May 21st

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

May 20th

'Obama calls for demilitarized PA state' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 20, 2009 - 12:00am Amid much speculation over US President Barack Obama's upcoming address to the Muslim world, reports published on Wednesday outlined the details of his Middle East peace plan, which are said to include a demilitarized Palestinian state. The US president's initiative, which was formulated in consultation with Jordan's King Abdullah II during the two leaders' recent meetings at the White House, reportedly does not significantly stray from the pan-Arab peace initiative proposed in 2002. Rather, it bolsters certain details within the Saudi-proposed plan. » Read more

Clinton: Palestinians deserve 'viable state' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear on Tuesday that President Barack Obama's administration expects not only Israel and the Palestinians to uphold their commitments, but also Arab nations and other countries. In her meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Clinton stressed Washington's backing of the two-state solution. She also emphasized the White House's demand that Israel halt all construction in West Bank settlements, viewed by the US as impeding peace efforts. » Read more

Palestinians say were promised Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am US President Barack Obama's new peace plan for the Middle East continues to unravel, ahead of it official presentation in Cairo, on June 4. Official Palestinian Authority sources told Ynet Wednesday that following Jordan's King Abdullah's visit to Washington, as well as other visits to the US capital, they were given the impression that any new American peace plan would call for establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. » Read more

Yesha heads, Barak meet on settlement construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Erfat Weiss - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am Heads of the Yesha Council met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday to discuss mitigations for the Palestinians and the freezing of construction in settlements. During the meeting Barak said that illegal outposts must be evacuated. "If this is not done trough negotiations, it will be done with swift and firm enforcement," he stated. The defense minister stressed that "law enforcement cannot be compromised. A sovereign, viable state must enforce the law and exercise its authority over its citizens." » Read more

The newlywed game ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) May 20, 2009 - 12:00am WASHINGTON - Those who attended Monday's meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Barack Obama at the White House formed the impression that while there was no lovefest: The conference was a businesslike encounter between two people whose lives have compelled them to work together. » Read more

The distance between Gaza and the West Bank is growing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am RAMALLAH - It's hard not to be impressed by the optimism about the Middle East that the White House is radiating. A brief visit to Ramallah, however, makes one wonder about the basis for it. » Read more

Saudis pushing Obama for new Mideast plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn, Barak Ravid - May 20, 2009 - 12:00am The United States expects Israel to make concrete concessions to the Palestinians before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Cairo on June 4, an American official said during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week. The cabinet is due to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip this Sunday, and one concession the U.S. would like to see is for Israel to decide at this meeting to ease its restrictions on imports and exports of goods to Gaza. It also wants Israel to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank. » Read more