as part of his regional diplomacy strategy. The heads of the foreign relations committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate met the Syrian president, Bashir al Assad, purportedly to gauge the country’s openness to negotiation. » Read more

Peace With Syria Could Catalyze Middle East Process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Cesar Chelala - February 24, 2009 - 1:00am Benjamin Netanyahu plants trees in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with his family and friends from his political party such as Moshe Bugi Yealon (Former IDF Chief of Staff-pictured L). ... (Rapport via Newscom) » Read more

Obama's goad to Damascus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor February 24, 2009 - 1:00am As a Middle East way station for terrorists, Syria can't be ignored. Candidate Barack Obama pledged during the campaign to engage Syria in contrast to President Bush's attempt to isolate it. Now a limited engagement has begun and it's time to ask what President Obama will give up as he tiptoes toward the likelihood of bazaar-like haggling with Damascus. » Read more

Hasty Interpretations of Developments...and of US Dialogue with Iran and Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Raghida Dergham - February 20, 2009 - 1:00am There is an urgent need for redefining priorities and for profound thinking about the choices available to issues that pertain to the fate of the Middle East and of its relations with the outside world, with the aim of setting a comprehensive and lucid framework to prevent the shower of rumors, claims, predictions and impressions, as well as their harmful results. Among the issues that require responsible focus are the following: » Read more