The Christian Science Monitor examines how the United States has muted its calls for Mideast reform and democracy in favor of aligning with Sunni allies to confront Iran and its allies (3.) In the International Herald Tribune, former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer identifies four parameters by which to judge the success of the fall Mideast meeting (4.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency looks at how the issue of Jerusalem is shaping up to be the key issue at the fall Mideast meeting (6.) The Times (UK) reports on the statements coming out of the Israeli political leadership regarding returning parts of occupied East Jerusalem to the Palestinians (9.) In Haaretz (Israel) Akiva Eldar examines how the recent expropriation of Palestinian land by the Israeli army ties into new Israeli plans to resume construction in the E1 area close to Jerusalem (10.) Also in Haaretz, Israeli historian and author Tom Segev explains why recent Israeli government statements concerning 'dividing' Jerusalem have hardly caused any controversy (11.)

Reuters explores some of the differences between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators working on producing a joint document in the lead up to the fall Mideast meeting (2.) the Associated Press examines further statements from senior Israeli officials expressing support for returning the Arab parts of occupied East Jerusalem to the Palestinians as part of a final peace deal (4.) A Boston Globe editorial urges ISraeli PM Olmjert to address the substantive issues needed to attract wide Arab attendance at the fall meeting, particularly since the Saudi offer for peace includes normalization for Israel with all the Arab world (5.) In a Star-Telegram opinion, Jewish Voices for Peace communications director Cecilie Surasky provides a personal example to illustrate the tactics used to stifle any dissent in the U.S. of Israeli policies (7.) In the New Republic, former top Mideast negotiator Dennis Ross outlines an achievable outcome for Secretary Rice at the fall Mideast meeting that would transform current realities between Israelis and Palestinians (8.) The Economist (UK) labels as dubious the current Palestinian Authority strategy to strengthen Fatah and weaken Hamas (10.) The Independent (UK) analyzes how two years of internal and external conflict, and deepening poverty.have resulted in a devastating deterioration in educational indicators across the Gaza Strip (11.) An Institute for Palestine Studies (Palestine) policy note by senior fellow Nadia Hijab takes a historical look on how the U.S. has only used its influence to bring about serious shifts in Israeli policy when it has perceived its vital interests to be at stake (13.) A Haaretz (Israel) editorial by Akiva Eldar outlines why the timing is right for Israel to reach a final settlement with the Palestinians and Arabs on the establishment of a Palestinian state (14.)

The Christian Science Monitor looks at how a theatrical production involving a series of monologues called 'Jerusalem Stories' is being performed in both Wast and West Jerusalem in an attempt to get Israelis and Palestinians to empathize with each other (2.) The Forward poses questions concerning the opportunities and challenges associated with the current peace momentum to a group of Israeli, American and Palestinian experts in the field (4.) In Slate, founder Michael Kinsley explores the paradox of how right-wing pro-Israel organizations in the U.S. perpetuate the very anti-Semitic stereotypes they object to by touting their own political influence publicly (6.) In his 'Prospects For Peace' blog, New America and Century Foundation's Daniel Levy reviews the Walt/Mearsheimer book on the Israel lobby and finds that it contributes positively to a rethink about the U.S.-Israeli relationship and that the authors are not driven by prejudice (7.) BBC (UK) examines how the Palestinian economy has 'de-developed' over the past few years due to international sanction and Israel's closure policy (9.) Haaretz (Israel) looks at reports that the fall Mideast meeting joint statement will refer to core issues but in a non-committal and only on those already agree upon (12.) A Haaretz editorial offers six reasons why reaching an agreement at the fall meeting will be more difficult than at Camp David in 2000 (13.)

