Obama needs to turn up the heat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) April 15, 2009 - 12:00am US President Barack Obama's maiden venture into foreign policy earlier this month earned him high marks from many, but also ruffled the feathers of icons of the American neoconservative movement, which had its heyday during the just-concluded tenure of George W. Bush. Wherever he went on his first visit overseas, he chose to knock on doors gently and warmly, particularly in Turkey, where he declared that the United States is not at war with the Muslim world. » Read more

What is Left of Egypt's Mediation between the Palestinians? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Elias Harfoush - (Analysis) April 16, 2009 - 12:00am If there was any hope for negotiations between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo to reach an agreement that would end the state of division between the Palestinians, such a hope has become less likely today as a result of the repercussions of the exchange of smear campaigns between the Egyptian government and Hezbollah, on the background of the cell arrested by the Egyptians, who claim that it had been planning activities that pose a threat to Egypt's security. » Read more

US envoy meets Israeli officials ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English April 16, 2009 - 12:00am The US special envoy to the Middle East is meeting senior Israeli officials in an attempt to kickstart the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. George Mitchell met Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, on Thursday and will meet Benyamin Netanyahu, the country's prime minister, later in the day. Mitchell is also expected to discuss progress on peace negotiations with Tzipi Livni, leader of the opposition Kadima party. Shortly after arriving in the country on Wednesday evening, Mitchell met Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister. Commitment urged » Read more

Eminently possible ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) April 16, 2009 - 12:00am George Mitchell, the US envoy to the region with a special brief to kick-start meaningful talks between Palestinians and Israelis, has his work cut out for him. » Read more