November 19th

Expanding 'settlements' in eastern Jerusalem? Part 1 Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Examiner - November 19, 2009 - 1:00am The government of Israel is in process of approving 900 new houses in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem, on land acquired in 1967. The U.S. calls this “expanding a settlement.“ The White House press secretary “was ‘dismayed” and asking both parties to avoid unilateral actions that could ‘pre-empt or appear to pre-empt negotiations.’” “Disagreements over settlement building are in large part the reason that the negotiations, which have been stalled for months, have not resumed.” » Read more

East Jerusalem Settlement Plan Deepens Rift With Washington Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Wall Street Journal - November 19, 2009 - 1:00am WASHINGTON -- The U.S. sharply criticized Israel's decision to move ahead with a building expansion in East Jerusalem, underscoring the rift between the Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to push forward the stalled Middle East peace process. The U.S. has unsuccessfully lobbied Mr. Netanyahu over the past nine months to agree to a total Israeli construction freeze in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to underpin negotiations aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

November 12th

Washington Insider: "Politics always interferes with policy" Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Media Line - November 12, 2009 - 1:00am Dr Ziad J Asali, founder and president of the American Task Force on Palestine, in conversation with Michael Friedson, executive editor of The Media Line News Agency. Dr. Ziad J. Asali is the president and founder of the American Task Force on Palestine, an organization that in a few short years has made a strong presence in Washington and Capitol Hill speaking on behalf of the Palestinian people. Dr. Asali was interviewed at The American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem by The Media Line’s Executive Editor Michael Friedson. » Read more

Obama's Middle East Strategy Stalls Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In Voice of America - November 12, 2009 - 1:00am From the beginning of his administration, U.S. President Barack Obama said resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be a top foreign policy priority. After nearly 10 months of diplomacy, however, the peace process appears to be stalled and no negotiations are on the horizon. Some Middle East analysts say the failure to make progress is due, at least in part, to missteps made by the Obama administration. » Read more

November 11th

Palestinian Authority’s Future Is in Question Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The New York Times - November 11, 2009 - 1:00am The collapse of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s negotiating partner, was raised as a possibility on Monday, as several aides to its president, Mahmoud Abbas, said that he intended to resign and forecast that others would follow. » Read more

November 6th

Abbas pushes back Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Politico - November 6, 2009 - 1:00am A day after Hillary Clinton returned from a swing through the Middle East where she pushed the Palestinians to go into peace talks with Israel short of a full Israeli settlement freeze, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is threatening to not run in Palestinian elections he has called to be held in January, reports say. » Read more

November 5th

One-state solution Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Arab News - November 5, 2009 - 1:00am This first critical study of the “one-state” agenda comes at a time when Palestine has witnessed no real progress on the ground and an atmosphere of hopelessness and pessimism is spreading in the region. » Read more

U.S. Eases Pressure on Israel, Leans On Palestinians Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Jewish Daily Forward - November 5, 2009 - 1:00am Washington — Relations between Washington and Jerusalem are warming, as months-long tensions over West Bank settlements and other issues have gradually eased. » Read more

Administration missteps hamper Mideast efforts Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Washington Post - November 5, 2009 - 1:00am President Obama came into office insisting that his administration would press hard and fast to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But after nine months, analysts and diplomats say, the administration's efforts have faltered in part because of its own missteps. As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made clear during her Middle East trip, which ended Wednesday, U.S. officials are now promoting new tactics -- what they called the "baby steps" of lower-level talks -- to bring the Israeli and Palestinian leaders together for direct talks. » Read more

November 2nd

Hillary Clinton to Embark upon Uphill Mideast Mission Media Mention of ATFP In Xinhua - October 29, 2009 - 12:00am U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to visit Israel and the West Bank this weekend. This will be her second visit to the region since Barack Obama entered office as U.S. president some 10 months ago. Coming at a time when relations between Israel and the Palestinians show no outward sign of improvement, analysts see Hillary's visit to be a tough mission and do not expect it to achieve much. A NEGATIVE BACKDROP » Read more