‘The pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace must not be abandoned’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) April 29, 2010 - 12:00am In an article titled "The false religion of Mideast peace", published this week in Foreign Policy, Aaron David Miller argued that it is not possible to achieve peace between Arabs/Palestinians and Israelis. » Read more

Israel cannot keep stalling peace efforts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) April 29, 2010 - 12:00am Why has the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted an invitation to come to Washington next month to discuss ways to overcome the hurdle placed by Israel before Palestinian-Israeli negotiations can resume? The impression here is that the US and Palestinian positions are not far apart on the steps that ought to be adopted by the hawkish government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before serious peace negotiations can begin. » Read more

Flexibility and Perseverance Required ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress by Moran Banai, Brendan Melley, James Pickup - (Opinion) April 27, 2010 - 12:00am Frustration regarding efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has generated much discussion lately about whether the Obama administration should present its own peace plan to the parties. Such a move is a tempting alternative to the lack of obvious progress toward direct negotiations, and it would certainly shake things up. As the idea of a U.S. plan gains currency, however, it is important to consider the implications of such an announcement. » Read more

Who Speaks for the Palestinians? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Weekly Standard by Elliott Abrams - (Opinion) April 28, 2010 - 12:00am Will proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority soon begin? While both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas have said they hope so, the matter is no longer in the hands of the Palestinians but in those of the Arab League foreign ministers--who meet May 1. » Read more

Obama spreads the love, keeping Jewish leaders happy—for now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - April 27, 2010 - 12:00am The Obama administration is projecting a new attitude when it comes to Israel, and is selling it hard: unbreakable, unshakeable bond going forward, whatever happens. Jewish leaders have kicked the tires and they're buying -- although anxious still at what happens when the rubber hits the road. » Read more

Wanna buy a bridge, Mr. Mitchell? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) April 29, 2010 - 12:00am We make a point of judging everybody on their deeds, not their words – everybody but ourselves. When we say every Israeli wants peace, when two out of three Israelis consistently tell pollsters they’d give up settlements for peace, when our Likud prime minister tells the world he now accepts the two-state solution, we say: You hear that? Listen to our words. What further proof does anyone need of our peaceful intentions? But then there’s this little matter of deeds, of what Israel actually does. On the ground. And our deeds tell a somewhat different story than our words. » Read more

Seeking peace, or just pretending? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) April 28, 2010 - 12:00am Finally, there’s a Middle East peace process under way, and both sides appear anxious to make progress. No, not the one between Israel and the Palestinians. I’m talking about making peace between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government. After months of acrimony, accusations and attack ads, both sides, feeling battered and bruised, say they’re ready. » Read more

Arabs unveil new plan to thwart demolitions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - April 28, 2010 - 12:00am Residents of Silwan's al-Bustan neighborhood in east Jerusalem presented an alternative plan to regulate illegal construction, in an attempt to thwart the razing of their houses. The alternative plan, unveiled during a Wednesday press conference, has already passed all technical requirements and was issued a zoning file at the municipality three weeks ago. » Read more

Minister Yishai officially invited to White House ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - April 29, 2010 - 12:00am Interior Minister Eli Yishai has been officially invited to visit the White House. The decision is apparently the result of the US Administration's desire to forge closer ties with the minister they perceive to be behind the east Jerusalem construction turmoil during Vice President Joe Biden's visit in Israel. During Biden's visit last month, the Interior Ministry approved the construction of 1,800 housing units in east Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood. » Read more

PA urges Palestinians to stop using Israeli cell phone firms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - April 29, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority is urging Palestinians to stop using the Israeli cellular companies Pelephone, Orange, Cellcom and Mirs. But PA Communications Minister Mashhour Abu Daqqa told a press conference in Ramallah yesterday that this is not political boycott. Rather, he said, it is an attempt to regulate the PA's cellular communications market. Abu Daqqa told reporters that the Israeli companies operate in PA-controlled areas without a license, in violation of Palestinian law and the Oslo Accords. Moreover, he said, the companies do not pay any taxes to the Palestinian Authority. » Read more