US-Israeli talks make 'progress' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News July 28, 2009 - 12:00am US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu say talks about reviving the regional peace process have made "good progress". There was no mention of Israel agreeing to halt settlement construction, a key demand the US has made of its ally. Mr Netanyahu has previously rejected such a freeze, saying "natural growth" of settlements must be allowed. Mr Mitchell is one of several senior US officials in the region pushing for a comprehensive Middle East peace deal. » Read more

Jewish leaders seek more pressure on Palestinians, Arab states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - July 27, 2009 - 12:00am Any good therapist will tell you: There’s pressure that hurts and there’s pressure that heals. Two weeks after President Obama promised more of the latter, establishment Jewish groups are still squirming -- complaining that the pressure on Israel is unrelenting, while pressure on Arabs and the Palestinians has yet to kick in. Jewish leaders, who reached out to JTA to describe in greater detail their White House meeting with the president on July 13, say they see progress, but are concerned that an imbalance persists. » Read more

'Obama unlikely to present peace plan' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - July 28, 2009 - 12:00am Recent talks with US envoy George Mitchell have left Israeli officials with the impression that - contrary to expectations in some circles - President Barack Obama is not going to unfurl his own regional peace plan. Rather, according to these officials, the administration is aiming to create a positive dynamic that will lead to the relaunching of a Palestinian-Israeli diplomatic process, but this time with more regional players on board. » Read more

Congressional letter to Saudi king gathering signatures ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) July 27, 2009 - 12:00am A letter urging Saudi King Abdullah to "assert a strong leadership role" in the Middle East is gathering signatures in the House of Representatives. The AIPAC-backed letter, circulated by Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Ed Royce (D-Calif.), expresses disappointment with the Saudi government's public reaction thus far to President Obama's Cairo speech, noting that the Saudi foreign minister recently said that his country could not "take any step toward normalization before the return of all Arab land." » Read more

US Urges Concessions in Mideast Peace Drive ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 28, 2009 - 12:00am US Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Monday appealed to Israel, the Palestinians and Arab states not to shy away from difficult or controversial steps towards peace in the region. Amid a flurry of US diplomatic activity across the Middle East, Mitchell told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that Washington is doing "everything we can to achieve a comprehensive peace. » Read more

Settlers completing 11 new outposts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post July 28, 2009 - 12:00am Settlers planned to complete the construction of 11 outposts in the West Bank ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with US envoy George Mitchell early Tuesday morning, in response to American pressure to freeze settlement activity. Activists on Sunday announced that they wished to "put an end to the White Papers," and called for assistance in constructing the 11 outposts, an allusion to the 11 settlements established in the Negev during the British Mandate. » Read more

The Reason They Won't Help Abu-Mazen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - July 27, 2009 - 12:00am In the Arab world, you must be annoying or a source of troubles to get care and attention. But if you respected the rules, did not cause clamor, or caused deaths and explosions, then no one would care about you. Therefore it is not surprising when the Somalis seek to host Al-Qaeda organization and hijack ships in their search for attention and support. » Read more

Mitchell to Abbas: 'Still a gap' on Israel Settlement Activity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 28, 2009 - 12:00am US Middle East envoy George Mitchell told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday he was still working on a deal with Israel to halt West Bank settlement activity so peace talks can resume. "We are discussing the issue but we didn't conclude an agreement yet with the Israelis," a senior Palestinian official quoted Mitchell as saying over a working dinner with Abbas in Ramallah. » Read more

The “Usefulness” of the Palestinian Cause ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Husam Itani - (Opinion) July 27, 2009 - 12:00am If one were to place side by side Israel’s decisions and stances regarding the conflict with the Palestinians since Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister six months ago, the features of an unmistakably organized campaign to do away with what remains of the rights of Palestinians would plainly appear. » Read more

Settlement deal will likely test all sides ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Omar Karmi - July 28, 2009 - 12:00am It may well be a “discussion among friends”, in the words of George Mitchell, the US envoy to the Middle East, but Israel’s continued settlement building in occupied territory is shaping up to be a crucial issue that will test the leaderships of all players involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. » Read more