Israel Pushing Gaza Toward Starvation - Abbas Aide
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Muklis Ali - October 22, 2007 - 9:46am

Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip is pushing Palestinians toward starvation, a close aide of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday. Nabil Shaath, who is visiting Indonesia as a special envoy for Abbas, said Gaza needed humanitarian assistance and appealed to the international community to help end Israel's siege.

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Arab Neighbors May Hold Key
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Leslie Susser - October 19, 2007 - 4:33pm

As the Annapolis peace parley rapidly approaches, some of the Arab and Muslim players expected to play a key role in creating conditions for a favorable outcome are proving to be more of an obstacle than an asset. Egypt, Syria and Turkey have been complicating efforts to hold what function changefontSize(id,size,line) { document.getElementById(id).style.fontSize = size; document.getElementById(id).style.lineHeight = line; } the United States envisions to be a tipping point in the long-dormant peace process.

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Hamas Softening Throws Twist In Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ilene Prusher - October 17, 2007 - 10:34am

Hamas, the Palestinian movement that months ago battled rival Fatah for control of Gaza, is now beginning to wield a more conciliatory weapon: messages of moderation. A spokesman for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, deposed as Palestinian prime minister after militant Islamists staged a coup in June, said Tuesday that Hamas does not oppose peace talks with Israel.

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Editorial: Positive Signs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) October 15, 2007 - 3:22pm

The two biggest problems straddling the Palestinian fence today — Israel on one side and the Palestinian divisions on the other — are currently undergoing treatment with possible remedy in sight. For one, Hamas has said it is ready to hold reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah group of President Mahmoud Abbas, hinting it might be willing to relinquish control of Gaza.

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The American Task Force on Palestine: Setting The Record Straight
Issue Paper by Hussein Ibish - October 15, 2007 - 12:00am

1: What ATFP does and why it does it

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Islamist Leader Hints At Hamas Pull-out From Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by James Hider - October 12, 2007 - 2:04pm

Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip, took a significant step towards reconciliation with the Palestinian President yesterday, saying that its rule of the tiny coastal territory was only “temporary”.

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Hamas Ready For Talks With Rival
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
October 11, 2007 - 2:43pm

The Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, has said it is ready to hold reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah group of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya hinted Hamas might be willing to relinquish control of Gaza, which it seized from Fatah in June, in a statement on its website. Mr Haniya said his group's control of the coastal territory was "temporary". Mr Abbas has ruled out reconciliation with Hamas until it gives up the Gaza Strip and submits to his authority.

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Palestinians Set To Trade Away Parts Of West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Karin Laub - October 11, 2007 - 2:37pm

The Palestinians are ready to yield parts of the West Bank to Israel if compensated with an equal amount of Israeli territory, the lead Palestinian negotiator said in an interview yesterday. Ahmed Qureia, a former prime minister who has dealt with five Israeli prime ministers during 14 years of failed peacemaking, is trying again with No. 6, Ehud Olmert.

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Hamas Seeks Fatah Talks, Hints At Giving Up Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal Al-mughrabi - October 11, 2007 - 2:31pm

Hamas said on Wednesday it would hold reconciliation talks with the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and hinted it might be ready to cede control of the Gaza Strip, which it seized in June.

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The Need For Bravery And Frankness Before The Peace Option
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al Hayat
by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) October 10, 2007 - 2:05pm

Of course, the Syrian government has the right to make the recovery of the Golan Heights a priority, whether through peaceful negotiations with Israel or liberating the area through armed resistance. Certainly, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is right when he said, "I'm the president of Syria and not the president of Palestine, and I have to work for the interest of my country.

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