June 15th

Obama's Friends, Aides Help Shape Stance on Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Michael D. Shear - June 13, 2009 - 12:00am President Obama's close friends and key advisers have helped him shape the toughest line against the continued expansion of Israeli settlements since the administration of President Jimmy Carter. The result has been a confrontation with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that has surprised the Israeli government and many analysts. Netanyahu is preparing to make a major speech tomorrow in which he is expected to respond to the new American pressure. » Read more

Rightists in response to Bibi's speech: We'll build more outposts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Erfat Weiss - June 15, 2009 - 12:00am Many settlers took a sigh of relief after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Sunday in which he made no mention of evacuating settlements. But Monday morning, right-wing activists announced that they were planning on building dozens of new outposts in the West Bank. "This is the appropriate Zionist response to Netanyahu's speech and (US President Barack) Obama's speech. The goal is to build new outposts and expand the existing ones," the rightists said in a statement. » Read more

Likud members say PM gave in to US pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews June 14, 2009 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address drew varied remarks from both left and right-wing officials Sunday. Rightists responded warmly to his attitude towards the settlements, but were apprehensive about his support of a Palestinian state. MK Danny Danon said other members of the Likud would work to strike the words "Palestinian state" from the address. "I will attempt to cause this sentence, which was said under American pressure, never to come into being. The speech was brilliant, but Netanyahu has given in to American pressure," he said. » Read more

PA: Speech dealt deadly blow to peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - June 14, 2009 - 12:00am Many Palestinian leaders expressed disappointment following a much-anticipated speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday. An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Ynet that speech "dealt a deadly blow to the peace process". "Netanyahu's speech was a right-wing speech that destroyed the basis for negotiations when it talked of a unified Jerusalem, removing the refugee issue from the talks and recognizing a Jewish state. This is a speech that is about setting terms," he said. » Read more

Winds of Change? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) June 13, 2009 - 12:00am Twenty years ago, I wrote a book about the Middle East, and recently I was thinking of updating it with a new introduction. It was going to be very simple — just one page, indeed just one line: “Nothing has changed.” It took me two days covering the elections in Beirut to realize that I was dead wrong. No, something is going on in the Middle East today that is very new. Pull up a chair; this is going to be interesting. » Read more

ANALYSIS / Netanyahu speech aimed solely for Obama's ears ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - (Analysis) June 15, 2009 - 12:00am It nearly made one feel sorry for Benjamin Netanyahu, watching him progress through his speech, through an ocean of right-wing rhetoric full of national symbols, until he uttered two words: "Palestinian state" (which were followed by a third: "demilitarized"). These two words were uttered like a rotten tooth pulled from its socket without anesthesia. In spite all this, he lived. » Read more

Netanyahu, Mideast peace and a return to the Axis of Evil ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) June 15, 2009 - 12:00am The prime minister's speech last night returned the Middle East to the days of George W. Bush's "axis of evil." Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a patriarchal, colonialist address in the best neoconservative tradition: The Arabs are the bad guys, or at best ungrateful terrorists; the Jews, of course, are the good guys, rational people who need to raise and care for their children. In the West Bank settlement of Itamar, they're even building a nursery school. » Read more

Gideon Levy / Why Netanyahu speech gives us cause for joy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) June 15, 2009 - 12:00am The gate was not thrown open last night, although a narrow crack appeared, which in itself is noteworthy. Another small brick was removed from the barricades of the occupation: A right-wing leader said he supports Palestinian statehood. "Demilitarized, Demilitarized," he repeated; now all that remains are the utmost margins of the fantasizing, embittered right-wing, a group finally left isolated and abnormal. They are a dangerous contingent, but they are few. » Read more

Netanyahu Backs Palestinian State, With Caveats ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - June 14, 2009 - 12:00am The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday endorsed for the first time the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but on condition that the state was demilitarized and that the Palestinians recognized Israel as the state of the Jewish people. In a much-anticipated speech meant in part as an answer to President Obama’s address in Cairo on June 4, Mr. Netanyahu reversed his longstanding opposition to Palestinian statehood, a move seen as a concession to American pressure. » Read more

Palestinians dismiss Israel plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News June 15, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinians have rejected the Israeli prime minister's conditions for a two-state solution, saying he has "paralysed" the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a major policy speech, accepted the creation of a Palestinian state but only if it was demilitarised. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman said his comments challenged Palestinian, Arab and US positions. But the US said Mr Netanyahu's stance was an "important step forward". » Read more