Israeli settlers rev bulldozers as settlement freeze nears end ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - September 26, 2010 - 12:00am Tel Aviv — With Israel and Palestinian negotiators deadlocked over settlement expansion just hours before the expiration of a 10-month Israeli settlement freeze, Jewish settlers vowed to renew building during symbolic celebrations in the West Bank. » Read more

Palestinian President Abbas has the most to lose ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post (Editorial) September 25, 2010 - 12:00am PRESIDENT OBAMA'S Middle East peace diplomacy has made some progress, but an early error still haunts it. The president's ill-advised attempt to force a freeze of Israeli housing construction in Jerusalem and the West Bank could cause the breakdown this weekend of direct talks on a final settlement, only a month after they began. » Read more

Palestinian President Abbas has the most to lose ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post (Editorial) September 25, 2010 - 12:00am PRESIDENT OBAMA'S Middle East peace diplomacy has made some progress, but an early error still haunts it. The president's ill-advised attempt to force a freeze of Israeli housing construction in Jerusalem and the West Bank could cause the breakdown this weekend of direct talks on a final settlement, only a month after they began. » Read more

U.S. Scrambling to Save Talks on Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Mark Landler - September 26, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel allowed a politically charged freeze on Jewish settlement building in the West Bank to expire on Sunday, but the Palestinians did not carry out a threat to quit peace negotiations, setting the stage for further frantic efforts to keep the talks alive. For President Obama, who had publicly called on Israel to extend the freeze, the Israeli decision was another setback in what has been a tortuous effort to help resolve one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. » Read more

Mideast Talks Teeter as the Settlement Freeze Expires ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Mark Landler - September 27, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel’s freeze on Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank expired at midnight, but Palestinians did not immediately carry out a threat to quit peace negotiations as several settlements resumed limited home building on Monday and American-led efforts to save the talks moved into high gear. For President Obama, who had publicly called on Israel to extend the freeze, the Israeli decision was another setback in what has been a tortuous effort to help resolve one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. » Read more