Israel Group Reports Sharp Increases In Settlement Activity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - August 26, 2008 - 12:00am

Peace Now, the Israeli advocacy group, said in a report released Tuesday that in the last year Israel has nearly doubled its settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, in violation of its obligations under an American-backed peace plan. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Jerusalem on a short visit to help Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their negotiations, said when asked about the report that she has told Israeli officials that such building does not advance the cause of peace.

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Rice clings to Mideast peace hopes in visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Matthew Lee - August 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday there is hope for a Mideast peace deal but she offered no reason for optimism beyond the fact that the two sides are speaking.

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Israel Group Reports Sharp Increases in Settlement Activity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - August 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

Peace Now, the Israeli advocacy group, said in a report released Tuesday that in the last year Israel had nearly doubled its settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, in violation of its obligations under an American-backed peace plan. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Jerusalem on a short visit to help Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their negotiations, said when asked about the report that she had told Israeli officials that such building did not advance the cause of peace.

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Rice meets Olmert in peace push
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
August 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ahead of three-way talks aimed at a Mid-East peace agreement. The visit is her seventh to the region since the Annapolis meeting where the Israelis and Palestinians agreed to push for a deal by the end of 2008. Ms Rice has played down the possibility that details of an interim agreement might be published next month. She said the talks were "intensive" amid heavy doubts a deal can be agreed.

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Israel settlement surge draws Rice criticism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Arshad Mohammed - August 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israel on Tuesday not to undermine peace talks with the Palestinians after a report found it had nearly doubled Jewish settlement construction. On her seventh visit this year in a long-shot push for a peace deal by January, Rice said the two sides were "somewhat closer" in their talks despite deep public skepticism about the chances of ending the six-decade conflict. Rice offered no further details, but said: "God willing, and with the goodwill of the parties and the tireless work of the parties, we have a good chance to succeed."

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Two State Solution is Best For Israelis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Angus Reid Global Monitor
August 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

The vast majority of people in Israel think that the best solution to the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians is to establish a separate Palestinian state alongside Israel, according to a poll by Market Watch. 74 per cent of respondents share this view, while 14 per cent think the best way to solve the problem is by creating a bi-national state including both Israelis and Palestinians. However, 62 per cent of respondents do not believe it will be possible to reach a final agreement with the Palestinians.

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As Rice Arrives In Region, Israel And Pa Far From Peace Accord
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - (Analysis) August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

The visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will seek to determine whether it will be possible to present an Israeli-Palestinian accord to the world, or even a partial document of agreement, before the end of the current year. Nine months have passed since the Annapolis conference, which was held at the behest of Rice and where the participants promised to "make every effort" to reach a settlement by the end of 2008. Any attempt to redeem that promise will take place in the shadow of a political crisis in Israel.

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Two State Solution Is Best For Israelis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Angus Reid Global Monitor
August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

The vast majority of people in Israel think that the best solution to the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians is to establish a separate Palestinian state alongside Israel, according to a poll by Market Watch. 74 per cent of respondents share this view, while 14 per cent think the best way to solve the problem is by creating a bi-national state including both Israelis and Palestinians. However, 62 per cent of respondents do not believe it will be possible to reach a final agreement with the Palestinians.

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Israeli Settlers Look for Compensation to Leave
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Der Spiegel
by Christoph Schult - August 24, 2008 - 8:00pm

When Benny Raz comes home in the evening and gets out of his car, his neighbors turn their backs on him and disappear into their houses. Ras is wearing a short black jacket and jeans. His head looks like a coarsely modeled sculpture, with his protruding cheekbones and eyes set deeply in their sockets. He is 55, and he says: "I have lost all of my friends here."

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ANALYSIS / On verge of Rice visit, Israel and PA far from peace accord
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - August 24, 2008 - 8:00pm

The visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will seek to determine whether it will be possible to present an Israeli-Palestinian accord to the world, or even a partial document of agreement, before the end of the current year. Nine months have passed since the Annapolis conference, which was held at the behest of Rice and where the participants promised to "make every effort" to reach a settlement by the end of 2008. Any attempt to redeem that promise will take place in the shadow of a political crisis in Israel.

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