Obama Optimistic About Mideast Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Anne E. Kornblut, Mary Beth Sheridan - August 19, 2009 - 12:00am Acknowledging that the Middle East peace process is in a "rut," President Obama nonetheless voiced confidence Tuesday that a breakthrough can be achieved -- and he thanked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whom he hosted for meetings at the White House, for playing a constructive role. "There has been movement in the right direction," Obama said. "If all sides are willing to move off of the rut that we're in currently, then I think there is an extraordinary opportunity to make real progress. But we're not there yet." » Read more

Netanyahu's Defiance of U.S. Resonates at Home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - August 19, 2009 - 12:00am For five months, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been fending off U.S. pressure to halt the expansion of West Bank settlements. Now he is reaping dividends for his defiance. Although Israeli leaders have historically been reluctant to publicly break with the United States for fear of paying a price in domestic support, polls show that Netanyahu's strategy is working. And that means that after months of diplomacy, the quick breakthrough that President Obama had hoped would restart peace talks has instead turned into a familiar stalemate. » Read more

Obama Sees ‘Positive Steps’ in Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner, David Stout - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am President Obama said Tuesday that he saw “movement in the right direction” on the thorny issue of Israeli settlement construction in Palestinian areas, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, a visitor to the White House, said prospects for restarting Middle East peace talks were good. » Read more