April 7th

US envoy to return to region next week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times April 7, 2009 - 12:00am US special envoy George Mitchell will return to the Middle East next week on his first trip since Israel's new conservative government took office, the State Department said on Monday. Mitchell will travel to the region starting April 13 and meet officials from Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Gulf and North Africa. The former US senator and veteran negotiator aims "to advance the goal of the two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region", State Department spokesman Robert Wood said. » Read more

Israel fears US pressure to continue Annapolis process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer, Ali Waked - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am In the wake of US President Barack Obama's speech before the Turkish parliament, Jerusalem is preparing for the possibility of increased tensions with the American administration ahead of special envoy George Mitchell's visit to the region next week and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled trip to Washington in about a month. » Read more

Obama saying Israel still bound to two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Analysis) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Dialogue between Jerusalem and Washington over the past week has been done via speech-making. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman swept aside the Annapolis process, and U.S. President Barack Obama swept it right back. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the two-state solution and Obama "clarified" that the United States not only "strongly" supports it, but he himself intends to advance it. » Read more

Lieberman grilled for third time since becoming foreign minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Police questioned Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday morning for approximately five hours as part of a corruption probe against him for the third time since he took office as Foreign Minister. Police believe the Yisrael Beiteinu leader will need to be questioned once more before fraud squad detectives can complete their work and hand over material from the investigation to the State Prosecutor's Office. The site of Lieberman's questioning has been kept secret by police, in an effort to prevent the media from covering the minister's arrival for questioning. » Read more

Police kill Palestinian motorist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli police have shot dead a Palestinian motorist in East Jerusalem who tried to run over officers guarding the demolition of a home. The house belonged to a Palestinian man who killed three Israelis with a bulldozer last year. A police spokesman said officers shot the man after his car hit three guards, injuring them lightly. Police responded by firing more than 20 bullets into the windshield, killing the man in Sur Baher village. Clashes erupted in the area after the shooting, as about 50 Palestinians threw stones at police, who fired back with tear gas and stun grenades. » Read more

In Turkey, Obama Presses for Mideast Accord ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Helene Cooper - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am ISTANBUL, Turkey — President Obama continued to use his bully pulpit on Tuesday to call for Israelis and Palestinians to make the compromises necessary to reach a Middle East peace accord. During a question-and-answer session with university students here, Mr. Obama said that he still believes that “peace in the Middle East is possible. I think it will be based on two states side by side,” he said. “What we need,” Mr. Obama said, “is political will and courage on the part of the leadership.” » Read more

April 6th

Rights groups: Israel harmed Gaza medical workers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press April 6, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups said Monday they have collected evidence that Israeli troops attacked Palestinian medical workers and delayed the evacuation of wounded people during the recent offensive in Gaza. The Israeli branch of Physicians for Human Rights, along with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, called for an independent investigation. The groups said they collected evidence from 44 people in Gaza. The testimonies were gathered by five international medical experts commissioned by the groups. » Read more

Israel pledges to work with US for Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Steve Weizman - April 6, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration pledged on Monday to work with the United States for Mideast peace, but pointedly avoided any reference to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks or President Barak Obama's goal of a Palestinian state. On Monday in Turkey, Obama said his administration would push for Palestinian state, underlining that Israel and the Palestinians agreed on that goal under the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan and during a 2007 conference in Annapolis, Maryland, that were supposed to revive the plan. » Read more

West Bank refugee camp swaps guns for greasepaint ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - April 3, 2009 - 12:00am In the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, political points are traditionally made with guns and beatings. So when the actors of the Freedom Theatre decided to stage George Orwell's classic satire Animal Farm they knew that they were taking a risk. Putting on a play in which the protagonists subvert the glorious revolution and collaborate with the enemy was dangerous enough in a part of the world that brooks little criticism of its leaders. That these same protagonists are pigs was unlikely to make things better before a Muslim audience. » Read more

'Israel holding Mideast hostage by shunning Arab peace offer' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz April 6, 2009 - 12:00am Jordan's King Abdullah II said Monday that an Arab peace initiative offers a solution for peace in the Middle East, adding that Israel should use the opportunity or risk ongoing conflict in the region. "Israel must decide whether they want to observe this opportunity and become integrated in the region or whether they want to remain a fortress ... and keep the Middle East hostage in conflict," Abdullah said in Bucharest, during an official visit. The king met Romanian President Traian Basescu Monday and discussed bilateral issues and the urgent need for peace in the Middle East. » Read more