November 10th

Abbas may quit Fatah, PLO posts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 10, 2009 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas is considering resigning from his roles on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday. The sources, who spoke on the condition that their names be withheld, also said that Abbas’ announcement last week that he will not seek reelection as president was a serious decision and not a political maneuver as analysts have said. Abbas is also waiting for the appropriate moment to announce his resignation from the PLO and Fatah governing bodies, the sources added. » Read more

As Netanyahu meets Obama, Israel ex-general offers Hamas talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - November 9, 2009 - 1:00am Shaul Mofaz, a leading opposition politician in Israel whose former posts include both army chief of staff and defense minister, said Sunday he has a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace – and he's willing to talk to Hamas to secure it. "I will also speak with the devil, if it will bring peace to the state of Israel," Mofaz reiterated Monday during a visit to Sderot, which has often been the target of rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "And if Hamas is chosen in elections to head the Palestinian Authority ... I am ready to speak with them." » Read more

Palestinian Authority’s Future Is in Question ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - November 9, 2009 - 1:00am The collapse of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s negotiating partner, was raised as a possibility on Monday, as several aides to its president, Mahmoud Abbas, said that he intended to resign and forecast that others would follow. If the Palestinian leader steps down, does this mean the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians are over? » Read more

November 9th

Abbas's mixed messages ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 9, 2009 - 1:00am The recent announcement by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas that he would not seek a second term in office or run in elections has prompted considerable speculation, even confusion, around the world. His decisions contains much ambiguity while conveying different messages to different parties at the same time. » Read more

Clear signal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) November 9, 2009 - 1:00am With Mahmoud Abbas, the PA president and head of the PLO, announcing that he will not seek another term in power, the clearest possible signal has been sent that the possibility for any peace process between Palestinians and Israelis is moribund. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has now reached a critical impasse, and only something dramatic can break the stalemate. Without anything suitably dramatic, the current artificial state of affairs can limp on for a few years until Palestinians yet again reach a breaking point and there is another serious round of violence. » Read more

Abbas feels enough is enough ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Uri Avnery - (Opinion) November 9, 2009 - 1:00am MAHMOUD ABBAS is fed up. The day before yesterday he withdrew his candidacy for the coming presidential election in the Palestinian Authority. I understand him. He feels betrayed. And the traitor is Barack Obama. A year ago, when Obama was elected US president, he aroused high hopes in the Muslim world, among the Palestinian people as well as in the Israeli peace camp. » Read more

Stepping Down in Overtime ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Abdullah Iskandar - (Opinion) November 9, 2009 - 1:00am When Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced he would not run for a new term in elections early next year, he justified his decision by focusing on his frustration with the stance by the US and the Arabs on the Israeli settlement issue. Irrespective of the ultimate consequences of this declaration and the chance that Abbas will go back on it, his justification reveals the depth of the predicament that the peace process is now in, along with the plan to establish a Palestinian state. It also reveals the depth of the predicament of Palestinian political action. » Read more

Clinton: Will work with Abbas in any new capacity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 6, 2009 - 1:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday she looked forward to working with President Mahmoud Abbas in "any new capacity" after he announced on Thursday he would not seek a second term. "I look forward to working with President Abbas in any new capacity," Clinton said, noting that the two discussed his political future when they met last week in Abu Dhabi, Reuters was reporting. » Read more

Netanyahu Has Succeeded at Subjugating the US Yet Again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) November 9, 2009 - 1:00am There is an increasing need for unusual ideas and strategies during this delicate phase of dwindling hope for progress in the Middle East peace process, in light of increasing Israeli arrogance, rising Iranian sarcasm, worsening Palestinian and Arab divisions as well as regressing US policies. The basic question facing these issue and all those concerned is: what is required? » Read more

Thousands in West Bank Urge Abbas Not to Quit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat November 9, 2009 - 1:00am Thousands of Palestinians turned out in the West Bank Sunday to urge Mahmoud Abbas to run again for the presidency following his announcement that he did not want a second term in the job. Waving flags, Abbas supporters greeted the president as he conducted a rare tour of towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, part of the territories where the Palestinians aim to establish a state. "Mahmoud Abbas, don't step down! You are the foundation," chanted the crowd. The Fatah movement, which Abbas heads, had called for participation in the show of support. » Read more