Netanyahu says close to deal with U.S. on West Bank settlement freeze
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
November 18, 2010 - 1:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he was close to reaching an understanding with the United States regarding a package of incentives Washington will offer in exchange for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank. Netanyahu's office issued a statement late Wednesday saying he hopes to conclude contacts with the U.S. soon in order to bring present the deal to his 15-member Security Cabinet - a group of senior government ministers split between pragmatists and hard-liners.

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Israel refuses to freeze Jerusalem development
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
November 18, 2010 - 1:00am

Israel insisted Thursday it would keep building homes in disputed east Jerusalem, threatening to hold up a US-proposed settlement construction moratorium designed to renew deadlocked Mideast peacemaking. The contours of the moratorium deal, as presented by Israeli officials after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from the U.S. last week, had appeared to be clearly agreed upon.

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Israeli officials say time growing short for West Bank peace deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Janine Zacharia - November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM - Israeli intelligence and military officials have warned in recent days that if a peace deal isn't achieved soon the moderate Palestinian leadership in the West Bank could collapse and give way to more radical Hamas militants, backed by Iran and Syria, who already rule the Gaza Strip. The warnings come as the United States makes a last-ditch effort to revive talks between Israel and the Palestinians that stalled almost as soon as they resumed in September.

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U.S. needs more than short-term dealmaking to aid Mideast talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
(Editorial) November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

PERSISTENCE IN the face of setbacks is a necessity in Middle East peace diplomacy. But the Obama administration's efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks are less evocative of true grit than of desperate improvisation. According to reports in the Israeli press, the administration has now offered the government of Binyamin Netanyahu a gold-plated menu of incentives, including $3 billion worth of F-35 warplanes, in exchange for a 90-day renewal of a partial moratorium on West Bank settlement construction.

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US official to brief PA on talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

A senior US official will brief Palestinian leaders in Ramallah on Thursday about the latest developments in efforts to renew direct talks with Israel. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told Israeli radio that David Hale, a deputy to US Mideast envoy George Mitchell, would deliver "details and suggestions" in his briefing. He added that President Abbas would review Hale's suggestions with the PLO and Fatah, and with the leaders of Arab states.

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What can Israel, the Palestinians figure out in 90 days?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ron Kampeas - (Opinion) November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

That’s the question Middle East observers are asking as Israel and the United States move closer to a deal on a 90-day West Bank Jewish settlement freeze to lure the Palestinians back to the negotiating table and revive peace talks. A seven-hour tete-a-tete last week between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resulted in new willingness by Netanyahu to press his Cabinet to agree to another settlement freeze.

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Obama's 'bribe' is last hope for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Jonathan Cook - (Opinion) November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

Watching the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians drag on year after year without conclusion, it is easy to overlook the enormous changes that have taken place on the ground since the Oslo Accords were signed 17 years ago.

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Half Netanyahu's party against new freeze
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 17, 2010 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM (DPA) -- Around half of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 27-member parliamentary caucus have signed a petition rejecting a new temporary freeze on construction in West Bank settlements, Israeli media reported Wednesday. The temporary freeze, proposed by the US, is aimed at enticing Palestinians back to the negotiating table, but at least four Likud Party cabinet ministers are among the signatories to the petition.

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An Expensive Bill
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Ali Ibrahim - November 16, 2010 - 1:00am

My initial impression of the price that Israel will receive, in return for agreeing to new U.S. proposals to stop settlement construction for 90 days, is that it is an expensive bill. Modern military aircraft worth $3 billion, for free, political and security pledges to veto any Security Council resolution against Israel, and most importantly, this is a proposal to stop only the latest process of settlement construction.

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Israeli, Dubai police officials meet in UAE
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Daniel Doron - November 16, 2010 - 1:00am

The diplomatic row between Israel and Dubai has not undermined relations between the two states' law enforcement apparatuses. Last week, Qatar hosted the annual Interpol General Assembly, which was attended by top law enforcement echelons from around the world. Israel, which also took part in the event, was represented by Head of the police investigations unit Major-General Yoav Segalovich and head of the police special assignment department Commander Guy Nir.

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