April 13th

Israeli nuclear scientists denied entry to U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from World Tribune April 12, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli sources said scientists employed at Israel's nuclear facility at Dimona have been denied visas to the United States. They said the Israelis were not allowed to enter the United States for training in chemistry, nuclear engineering and physics. "This is a new policy decision of the Obama administration, since there never used to be an issue with the reactor's employees to study in the United States, and until recently, they received visas and studied in the United States," the Israeli daily Maariv said. » Read more

Erekat: World must compel Israel to revoke military order ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 13, 2010 - 12:00am Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat called on US Mideast envoy George Mitchell, among others, to immediately intervene and pressure Israel to revoking a military order mandating the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank defined as "infiltrators." Erekat further issued the same communique to EU Mideast representative Marc Otte, the UN's special coordinator for the peace process, Robert Serry, Russia's special envoy to the region, Alexander Saltanov, and Quartet envoy, Tony Blair. » Read more

Aluminum to enter Gaza after 3-year Israeli ban ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 13, 2010 - 12:00am Israel has informed the Palestinian Authority that aluminum and wood will be permitted entry into Gaza, officials said Monday. The announcement was made by Nasser As-Seraj, assistant undersecretary in the Ministry of National Economy, and was confirmed by Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh. Fattouh told Ma'an that the first truckload of wood is expected to enter Gaza on Thursday -- the first delivery for over three years -- but that it remains unclear when the transfer of aluminum is expected. » Read more

Palestinian state on track says World Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - April 12, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian government is on track to deliver on its promise of building the institutions of an independent state, the World Bank said on Monday. In its latest report, the bank offers a clear endorsement of the policies of Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister and the architect of an ambitious programme designed to achieve independence and statehood by the middle of next year. It notes the impressive economic growth in the West Bank in 2009, and praises recent improvements in the management of public finances. » Read more

It takes a village to humanize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Richard Cohen - (Opinion) April 13, 2010 - 12:00am Budrus is a Palestinian village just inside the West Bank. "Budrus" is also a documentary about what happened in that village when Israeli authorities tried to use some of its land -- cherished olive groves -- to build a security fence separating Arab from Jew or, as has too often been the case, terrorist from target. The villagers resisted, the Israelis insisted, and in the end an agreement was reached. On paper, it looks like a compromise. On film, it's an Israeli rout. » Read more

Towards a Palestinian State: Reforms for Fiscal Strengthening ATFP World Press Roundup Article from April 13, 2010 - 12:00am A viable state requires public institutions that create an enabling environment for private sector-driven growth, manage public finances efficiently, and are able to deliver effective services to the population. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is making steady progress on implementing its reform program and building the institutions required by a future state: the PA has strengthened its public financial management systems, improved service delivery, and made significant reforms to increase security and shore up its fiscal position. » Read more

April 12th

A US Middle East peace plan in theory and practice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ibishblog by Hussein Ibish - (Blog) April 10, 2010 - 12:00am A few days ago a David Ignatius column in the Washington Post introduced a new Obama administration concept in the standoff with PM Netanyahu: the idea that the United States might develop and begin promoting its own specified plan for a Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. In effect, this plays on Israel's deep concern about a settlement that is "imposed" by outside powers rather than one that is negotiated with the Palestinians. » Read more

Robert Satloff doth protest too much ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Stephen Walt - (Opinion) April 9, 2010 - 12:00am If you would like to read a textbook example of a dust-kicking operation, please look at Robert Satloff's heated response to my recent post explaining the problems that can arise when top-level foreign policy officials have strong attachments to a foreign country. I seem to have struck a nerve. There are only two important issues here, and Satloff ignores both of them. First, do some top U.S. officials -- and here we are obviously talking about Dennis Ross -- have a strong attachment to Israel? Second, might this situation be detrimental to the conduct of U.S. Middle East policy? » Read more

A New Israeli Slap in the Face for Obama ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Abdullah Iskandar - (Opinion) April 12, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed yet another slap in the face at the administration of President Barack Obama. » Read more

Israel's peace dividend ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) April 12, 2010 - 12:00am The beauty of Israel's economy is in the eye of the beholder: some sceptics routinely sound the death knell for the country's finances, while their optimistic opponents claim the state's coffers have never been in ruder health. Last week, traders and investment funds delivered a resoundingly clear verdict in the latter camp's favour, driving the benchmark TA-25 index to an all-time high. » Read more