Hamas turns away from its face of moderation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - (Analysis) December 16, 2010 - 1:00am Ahmed Yousef, Palestinian intellectual, diplomat, and self-described public-relations extraordinaire, champions many causes. Bridging the chasm that divides Iran's Shiite theocracy from the Muslim world's majority Sunnis is one. Reconciling Islamist governance with democracy and human rights is another. » Read more

US focus on framework agreement in peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - December 16, 2010 - 1:00am George Mitchell, the US Middle East envoy, said yesterday that he hoped to make "real progress" in peace talks, even as media reports suggested that the Palestinians may be disappointed with Washington's efforts so far. Mr Mitchell met in Cairo with Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, on the third day of his visit to the region. "In the days ahead our discussions with both sides will be substantive, two-way conversations with an eye towards making real progress in the next few months on the key questions of an eventual framework agreement," he said. » Read more

Obstructing a Middle East Rescue Effort ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Daniel Levy - December 15, 2010 - 1:00am Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell is back in the region conducting his shuttle diplomacy, settlement construction continues apace and the much-anticipated speech of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton managed to avoid hard choices. It’s business as usual, so presumably we can all relax — Israel has dodged another peace bullet. No so fast. I would suggest that recent events should have sent the gevalt-o-meter into the red zone for anyone concerned about Israel’s future or shared American-Israeli interests. » Read more

Israel Doesn’t Need the West Bank To Be Secure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Martin van Creveld - (Opinion) December 15, 2010 - 1:00am When everything is said and done, how important is the West Bank to Israel’s defense? » Read more

Rosen Fires Back in His Law Suit Against AIPAC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - December 15, 2010 - 1:00am The American Public Affairs Committee has frequently condoned its employees’ receipt of classified information, according to documents filed in federal court by lawyers for Steve Rosen, a former senior official of the pro-Israel lobby. The new court filing, submitted December 15, offers Rosen’s response to claims by AIPAC that he acted improperly by obtaining classified information without the lobby’s knowledge while working on its behalf. » Read more

IRS: No ‘special’ policy for pro-Israel groups ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) December 15, 2010 - 1:00am In affidavits, Internal Revenue Service officials denied telling a pro-Israel group that they checked whether such groups applying for tax-exempt status oppose the administration. “Z Street's application was not referred to the TAG group because of an ‘Israel Special Policy’ as alleged in Z Street's complaint,” Jon Waddell, the manager of the Exempt Organizations Determinations Group, said. TAG is an acronym for Touch and Go, the informal name for the Exempt Organizations Determinations Group, according to a report Tuesday by Politico. » Read more

The problem with Israel's Jewish 'refugee' initiative ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Rachel Shabi - (Opinion) December 16, 2010 - 1:00am While the US has given up pressing for a freeze on illegal settlement building, one Israeli minister has been cranking up the volume on an issue he apparently considers more pressing. The deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, recently launched a new initiative to demand that Palestinians "recognise Jews who exiled from Arab lands as refugees". Ayalon's initiative is in alliance with Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC), whose mission is to put this issue on the international agenda. » Read more

Bethlehem Is Booked for Christmas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Arieh O'Sullivan - December 16, 2010 - 1:00am Amid unseasonably sunny December days in Bethlehem, it appears history is about to repeat itself. During the week of Christmas all the city’s hotels are fully booked for the first time in decades, which will leave some of the estimated 90,000 expected visitors without any room at the inn. Merchants in shops along its fabled cobblestone streets leading to Manger Square were busy preparing souvenirs for the flood of pilgrims converging on this West Bank town over the next month as Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Armenians celebrate the birth of their savior Jesus Christ. » Read more

Israel never really wanted peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Elie Podeh - (Opinion) December 16, 2010 - 1:00am Peace may be a dream - but it is not our dream. The time has come to recognize the fact that Israel uses the rhetoric of peace, but does very little on the practical level toward achieving it. Anyone still clinging to the axiom that "we'll leave no stone unturned" needs to take a good look in the mirror. Is Israel truly laboring with determination and persistence to reach peace? » Read more

The Palestinians must not repeat their mistake of 1947 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) December 15, 2010 - 1:00am For the time being, the United States has mercifully stopped the embarrassing haggling about the settlement freeze. While Obama’s administration officially says that it will continue to look for ways of reviving the peace process, it is probably realizing what has been fairly clear since Benjamin Netanyahu chose to form a coalition with his "natural" partners, Avigdor Lieberman and Shas: this government is unable and unwilling to deliver an agreement with the Palestinians. » Read more