Israel considers options on Palestinian statehood bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Linda Gradstein - June 1, 2011 - 12:00am

While U.S. officials are running a full-court diplomatic press against the Palestinian bid for U.N. recognition of statehood this September and officials at international Jewish organizations are trying to convince foreign leaders to oppose statehood, the Israeli government appears to be taking a different approach: acceptance. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Knesset committee that there is no way to stop the U.N. General Assembly from recognizing Palestinian statehood.

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Israel Navy commandos undergo special training ahead of next Gaza flotilla
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 31, 2011 - 12:00am

Members of the Israel Navy commando unit are currently engaged in special training meant to prepare them for a possibility that they would be called to block an international flotilla from reaching the Gaza shore in late June, the Ma'ariv daily reported on Monday. Several teams of the unit raided the Mavi Marmara, one of a six- vessel flotilla that attempted to breach the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip on May 31 last year. Nine pro- Palestinian activists were killed in the incident.

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Egyptian diplomat: Rafah opening not excuse for less Israeli responsibility
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm
May 31, 2011 - 12:00am

Egypt's decision to open the Rafah border crossing does not absolve Israel of its obligations to the Gaza Strip, Egypt's ambassador to the Palestinian National Authority said on Tuesday. Yasser Othman told Al-Ayam, a Palestinian Newspaper, that the decision "does not in any way absolve Israel of its responsibility and obligations toward the Gaza Strip, as it remains the occupying power." Egypt opened the Rafah border crossing on 28 May, easing access for Palestinians for the first time since Hamas took control of the area in 2007.

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The limits of rhetoric
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jeff Barak - (Opinion) May 29, 2011 - 12:00am

It’s a sad commentary on the state of Israel’s opposition, but the best response to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s speech last week came not from opposition leader Tzipi Livni or from anybody on the Left, but from former prime minister Ehud Olmert.

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Short-term capital gains?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yossi Verter - May 27, 2011 - 12:00am

On May 24, 2006, an eager new prime minister, Ehud Olmert, delivered an extraordinary speech to both Houses of the U.S. Congress. The applause, support and warmth extended to him spilled over like an exploding fountain. Olmert took Washington by storm, and returned to Israel full of self-confidence, and resolved to display the leadership skills that had won international recognition in the American capital.

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A speech isn’t enough
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ehud Olmert - (Opinion) May 27, 2011 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s appearance at congress was impressive and stirred a sense of justified pride among many Israelis who are not subjugated to political rivalries and hatreds. Netanyahu is a talented orator and is particularly lucid in English. He knows how to speak to the Americans in heart-warming “American” they can understand. It was no coincidence that he received a very warm, sympathetic welcome in Congress. It was no wonder that his speech, which was aired live in Israel, elicited a similar response among the Israeli public.

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Former Mossad chief: Attempts to thwart PNA's statehood bid to backfire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 26, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel should cease its efforts to prevent a possible United Nations General Assembly resolution in September recognizing a Palestinian state, former Mossad chief Meir Dagan has said. "Israel will be mistaken to attempt to block 'the September move' and the UN's expected recognition of a Palestinian state," local daily Ma'ariv on Thursday quoted Dagan as saying during a closed forum at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

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A Message to Khaled Mishal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Tariq al-Homayed - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am

Khaled Mishal, the leader of the Hamas movement, demonstrated strong political pragmatism after the uprising witnessed by Syria, as the inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement was completed quickly in Cairo after years of procrastination. The question today is: does Mishal demonstrate as much political intelligence as pragmatism?

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The Middle East mess
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
(Editorial) May 19, 2011 - 12:00am

The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is really not so far out of reach. The outlines of a reasonable two-state compromise have long been known, and a couple of reasonable people could work out the remaining details tomorrow. But for stubbornness, cynicism, fear and violence, it probably would have happened years ago.

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Arab Spring Spurs Israel to Ice Peace Plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg
by Jonathan Ferziger - May 19, 2011 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been preparing to greet President Barack Obama at the White House tomorrow with a proposal to resurrect Middle East peace talks, advisers said. That was until Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas this month signed a reconciliation accord with Hamas -- classified as a terrorist group by Israel and the U.S. -- and dozens of Palestinians from Syria breached a border May 15, with similar efforts on three other fronts. Netanyahu decided, his advisers said, that peace talks can wait.

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