Jordan Valley settlement expands ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 7, 2010 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Settlers in the northern Jordan Valley settlement of Mehola began large-scale construction projects on Wednesday night, reports from the Palestine News Agency WAFA said. Official sources told the agency that the settlers were adding new housing units in the western side of the settlement. Governor of Tubas Marwan Tubasy said three housing units had already been added during the past week, with several concrete pouring machines seen entering and exiting the settlement. » Read more

US seeks ways to support Fayyad plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 7, 2010 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (Ma'an) -- As American-led efforts to push forward peace talks continue, officials made clear on Wednesday that continued support for the Palestinian Authority was on the agenda. Meetings between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair were used both as a platform for updates on the peace-talk push, but also to review "how to increase support for the Palestinian Authority and the ongoing institutional efforts." » Read more

Palestinian Nation-Building Reaches Halfway Point ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America October 7, 2010 - 12:00am Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority speaks in a panel discussion 'Peace and Beyond in the Middle East' as Israeli President Shimon Peres, right, listens during Clinton Global Initiative Meetings in New York, 21 Sep 2010 (file photo) Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is midway through an ambitious two-year effort to build his government's institutions in order to build a viable Palestinian state if peace negotiations with Israel are successful. Analysts are mixed in their reviews about the results of this nation-building. » Read more

ISRAEL: Yom Kippur war protocols declassified, provoking debate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Batsheva Sobelman - October 6, 2010 - 12:00am A few months ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved new regulations allowing state archives to extend classification of material from a period of 50 years to 70. The decision was made following pressure from Israel's security services and likely connected to an ongoing petition by journalists over access to archives kept by individual government bodies (in violation of the law, evidently) such as the Mossad and the Atomic Energy Commission. Documents whose due date was coming up cover Israel's first two decades but may now be released to scholars and the public in 2018. » Read more

U.S. giving away too much, too early in Mideast peace talks, some say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Paul Richter - October 7, 2010 - 12:00am Reporting from Washington Only a month into a new round of peace talks, the Obama administration is drawing criticism from allies and veteran diplomats that it is giving away too much just to keep negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians from collapsing. Administration officials have offered an assortment of inducements to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend a freeze on Jewish construction in the West Bank for two months. Palestinian officials have threatened to break off the talks unless Israel extends the freeze that expired Sept. 26. » Read more

They Need to Talk ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) October 6, 2010 - 12:00am Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians are in danger of unraveling unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, show more political courage and sense. » Read more

US seeks ways to support Fayyad plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) October 6, 2010 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (Ma'an) -- As American-lead efforts to push forward peace talks continue, officials made clear on Wednesday that continued support for the PA was part of the agenda. Meetings between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair were used both as a platform for updates on the peace-talk push, but also to review "how to increase support for the Palestinian Authority and the ongoing institutional efforts." » Read more