January 19th

Arab World: The Egypt-Hamas collision course ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - January 14, 2010 - 1:00am Hamas representatives who visited Cairo in November and December for talks on a possible prisoner exchange agreement with Israel and reconciliation with the rival Fatah faction asked government officials about the nature of the construction work that had been taking place for several weeks along the border between the Gaza Strip and Sinai. The Egyptians, according to one of the Hamas representatives, sought to allay the group's concerns by assuring them that this was only routine "engineering" work. » Read more

'Iran ordered attack on Israeli convoy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Amir Mizroch - January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Last week's failed attempt on the lives of Israeli diplomats in Jordan was apparently carried out on instructions from Teheran, sources close to Jordan's General Intelligence Department (GID) revealed on Monday. The sources said the GID was investigating the possibility that the explosives used in the attack had been smuggled into the kingdom by Iranian diplomats. The attack itself was apparently carried out by local al-Qaida supporters who received money and explosives from Iran, the sources said. » Read more

Israel's compassion in Haiti can't hide our ugly face in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 18, 2010 - 1:00am Who said we are shut up inside our Tel Aviv bubble? How many small nations surrounded by enemies set up field hospitals on the other side of the world? Give us an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Thailand or a terror attack in Kenya, and the IDF Spokesman's Office will triumph. A cargo plane can always be found to fly in military journalists to report on our fine young men from the Home Front Command. » Read more

U.S. must now start twisting Israeli and Palestinian arms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Every time disaster strikes anywhere in the world, I am filled anew with admiration at how ready and willing we are to assist, and how speedy, effective, organized and wholehearted that assistance is. » Read more

Palestinians host first East Jerusalem meet since 2001 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - January 19, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority on Monday held its official meeting with a foreign diplomat in East Jerusalem since the closing of its headquarters there more than eight years ago. The Palestinian representatives met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store at an orphanage near the Mount of Olives, not far from the Orient House, which was closed by Israel in 2001. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier Monday held his own meeting with Store in Ramallah. » Read more

Hamas senior official admits Iran’s financial, political support ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Gaza – Ma’an – Member of Hamas' parliamentary bloc, Khalil Al-Haya said that the movement is receiving fianacial, political and moral support from Iran, "without paying any political price," and welcomed every Islamic and Arab relation that would support the Palestinians and their resistance, he said on Sunday. » Read more

EU pledges 160 million Euro to PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Bethlehem - Ma'an - Caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and EU Representative Christian Berger ratified a new financial agreement to support the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday. The Financing Agreement, including a 0.5 million Euro contribution from Austria, was pledged to support to the Palestinain Authority's (PA) recurrent expenditures for 2010. The funds will be channeled to the PA’s payments of salaries and pensions and its social protection program via the EU's PEGASE program. » Read more

Abbas urges US 'endgame' unless Israel halts settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) January 17, 2010 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Washington on Sunday to declare an "endgame" to resolve the decades-old Middle East conflict if Israel does not agree to halt settlement growth. Abbas, in a statement carried by the official Wafa wire service, said Arab states and the Palestinians would present a unified position to the United States offering two options. » Read more

US envoy due in Lebanon at start of Mideast tour ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) January 19, 2010 - 1:00am BEIRUT — US Middle East envoy George Mitchell was due in Beirut on Tuesday at the beginning of a new regional tour aimed at restarting Middle East peace talks, a Lebanese foreign ministry official said. The tour will also take Mitchell to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Syria. The peace envoy was set to meet with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Foreign Minister Ali Shami and a number of other officials before leaving Beirut on Wednesday. » Read more

January 15th

U.S. Policy Shift Seen As Direct Israeli-Palestinian Talks May Be Near ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week by James D. Besser - January 12, 2010 - 1:00am The Obama administration is set to open a new chapter in Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy with a shift to quiet, below-the-radar negotiations and a new diplomatic juggling act for special envoy George Mitchell. » Read more