May 24th

Palestinians at Odds Over Obama Peace Policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Miller - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians were left confused and divided over U.S. President Barack Obama after he made two major policy addresses on Israel, the Palestinians and the peace process in the space of four days. The Obama speeches – one at the State Department largely devoted to broader Middle East issues an a second in front of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) left a trail of confusion for policy analysts and political figures, especially over the U.S. leader’s meaning when he called for negotiation a future Palestinian state to be based on “1967 lines.” » Read more

Moussa: Israel 'not serious' about peace negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Egyptian presidential likely Amr Moussa said that the Israeli refusal to negotiate a peaceful settlement with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas is illegitimate. He said that the current Israeli leadership "is not serious" about negotiating with any Palestinian faction. Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Moussa said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to "take into consideration that the Arab world is changing," and that the new Arab leadership will not represent the old status quo. He said now is the time for the Israeli government to "seize this opportunity." » Read more

Moussa: Israel 'not serious' about peace negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Egyptian presidential likely Amr Moussa said that the Israeli refusal to negotiate a peaceful settlement with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas is illegitimate. He said that the current Israeli leadership "is not serious" about negotiating with any Palestinian faction. Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Moussa said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to "take into consideration that the Arab world is changing," and that the new Arab leadership will not represent the old status quo. He said now is the time for the Israeli government to "seize this opportunity." » Read more

'Jordan is Palestine,' MK Eldad declares at embassy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ben Hartman - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am A handful of Israelis marked Jordanian Independence Day on Tuesday by attempting to present the Jordanian embassy in Ramat Gan with a petition to make the country the official national homeland of the Palestinian people. The initiator of the petition, Arye Eldad (National Union) said that the petition "requests that King Abdullah declare Jordan as the national homeland of the Palestinian people. His father said Jordan is Palestine, Palestine is Jordan. Unfortunately Abdullah doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps on this." » Read more

Livni: 2-state solution good for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Give peace a chance: The two-state solution is good for Israel and is the only way to maintain a state that is both Jewish and democratic, Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni told the AIPAC conference in Washington Monday. The notion of two states, Israel and Palestine, is not just a slogan or a move that would be beneficial for other parties, such as the US president, Livni said. "It is not an anti-Israeli policy – it is vital for Israel’s interests," she said. » Read more

PA: Netanyahu's policies fraudulent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian officials criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's AIPAC address Tuesday, saying that it reflects his "fraudulent policies, which are in contrast with all international laws and agreements." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's advisor Nimr Hammad said that Netanyahu's speech – and the apparent speech he will give before Congress later Tuesday – was a "clear challenge" vis-à-vis Washington's policies and vision. » Read more

Netanyahu's Congress speech: Will it change his relationship with Obama or ruin it forever? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Tuesday before the U.S. Congress will be the formative event of his term, if not his entire political career. A statement released by his bureau promises that the speech will "garner major international attention," alluding to a surprise. The speech, whose purpose is to curb international pressure on Israel, gives Netanyahu a rare opportunity to reboot his leadership. Just a few months ago, he appeared to be directionless. Now, people are hanging on his every word. » Read more

Netanyahu's Congress speech: Will it change his relationship with Obama or ruin it forever? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Tuesday before the U.S. Congress will be the formative event of his term, if not his entire political career. A statement released by his bureau promises that the speech will "garner major international attention," alluding to a surprise. The speech, whose purpose is to curb international pressure on Israel, gives Netanyahu a rare opportunity to reboot his leadership. Just a few months ago, he appeared to be directionless. Now, people are hanging on his every word. » Read more

U.S. Jews must support Obama's Mideast vision ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) May 24, 2011 - 12:00am American Jews have been dragged over the past few days into the controversy between their government and Israel's government, and that is neither to their benefit nor to the benefit of the State of Israel. On Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee convention and candidly laid out his ideas for a permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. » Read more

Netanyahu is not ready for any deal with the Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nehemia Shtrasler - (Opinion) May 24, 2011 - 12:00am There's nothing funnier than reading political pundits trying to get to the bottom of the fine points of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speeches. When he said "settlement blocs," did he mean the evacuation of all the rest? When he spoke of a "military presence" in the Jordan Valley, did he mean the Israel Defense Forces, or an international force? » Read more