Beware "Creative Alternatives" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am It's easy to understand why so many people are giving up on negotiations and a two-state solution, and instead are looking for “creative alternatives.” Israeli-Palestinian talks are at an impasse. The two sides haven't seemed this far apart since the second intifada. The number of settlers and settlements continues to baloon relentlessly. Israel's government appears united behind recalcitrant policies, while the Palestinians appear hopelessly divided. » Read more

Does Israel have a state? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Ahmad Majdoubeh - (Opinion) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am Sixty-four years passed since the creation of the “state” of Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians, and neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis have achieved the aspiration of having a viable state. Because of this, both Palestinians and Israelis need to seriously reflect on the situation. » Read more

Boycotts and threats ultimately hurt the Palestinian cause ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ron Pundak - (Opinion) May 14, 2012 - 12:00am A few days ago, hundreds of left-wing Israeli peace activists met to discuss the big issue: what to do? Should the focus be social or political? Is there a political solution? One state or two? And how to generate a center-left majority in the next elections? This time around, we looked at an additional topic: the influence of a peace process vacuum on the capacity to actually carry out activities involving interaction between Israeli and Palestinian societies. » Read more

Putting on the Pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Noam Sheizaf - (Opinion) May 18, 2012 - 12:00am In the wake of a unity deal between the Likud and Kadima, which resulted in one of Israel's largest coalitions in history, some claimed that there is a chance to revive the peace process, and ultimately, arrive at a two state solution. Others have claimed that it's too late for a plan based on separating Palestinians and Israelis. » Read more

Coalition of the Unwilling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Shmuel Rosner - (Blog) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON — Hopes for the resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians rekindled last week with the creation of a broad and more centrist governing coalition in Israel. The leaders of the Likud and Kadima parties declared that they would work to “advance a responsible peace process.” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that she welcomed the commitment. » Read more

Israel-Palestine Peace Process Will Return From the Dead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) May 16, 2012 - 12:00am A wise Israeli once observed that in Israeli politics, you could be just dead or more permanently dead, and buried.  It’s a useful distinction which also has relevance for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process these days. » Read more

Jerusalem Day Interview With Photojournalist David Rubinger ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Felice Friedson - (Interview) May 16, 2012 - 12:00am Photojournalist David Rubinger has been described as “the common thread” – the link between events collectively comprising the history of the modern state of Israel. Long before Rubinger shot the iconic classic of three soldiers, faces apparently awash in awesome amazement as they gazed upon the just-liberated Western Wall during the 1967 war, the Vienna-native-turned-Jerusalemite was the proverbial “fly on the wall” in meetings between Israel’s founding fathers and the world leaders who came to visit. » Read more

A slanted view of Middle East history ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jay Bushinsky - (Opinion) May 18, 2012 - 12:00am It was inconceivable that Tel Aviv University, part of whose budget is covered by the State of Israel, would permit the observance of “Nakba Day” – “The Day of the Catastrophe” – on campus. It was unbelievable that Arab students who are Israeli citizens would be joined by Jewish students to commemorate the suffering endured by Palestine’s Arabs due to Israel’s emergence as an independent Jewish state 64 years ago. » Read more

Israel's right-wing wants to maintain the occupation status-quo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by David Landau - (Opinion) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am A civilized, serious debate about Israel held on New York's Upper West Side this week understandably aroused correspondent Chemi Shalev's wistful jealousy. » Read more

Michael Sfard, the Israeli lawyer battling illegal settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ben Lynfield - (Interview) May 18, 2012 - 12:00am Young lawyer Michael Sfard has achieved something that the White House and left-leaning Israeli political leaders could not. His legal work on behalf of Palestinian clients is compelling Israel in at least two instances to roll back back Jewish settlements. » Read more