French FM: Peace initiative underway to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 11, 2010 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- France is preparing an initiative that aims at resuming the stalled direct peace talks between the Israeli and the Palestinians, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday. "Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu asked the European Union to play a role in peacemaking and intervene to bridge the rift between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Kouchner told a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Moratinos in the French Consulate in Jerusalem. But Kouchner did not reveal the content of the plan. » Read more

Deputy PM: Israel officials doubt peace reachable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Aron Heller - October 11, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — An Israeli deputy prime minister says members of the Cabinet's decision-making circle doubt a peace deal with the Palestinians can be reached in the near future. Moshe Yaalon's remarks appear contrary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated commitment on trying to reach an agreement within a year. Yaalon spoke to Army Radio on Tuesday. The peace talks, which resumed last month, have stalled over Israel's refusal to renew a moratorium on West Bank settlement construction. » Read more

PA submits request for new airport ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) October 12, 2010 - 12:00am TEL AVIV (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority has submitted a request to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office for the construction of a new Palestinian airport in the central West Bank district of Jericho, Hebrew-language media reported Tuesday. The four square kilometer airport, 10km southeast of Jerusalem, includes plans for a single terminal, six gates for boarding, a large parking lot and international airport facilities and was submitted by the PA transport minister, Israeli daily Maariv reported. » Read more

President's office rebuffs rumors of Abbas resignation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 12, 2010 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas will continue on as leader of the Palestinian Authority, the secretary-general of the president's office said Monday. Abdul Rahim said reports of Abbas' resignation and the dismantling of the PA were "all rumors to lower the spirits of the Palestinians," as he received the Tunisian representative to the PA Shakib Ath-Thawadi at the presentational compound in Ramallah, central West Bank. » Read more

Israeli blockage stifles Gaza prisons ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - October 11, 2010 - 12:00am Naser Suleiman admits that the prison system he runs is chaotic. The man in charge of jails in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip made no effort to disguise the fact during an interview recently with reporters in his office at a prison in downtown Gaza City. While responding to questions, Mr Suleiman had several conversations on his mobile phone and, at one point, jokingly waved around his pistol. » Read more

WEST BANK: Israeli military court sentences Palestinian nonviolence activist to prison ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - October 11, 2010 - 12:00am An Israeli military court Monday sentenced Palestinian nonviolence activist Abdullah Abu Rahmeh to one year in prison and a $1,400 fine after it found him guilty of “incitement” and “organizing illegal demonstrations.” Abu Rahmeh’s arrest had provoked strong international reaction, with some describing it as an attempt to silence freedom of expression. The court gave the military prosecutor one month to appeal the decision and ask for a harsher sentence. The prosecutor had sought a sentence of more than two years to make an example of Abu Rahmeh. » Read more

Netanyahu’s Moves Spark Debate on Intentions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - (Analysis) October 11, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — An offer on Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to freeze West Bank Jewish settlements in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state — instantly rejected by the Palestinians — was the latest complex maneuver engendering debate about his intentions. » Read more

No to a third intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) October 12, 2010 - 12:00am Whether or not a solution to the crisis over settlements is achieved in the coming weeks, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are in serious trouble. Haaretz quoted unnamed Western officials as saying the talks are “going nowhere.” And the most cautious, sober and measured member of the senior PLO leadership, Yasser Abed Rabbo, who is a member of the negotiating team, has been moved to declare that “there will be no serious political process with Netanyahu’s government.” » Read more