September 27th, 2011

Netanyahu's popularity rises locally after UN speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Mu Xuequan - September 26, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Sep. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity got a boost after his speech at the United Nations last Friday, a poll showed on Monday, following his ratings plunged in the wake of social protests across the country during the summer. The survey showed that Netanyahu's approval spiked upwards when he rejected the Palestinians' statehood bid on the grounds that such a state could only come through negotiations with Israel, and not as a unilateral step. » Read more

UN speech gives Abbas a stronger hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Karin Laub - (Analysis) September 26, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP — President Mahmoud Abbas' surge of popularity following his bid for U.N. recognition for a Palestinian state is bound to give him a stronger hand against the rival Hamas group as they prepare to resume talks on a stalled power-sharing deal next week. » Read more

Fatah official: Non-violence key to Palestinian struggle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) September 27, 2011 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas' adviser said Tuesday that non-violent resistance was crucial to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation and that violent confrontation was not an option. Sabri Saydam told Ma'an that the Palestinians must take "the path of non-violent popular resistance to highlight Palestinian suffering" and avoid giving Israel any pretexts to export their "internal crisis." » Read more

UN Showdown Ushers in Critical a Period for U.S. Middle East Peace Efforts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Indira A.R. Lakshmanan - (Analysis) September 27, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinians’ bid for statehood at the United Nations has shaken up Mideast peace efforts, fueling a sense of crisis among Israeli and Palestinian allies that the U.S. says can drive a return to direct peace talks. “We know that there’s a trust deficit that needs to be overcome,” Michael Hammer, acting assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said yesterday. The two sides “have an opportunity here that we hope they will seize.” » Read more

One Gaza family celebrates Palestinian statehood bid despite Hamas ban ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Kristen Chick - September 25, 2011 - 12:00am When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas went to the United Nations to ask for recognition of a Palestinian state Friday, Gaza residents weren’t allowed to celebrate in the streets like Palestinians in the West Bank. » Read more

Palestinians’ Security Council Application Goes to a Committee ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Neil MacFarquhar - September 26, 2011 - 12:00am The Security Council decided to meet on Wednesday morning to refer the Palestinian membership application to the Council’s membership committee. All 15 Council members have a representative on the committee. Given the sensitivity and interest of the issue, it will be heavy with ambassadors this time around, diplomats said. Even as the review is proceeding, both the United States and the Palestinians have been lobbying over the eventual vote in the Council, which is still weeks if not months away. » Read more

September 26th

UN bid: Israel's political tsunami has arrived ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) September 25, 2011 - 12:00am Reactions to Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu’s addresses to the UN are clear illustrations of Palestine president’s ascent to political rock star status and Israeli prime minister’s increasing international isolation. Half an hour before Abbas went up to the podium at the UN General Assembly, Salva Kiir, president of the world’s youngest country, South Sudan, was giving his own speech. As he went on, a slow buzz began to spread throughout the hall. » Read more

Israel-America is our new South Africa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) September 24, 2011 - 12:00am It remains to be seen what actually changes on the ground in the months ahead following the Palestinian initiative to ask the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state in the 1967 Israeli-occupied territories as a U.N. member or observer state. The move could be a substantive gain for the Palestinian people, merely a symbolic victory, or a measurable setback if the United States and Israel translate their vindictive rhetoric into hard policies. While we wait for the impact of the U.N. » Read more

IDF-Palestinian coordination remains effective, despite heightened tensions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Tomer Zarchin - September 26, 2011 - 12:00am Security coordination between the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian security forces has proven its effectiveness in the face of heightened tensions over the Palestinian Authority's application for membership at the United Nations last week. Large-scale demonstrations in PA-controlled towns were kept from spilling over into other areas of the territories that are controlled by Israel. » Read more

Congress Moves To Punish Palestinians, But Even Israel Objects ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - September 22, 2011 - 12:00am Washington — A congressional drive to punish the Palestinian Authority for its statehood bid by cutting American aid is being greeted with enthusiasm by lawmakers of both parties. But the White House is giving the move a cold shoulder, and even Israel itself and its strongest supporters have serious reservations. The legislation being discussed in Congress would cut all or part of the nearly $600 million annual aid package if Palestinians move ahead with their plan to seek statehood at the United Nations. » Read more