Palestinian PM dismisses peace talk chances ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - October 21, 2011 - 12:00am Palestine's Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has dimmed Western hopes that a flurry of diplomacy next week could restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations by saying that "conditions are not right" to get back into talks. The declaration by one of the most prominent Palestinian moderates is a blow to the international Middle East Quartet of the US, EU, Russia and the UN, and its envoy Tony Blair, who arrives in Jerusalem next week in an attempt to breathe new life into a badly faltering peace process. » Read more

Palestinian PM: Conditions ‘not ripe’ for peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Ben Birnbaum - October 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad says that circumstances are “not ripe” for peace talks with Israel, arguing that the international community’s focus on getting Israelis and Palestinians back to the table is misguided. “Let me be frank with you: My own assessment is that conditions are not ripe at this juncture for the resumption — a meaningful resumption — of talks,” Mr. Fayyad told attendees of the American Task Force on Palestine’s annual gala late Wednesday. » Read more

Et tu, Bibi? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) October 21, 2011 - 12:00am As Israeli staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was held captive for more than five years by Palestinian fighters in Gaza, was heading back to Israel via Egypt, he expressed hope that his safe return home would pave the way for peace in the Middle East. In a jarring interview on Egyptian television, he declared: “I really hope that this deal advances peace and not more military conflicts and wars between Israel and the Palestinians.” » Read more

Palestinian PM Fayyad says the time 'not ripe' for talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News October 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has said that the time is not ripe for resuming "meaningful" talks with Israel. He said the problem was not a lack of talks but the absence of the right "terms of reference" for a peace deal. The Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the UN, EU, US and Russia - had called for direct talks to take place later this month. They will hold separate talks with the two sides next week. » Read more

Palestine and the Arabs: An inescapable relationship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Bilal Hassen - (Opinion) October 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Arab-Israeli conflict is an ever-present strategic issue for any Arab state or regime, regardless of its [political] trend. This has resulted in the emergence of popular anti-Israeli [political] movements; some are Palestinian, whilst others are Arab. These movements represent a tool in the struggle against the Israeli challenge. The majority of them are military [Fedayeen] movements, whilst some are political movements, whether via the Oslo Accords or via the political framework of the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

The people are in trenches while the leaders are in the hotels! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) October 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Israeli Prime Minister, and likewise the Palestinian leaders, took part in a race to secure pictures with the prisoners released on Tuesday; Netanyahu did so with the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and the Palestinian leaders did so with the released Palestinian prisoners, in what was a clear trade in human commodities, and the future of our region. » Read more

Palestinian Leader Says Time ‘Not Ripe’ for Mideast Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Nicole Gaouette - October 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said there is little chance for a prompt renewal of peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis that the Obama administration seeks. “My own assessment” is that “conditions are not ripe at this juncture for a meaningful resumption of talks,” Fayyad told a Washington audience yesterday. He made his remarks as the U.S. and its allies in the so- called Quartet -- the United Nations, the European Union and Russia -- are trying to restart talks between the two sides to head off a Palestinian push for statehood recognition at the UN. » Read more

Conditions not ripe for dialogue with Israel: Fayyad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from FOCUS News Agency October 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinians are not ready to resume dialogue with Israel as sought by the Mideast diplomatic Quartet, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad said Wednesday, AFP reported. "Our own assessment is that the conditions are not ripe at this juncture for a meaningful resumption of talks," he said at the annual gala for the American Task Force on Palestine, a pro-Palestinian lobby. » Read more

Why Deal To Free Gilad Shalit Was Smart ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) October 20, 2011 - 12:00am You didn’t have to be a great lover of Israel to get choked up at the sight of Gilad Shalit walking unsteadily into the sunlight of freedom October 18, after five years of being locked in a hole somewhere in Gaza. At the same time, you couldn’t miss the anguished second-guessing that dominated public discussion of the deal, both in Israel and pro-Israel circles here in America. » Read more

Palestinian PM Fayyad: Time is not right for serious peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - October 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Thursday that Palestinian-American relations are currently strained, and that many Palestinians are very disappointed with the yields of diplomacy, but he stressed that the Palestinians are committed to the peace process. "We want to see an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. We want the Palestinian people to live with dignity. Fayyad said the Palestinians are committed to resolving the conflict, but that "the conditions are not right to resume talks." » Read more