Jordan calls for time frame to realize two-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 11, 2010 - 1:00am

Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Thursday emphasized the urgency to set a specific time frame to fulfill the two-state solution, which leads to the creation of an independent Palestinian state. During talks with Mark Otti, the European Union (EU)'s envoy to the Middle East, Judeh said it is important to intensify regional and international efforts to restart the stalled Palestinian- Israeli peace talks, the state-run Petra new agency reported.

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Bare Hands and Deteriorating Minds
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Zuheir Kseibati - (Opinion) February 11, 2010 - 1:00am

The opinion polls do not reveal surprising facts in Israel, as they promise the Likud Party and its leader Benjamin Netenyahu with more publicity among the Israelis. These polls promise to reward their extremism with more seats in the Knesset.

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Israeli-Palestinian peace would neutralize Iran threat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by A.B. Yehoshua - (Opinion) February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Since the end of World War II the world has been rife with bloody conflicts in which, or after which, entire population groups have been murdered. One could cite the slaughter of millions by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, or the horrific tribal war in Rwanda, or the brutality in the former Yugoslavia, or the devastation in southern Sudan. But despite all this, the United Nations decided to devote a special memorial day only to the Holocaust of the Jews in Europe.

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Perhaps step backward will move peace forward
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Israelis and Palestinians are about to take a giant step backward that just might help them move toward peace.

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Abbas: Any decision on peace talks with Israel to wait
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 9, 2010 - 1:00am

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on a visit to Tokyo on Tuesday that any decision on returning to the negotiating table with Israel would not be made until clarification of certain points had been made by Washington. The leader, speaking at a Tokyo seminar, made the comments a day after his foreign minister Riyad al-Milki had said that any talks to take place with Israel should focus on border issues and have a time limit of three or four months.

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What’s in a hand shake
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) February 9, 2010 - 1:00am

Over the last few years, Israel has been working hard to lure Saudi Arabia to open communication channels and political contacts. Despite the continuous American demand that Saudi Arabia consider the Israeli demand, the Saudi declared position remained unchanged: no contacts whatsoever with Israel until the latter responds positively to the Arabs’ quest for peace.

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Mitchell’s model for peace can still apply
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

The Middle East peace process is so broken that the parties cannot even talk to each other. The best that can be hoped for is “proximity talks”, in which the US special envoy George Mitchell shuttles between sides as a mediator. Before even that can happen, the Palestinians need assurances and clarifications from the United States – in effect, they’re talking about what they will be allowed to talk about.

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Herziliya chairman: More Palestinians should participate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

General (res) Danny Rothschild, chairman of the annual Herziliya conference on Israel's national security, believes more Palestinians should participate in the series. "No doubt Palestinians can benefit from the conference. Direct talks are what we [Israelis] miss. I hope more Palestinians will participate in the future," he said in an interview with Ma'an on Sunday.

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Abbas give in to U.S. pressure for indirect Mideast talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff, Barak Ravid - February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

Following heavy international pressure, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to the U.S. proposal to hold talks with Israel - in the format of indirect negotiations conducted by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell. Senior Palestinian sources confirmed Sunday that Abbas has agreed in principle to the U.S. proposal for indirect talks. According to the same sources, Abbas intends to ask for a number of clarifications with the U.S. administration and will consult with Arab leaders prior to giving Washington his final response.

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Hamas leader says U.S. blocking Palestinian unity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Steve Gutterman - February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Monday accused the United States of undermining Palestinian unity efforts and said he saw no chance for peace in the Middle East under Israel's current leadership. Shunned in the West because his Islamist group refuses to recognise Israel -- a position he said stands -- Meshaal used a hospitable Russia as a platform to blame Washington and Israel's hardline government for a lack of progress. His remarks underscored barriers on the road to Palestinian reconciliation and to renewing Middle East peace talks.

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