Israel rejects US call over settlement work ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News May 28, 2009 - 12:00am Israel will continue to allow some construction in West Bank settlements despite US calls for a freeze on its work, a government spokesman says. Mark Regev said the fate of the settlements should be decided in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. His remarks appear to be a rebuff to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said all such activity should cease. Her comments came hours before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was due to meet US President Barack Obama. » Read more

Disturbing figures that undermine peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - May 28, 2009 - 12:00am When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not halt settlement construction in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan, he was, in effect, proclaiming his flagrant defiance of the will of the international community. And, for the first time in years, the US is at one with the majority of the world’s governments which see Israeli colonies in occupied Palestinian and Syrian land as the main obstacle to regional peace. » Read more

Pressure on Abbas rises before visit to US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Omar Karmi - May 27, 2009 - 12:00am Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, might be forgiven for thinking he is in a rare position of strength as he prepares for his first visit with Barack Obama, the US president, today in Washington. There is certainly unusual agreement between Mr Abbas, who is also president of the Palestinian Authority, and Mr Obama on what, at least in the short term, is required to relaunch a serious peace process. » Read more

Obama should lay the parameters down ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - May 27, 2009 - 12:00am The inconclusive meeting between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month, has confused rather than assuaged their audiences in the US and overseas. The interpretations have been varied, ranging from one end of the political spectrum to the other. It was surprising, but probably intentional, that the meeting which lasted two-and-a-half hours, more than double the originally allotted time and a good part of it limited to the two leaders, had no joint statement. » Read more

Obama Draws Line on Israeli Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat May 28, 2009 - 12:00am US President Barack Obama has drawn a line on Israeli settlement expansion before he meets with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as part of his urgent quest to revive peace talks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Obama made it clear, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited here last week, that he wants "no natural growth exceptions" to his call for a settlement freeze. » Read more