October 22nd

Gov't officials: Prepare for unilateral steps ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Atilla Somfalvi - October 21, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinians' intention to seek international recognition of a Palestinian state did not catch Israel's political echelon by surprise. Amid deadlocked negotiations and an ongoing dispute over the construction in the settlements, senior government officials have begun discussing Israel's need for a plan B. » Read more

Report: PA uncovers Hamas arms cache in Ramallah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - October 22, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority security forces uncovered a large arms cache belonging to Hamas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Friday. According to the report, PA security forces found rockets and automatic weapons in the warehouse, which may have been meant for use on PA officials as well as on targets in Israel. PA security forces spokesman Adnan Damiri confirmed that the arms cache belonged to Hamas and said that the matter will be further investigated. » Read more

Lieberman is Kahane. And even the right senses it ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - October 21, 2010 - 12:00am Is anyone on the mainstream Jewish right – anyone at all – willing to speak in defense of Avigdor Lieberman, the bully in the china shop of Israel's relationship with its Arab minority? In particular, is anyone on the mainstream right prepared to step up and support his fascism bandwagon's snorting, noxious draft horse – the loyalty oath initiative? Not the Zionist Organization of America. Normally a hair-trigger media machine, the hard-right ZOA has been uncharacteristically silent on Lieberman's showcase bill. » Read more

Peace with Palestinians would help US on Iran-Peres ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 22, 2010 - 12:00am Israel needs good ties with the United States to survive and must be more understanding of U.S. demands over securing peace with the Palestinians, Israeli President Shimon Peres said in remarks aired on Friday. Peres, Israel's elder statesman, said an end to the Palestinian conflict would improve the United States' own security position in the Middle East and help isolate Iran. » Read more

Settlers attack family picking olives ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 22, 2010 - 12:00am Dozens of settlers attacked a family who were picking olives in Yatta, in the West Bank district of Hebron, witnesses said. Locals said settlers attacked Othman Abu Sabha and his family, damaged his car and stole their olives. Meanwhile, settlers entered Kfir Qaddum village east of Qalqiliya, and wrote graffiti on the walls threatening revenge. Palestinian farmers across the West Bank have reported frequent settler attacks since the olive harvest began in early October. » Read more

Sha'ath: Talks on hold until US election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 22, 2010 - 12:00am A member of the PLO's negotiating team said Thursday that the Obama administration had all but given up its efforts to restart peace talks at least until US midterm elections next month. Fatah leader Nabil Sha'ath said the US position threw the Palestinian Authority into crisis through its handling of the talks, which ended in September when Israel opted to renew building settlements in the occupied territories. » Read more

Settlers Race to Build Units in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - October 21, 2010 - 12:00am Less than four weeks since the end of Israel’s building freeze in the West Bank, hundreds of units are under construction in dozens of settlements there, settler leaders and anti-settlement advocates said Thursday. Foundations have been dug for 300 units and work is under way on a couple of hundred more, they report, many of the units in smaller settlements that would be most unlikely to remain as part of Israel in any future two-state deal with the Palestinians. » Read more

The Other Citizens of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) October 21, 2010 - 12:00am Is there no limit to what the American government will accept from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-line foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman? With Netanyahu’s backing, the Israeli cabinet voted in support of Lieberman’s loyalty oath for non-Jewish immigrants, which requires allegiance to a “Jewish and democratic state” of Israel. It was as if Mexican immigrants to the United States would have to swear allegiance to a United States that is white and Protestant, while immigrants from Europe would face no such oath. » Read more

Clinton Urges Arab Financial Support for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America October 21, 2010 - 12:00am Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Fifth Annual Gala of the American Task Force on Palestine in Washington, 20 Oct 2010 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Arab countries should provide more financial support to the Palestinian Authority. Speaking Wednesday to pro-Palestinian group the American Task Force on Palestine in Washington, Clinton said it takes more than plans and commitments "to support making the state of Palestine a reality." The U.S. and the European Union are the Palestinian Authority's main donors. 2 state solution » Read more

Clinton Reaffirms US Commitment to Middle East Solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America by Mohamed Elshinnawi - October 21, 2010 - 12:00am Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Fifth Annual Gala of the American Task Force on Palestine in Washington, 20 Oct 2010 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the path to security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis lies in negotiations that result in two states, living side by side in peace. » Read more