Reuters reports on expectations by the Palestinian government that formal negotiations to create a Palestinian state could be completed six months after the fall Mideast meeting (2.) The Forward looks at how Fatah and the Palestinian Authority are replacing Hamas-affiliated prayer leaders at mosques across the West Bank (3.) In the New Republic, Carnegie Endowment's John Judis comes to Congressman Jim Moran's defense regarding charges of anti-Semitism leveled against him as a result of comments in an interview he gave (5.) The Independent (UK) reports on the results of a telephone poll of Gazans taken yesterday on the issues of rocket attacks against Israel, Hamas, and a peace agreement with Israel (7.) The Guardian (UK) looks at how Palestinian youth in the West bank are using technology and the internet to overcome the restrictions placed on them by the Israeli occupation and culture (8.) A Jordan Times (editorial) urges the U.S. to use its influence with Israel to make meaningful gestures to the Palestinians in the lead-up to the fall Mideast meeting (10.) A Ynet/Yedioth News (Israel) opinion by settlement expert Dror Etkes addresses the discriminatory policy of the Jewish National Fund when it comes to leasing land to non-Jews (11.)

A detailed special report in the Chicago Tribune examines how new revelations by U.S. Navy veterans and documents suggest that Israel and the U.S. did not tell the full story about the attack on the USS Liberty by Israeli air force and naval forces in 1967 (1.) In the Terrorism.OpenDemocracy blog, Maria Stephan analyzes the significance of the replacement of 'armed resistance' by 'popular struggle' in the Abbas-Fayyad government platform and how such a non-violent struggle might shape up (4.) In Le Monde Diplomatique (France) Mariano Aguirre weighs in on the issue of whether criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic (6.) Miftah (Palestine) editorial addresses the issue of Palestinian prisoner by Israel (9.) A Haaretz (Israel) editorial labels the de facto separation between Israelis and Palestinians more akin to 'political apartheid' than to occupation, allowing Israelis to ignore the situation and its indefinite continuation (10.) Also in Haaretz, Shmuel Rosner identifies the real issue of the fall meeting as being that of a timetable for agreement on final status issues and their implementation (12.)

The American Prospect features an open letter by Israeli author and journalist Gershom Gorenberg to U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on her recent statements regarding the political future of Jerusalem (1.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency examines the debate within Israeli policy-making circles of how to deal with Hamas in the lead-up to the Fall Mideast meeting (4.) The Guardian (UK) reports on a letter sent to Secretary of State Rice from former U.S. diplomats warning of the failure of the Fall Mideast meeting if the groundwork for success is not laid and offering policy suggestions (6.) An Independent (UK) editorial suggests two steps Israel could take as bold gestures to demonstrate good faith in getting peace talks restarted (8.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Amira Hass castigates Israelis for not exercising their democratic rights in opposing the many facets of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands (10.) A Daily Star (Lebanon) opinion by the Carnegie Endowment's Michele Dunne identifies three flaws in the new 'anti-elections' thinking about Mideast democracy (11.)

Reuters looks at the issue of Israel's cutting financial links with Palestinian banks in the Gaza Strip to prevent money being transferred to organizations affialiated with Hamas (2.) A Daily Star (Lebanon) editorial is critical of Hamas allowing Palestinian rocket fire out of Gaza as undermining the Palestinian cause of liberation (5.) A Middle East Times (Pan Arab) opinion by Sherwood Ross looks at the issue of the influence of the pro-Israel lobby based on the Walt/Mearshiemer book and the James Petras book on that issue (7.)

The Washington Post interviews Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during his attendance last week at the U.N. General Assembly (2.) In the New Yorker, Seymour Hersh examines how the targets for the Bush administration's plans for a military strike against Iran through aerial bombing have changed (4.) Americans For Peace Now present their weekly translated review of the Israeli press (6.) the Financial Times reports on the urging by UAE minister Al Gergawi of the creation of jobs and economic opportunity for Mideast youth to prevent them falling prey to despair and extremism (7.) The Economist (UK) offers a mixed review of the new Mearshiemer/Walt book on the Israel lobby in the U.S. (8.) An Asharq Alawsat opinion by Amir Taheri argues why neither Israelis nor Palestinians feel it is in their interests to address the current status quo by taking the political risks associated with the Fall Mideast meeting (11.) In Haaretz (Israel), Bradley Burston outlines why it will be the right and not the Israeli left that will be capable of delivering a peace deal with the Palestinians and Arabs (12.)