Women in charge in West Bank's key district ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - March 11, 2010 - 1:00am At 35, Leila Ghanem is the first woman to become a Palestinian governor, the latest in a group of trailblazing women leaders who are slowly winning acceptance in this traditional society. » Read more

Hamas frees British journalist in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Alastair MacDonald - March 11, 2010 - 1:00am A British journalist left the Gaza Strip on Thursday after nearly four weeks in a Hamas-run Palestinian jail facing accusations of spying for Israel. Paul Martin, a London-based freelance film-maker and writer, said as he left the enclave for Israel: "My release today is a great victory for freedom of the media, freedom of the press, to be able to follow the difficult stories in war zones." Hamas insisted on branding him a spy for Israel but said it had decided to deport rather than prosecute Martin, who is in his 50s and also holds South African citizenship. » Read more

Abbas: Arabs must intervene in peace debacle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 11, 2010 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas called on Arab representative bodies "to act swiftly, and to take steps... commensurate with this deadly work," referring to Israel's announced plans to build 1,600 new settlement homes in Jerusalem. Abbas' remarks were in a Palestinian Authority Information Ministry statement released Wednesday, slamming Israel's announcement, calling the move is part of Israel's "entrenched system of extremism." » Read more

Erekat says settlement move cancelled talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 11, 2010 - 1:00am Indirect talks with Israel will cease to go forward unless Israeli plans to construct 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem are axed, chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said Thursday. The statement followed one by Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who announced Wednesday that "The Palestinian president decided he will not enter into those negotiations now ... the Palestinian side is not ready to negotiate under the present circumstances." Moussa later told reporters that "The talks have already stopped." » Read more

Staying true to 'two-state' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times (Editorial) March 11, 2010 - 1:00am For the better part of two decades, most Israelis and Palestinians and most of their elected leaders have embraced the "two-state solution" to their bloody conflict -- a negotiated separation into side-by-side states of Israel and Palestine. Over time, however, the two sides have moved further from that goal, pulled in opposite directions by extremists. Now, as Vice President Biden and U.S. envoy George J. Mitchell attempt to start "proximity" talks, in which the two sides will negotiate without meeting face to face, we're concerned: Is time running out for a two-state solution? » Read more

Biden tells Palestinians U.S. won't be deterred ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Paul Richter - March 11, 2010 - 1:00am Vice President Joe Biden told Palestinians on Wednesday that the United States intends to push ahead with its Mideast peacemaking effort, despite a diplomatic blow-up this week over Israel's plans to build 1,600 housing units in disputed East Jerusalem. Biden met in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority president and prime minister, emphasizing U.S. determination to act as the intermediary in new talks between Israelis and Palestinians. The vice president reiterated his criticism of Israel's housing announcement, and declared that Palestinians deserve a "viable" state. » Read more

Biden's rebuke on new housing comes as Israel seeks to reaffirm U.S. relations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - March 11, 2010 - 1:00am Two years ago, Israel announced plans to build new homes in east Jerusalem just as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was preparing to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, prompting Rice's spokesman to characterize the move as "not helpful." » Read more

Diplomacy 102 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) March 10, 2010 - 1:00am Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. used rare and decidedly undiplomatic language on Tuesday to upbraid Israel after it announced plans to build 1,600 new housing units in a Jewish neighborhood of East Jerusalem. “I condemn the decision. ...,” he said in a statement. The Obama administration is understandably furious. Mr. Biden was in Israel working to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The word came after he had spent the day vowing the United States’ “absolute, total and unvarnished commitment to Israel’s security.” » Read more