Encountering Peace: The house is on fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) December 7, 2010 - 1:00am A week ago I wrote in this column that “the house is on fire and it’s time to wake up before everything we have built is destroyed by our own doing.” I was, of course, not referring to the tragic fire in the Carmel Forest. The fire is now out and Nature will have to work its wonders to bring life back where cinders now took over, but Nature knows how to recover. » Read more

Palestinians Moot Plans for Organized Lobby in the West ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Miller - December 6, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority wants to mobilize Palestinians living in the United States and Europe to campaign politically for the national cause, building a counterpart to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel lobbies. The idea was raised at the first-ever Conference of Arab Expatriates, which ended yesterday in Cairo. Aimed at establishing an organizational framework for Arab expats and fostering "a dialogue of civilizations, cultures and religions," the three-day conference was held under the auspices of the Arab League. » Read more

A narrow road to Palestinian freedom ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon by Hussein Ibish - (Blog) December 7, 2010 - 1:00am A narrow road near the small West Bank village of Qarawat Bani Hassan is now the implausible epicenter of the Palestinian drive for freedom and independence. At first glance, the two-kilometer stretch is remote and of little practical significance, since it does not lead to any major hub and has no strategic value. But it is, quite literally, the frontline of the Palestinian state and institution-building program being led by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. » Read more