March 9th

White House condemns Israel for latest illegal settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jonathan Cook - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM // Israel announced yesterday that it was to build 1,600 new homes in an illegal Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem, hours after the visiting US vice president, Joe Biden, had described renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians as “a moment of real opportunity”. » Read more

As Biden Visits, Israel Unveils Plan for New Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Hours after Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. vowed unyielding American support for Israel’s security here on Tuesday, Israel’s interior ministry announced 1,600 new housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem, prompting Mr. Biden to condemn the move as “precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly embarrassed at the move by his interior minister, Eli Yishai, head of the right-wing Shas party who has made Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem one of his central causes. » Read more

Statement by Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from March 9, 2010 - 1:00am "I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel. We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. » Read more

From proximity to peace? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) March 9, 2010 - 1:00am THE OBAMA administration appears near to a diplomatic achievement it expected long ago: the relaunch of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It will be a modest start -- not a big conference or a convocation to Camp David but "proximity talks," in which envoy George J. Mitchell will shuttle between the two camps. This is, in one sense, a step backward for Israeli-Palestinian relations, since the two sides have been talking directly to each other, off and on, since 1991. But Mr. » Read more

Israeli Left Emerges From Coma Amid Atrocities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mel Frykberg - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am On Saturday night over 3,000 Palestinian, Israeli and foreign peace activists, waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Free Sheikh Jarrah", gathered in the East Jerusalem suburb in support of Palestinians threatened with home demolitions and evictions. Progressive members of the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, called for the removal of illegal Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem and for the rights of Palestinian residents to be respected. » Read more

The perils of a new intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am If last Friday's incident at the Al Haram Al Sharif compound means anything it is this: Israel's right-wing government is out of control and is bent on executing a malicious scheme to undermine Palestinian rights. » Read more

Biden to Al-Hayat: Bold Steps Required to Advance the Peace Process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Joyce Karam - (Interview) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am On the eve of his highly anticipated trip to the Middle East, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden emphasized in an interview with Al-Hayat the need for “bold steps” from Palestinians and Israelis to make progress on the Peace Process, and promised a “sustained and active” American role in the upcoming proximity negotiations. Mr. Biden talked about the lack of trust for the Iranian leadership and expected from China, a member of the P5+1, to “fulfill its responsibilities” on the issue of sanctions. » Read more

Israel given one year to tell truth about settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jonathan Cook - March 7, 2010 - 1:00am Israel has been told that its accession to an exclusive club of the world’s most developed economies is all but assured when the 30 member states meet in May. But a draft report of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), seen by The National, concedes that Israel has breached one of the organisation’s key requirements on providing accurate and transparent data on its economic activity. » Read more

Salam Fayyad: The Palestinian with a plan for statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - (Analysis) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am Pundits and politicians have taken recently to comparing Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion. No less a figure than President Shimon Peres, one of Ben-Gurion's foremost disciples, is the latest Israeli leader to offer the accolade. The reason is simple: Like Ben-Gurion, Fayyad is building institutions of statehood. » Read more

OECD is ushering Israel in too easily ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) March 9, 2010 - 1:00am Despite all the diplomatic disquiet over Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, actions speak far louder than words when it comes to Israel's international status. In May, the country seems set to be ushered into the OECD, following years of campaigning from successive Israeli governments. Such a move would be another step in welcoming Israel in from the cold, and demonstrates certain states' willingness to overlook Israel's questionable behaviour as an occupier in favour of enhanced fiscal and political ties. » Read more