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Abbas rallies Arab support for position on peace, unity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Editorial) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am Amman – Ma’an – A strong Arab position on the furtherance of the peace process is essential, President Mahmud Abbas told leaders in Amman, the last stop on his regional tour following visits to Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey on Thursday. |
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Hamas squeezed between Israel's rocket shield and Egypt's steel tunnel barrier
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - (Editorial) January 7, 2010 - 1:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Gaza's Hamas rulers have suffered back-to-back setbacks with Israel's successful test of a rocket shield and Egypt's push to block smuggling tunnels. The Iron Dome rocket defense system, reportedly to be deployed near Gaza in May, would deprive Hamas of its main leverage against Israel — the threat of rocket salvos. Egypt's underground anti-tunnel barrier of steel beams, now under construction, could eventually cut Hamas' supply of cash and weapons. |
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Israel Agrees to Pay U.N. $10.5 Million for Gaza War Damage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Joe Lauria, Joshua Mitnick - (Analysis) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am UNITED NATIONS -- Israel agreed to pay the U.N. $10.5 million in compensation for damage to U.N. property and for the life of a U.N. driver during Israel's war last winter in Gaza, according to two U.N. officials. "Agreement has been reached in principle on the terms of an arrangement under which Israel would make a payment to the United Nations," said Martin Nesirky, the U.N. spokesman. "The United Nations is now waiting for a green light from the government of Israel and we anticipate receiving that green light imminently." |
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U.S. Seeks a New Path to Peace in Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Jay Solomon - (Analysis) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is taking new steps to restart Arab-Israeli peace talks that broke down last year, and U.S. officials said they hope formal negotiations could resume by February or March. U.S. diplomats said they are talking with Israel and Arab governments about more clearly defining terms for negotiations, which hit an impasse when Israel refused to accept a total freeze on settlements in disputed territories. Arab governments, meanwhile, balked at U.S. calls for them to begin normalizing diplomatic ties with Israel. |
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CHARLIE ROSE: George Mitchell is here. He is President Obama’s
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Charlie Rose (Interview) January 6, 2010 - 1:00am CHARLIE ROSE: George Mitchell is here. He is President Obama’s special envoy to the Middle East. The former Maine senator and majority leader has a proven record of brokering agreements. He chaired the peace talks in Northern Ireland that lead to the historic Good Friday agreement of 1998. In 2000, he led presidential commission to end cycle of violence between Palestinians and Israelis. His new mission is to advance President Obama’s commitment to comprehensive peace in the Middle East. He has spent the past year trying |