Mr Abbas and a dangerous gambit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) May 20, 2009 - 12:00am The reappointment of Salam Fayyad, a respected independent, as the Palestinian prime minister should have been a welcome development. The PLO desperately needs a leader aloof from the cronyism and factional strife that define Palestinian politics. Unfortunately that is not the case. If anything, Mr Fayyad risks becoming a victim of naked partisanship. » Read more

Arabs willing to give Obama a chance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Steven Stanek - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am About half of the Arabs in six countries said in a recent poll they have a favourable view of Barack Obama and were hopeful about US foreign policy. Analysts emphasised, however, that the mood could quickly change based on how the US president deals with a number of upcoming foreign policy challenges in the region, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to withdrawing troops from Iraq. » Read more

Rift deepens between Palestinian factions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Omar Karmi - May 21, 2009 - 12:00am The swearing-in of a new, extended cabinet by Mahmoud Abbas is a “deliberate attempt” to undermine ongoing unity talks in Cairo, Hamas said yesterday. Mr Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, swore in the cabinet on Tuesday evening. The new government, which in effect will rule only over the parts of the occupied West Bank not under direct Israeli control, is headed by Salam Fayyad, who also led the previous Palestinian administration. » Read more

The most effective stick to use with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) May 21, 2009 - 12:00am The most interesting thing about Monday’s allegedly momentous meeting between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu is that the two men agreed on nothing. Obama gave precedence to fruitful negotiations for a Palestinian-Israeli deal while Netanyahu continued to insist that the threat posed by Iran’s non-existent nuclear weapons should be given priority. Obama insisted on early Palestinian-Israeli negotiations without conditions, Netanyahu reiterated his demand for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state before talks could resume. » Read more

Determined Obama is key to resolution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) May 20, 2009 - 12:00am The Arab world was generally anxious that President Barack Obama would retreat from his view, reiterated recently by several of his key officials, that a Palestinian-Israel settlement merits top and immediate attention, especially from Israel. But the fact that he did not in his talks last Monday with the hawkish Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and had actually stressed the need for several more positive steps, was generally well-received in the Arab world. » Read more

Clock ticking on peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Francis Matthew - (Opinion) May 20, 2009 - 12:00am The leaders of the Arab world have become very clear in the past few months that there is a deadline for the Arab peace initiative, and they are not willing to let Israel continue stalling them for decades without any consequence as it refuses to withdraw from the West Bank, continues to expropriate land, and expands its colonies. » Read more

Obama and the Israeli Rejection ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Randa Takieddine - (Opinion) May 20, 2009 - 12:00am The talks between US President Barack Obama and his guest, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, clearly show the deep difference in their stances on the Palestinians and Iran; this difference will continue to dominate the relationship between the White House and the current Israeli government. » Read more