Peace for Israel requires a strong Palestinian Authority
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Jonas Gahr Store - (Opinion) June 17, 2009 - 12:00am

In Cairo, President Obama made an eloquent plea for peace in the Middle East, with a two-state solution at its heart. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded last week with endorsement of a two-state solution in his speech. Mr. Netanyahu presented demanding and problematic prerequisites for the establishing of a Palestinian state, but the fact remains – the scene is yet again set for political negotiations on a final settlement between Palestinians and Israelis.

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The Ball is in the Air
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Tariq Alhomayed - June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

The American and European response to the speech made on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he gave his opinion on the peace plan and the Palestinian state project was one of cautious optimism. The American and European statements were concise and cautious, Washington said that "the President welcomes this important step forward" and that "there is a long way to go" towards achieving peace. While the Europeans described the speech as "a step in the right direction" but said that it included "a number of other elements which need to be analyzed."

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Israel sees deal soon with Obama over settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Adam Entous - June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is negotiating a deal with Washington under which Israeli building in existing Jewish settlements could go forward in certain cases, Israeli and Western officials said on Tuesday. In talks with U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, Netanyahu has asserted that his government does not have the legal authority to stop building in cases in which tenders for new structures have already been awarded or when homes under construction have already been purchased.

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Netanyahu's speech badly received across the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Paul Woodward - June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

“The truth is that in the area of our homeland, in the heart of our Jewish Homeland, now lives a large population of Palestinians. We do not want to rule over them. We do not want to run their lives. We do not want to force our flag and our culture on them. In my vision of peace, there are two free peoples living side by side in this small land, with good neighbourly relations and mutual respect, each with its flag, anthem and government, with neither one threatening its neighbour’s security and existence,” said the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

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Israel: one step forward, two steps back
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

Benjamin Netanyahu came within a hair’s breadth of endorsing the two-state solution and a sovereign Palestinian state. In a speech on Sunday night, he outlined what he called his “vision for peace”. It came as the Israeli prime minister was under immense pressure from the United States to freeze settlements and accept a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine. Yet Mr Netanyahu refused to do the former and paid only lip service to the latter.

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How Long Can Israel Resist US Pressure?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Spiegel Online
by Christoph Schult - (Analysis) June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

As US President Barack Obama presses ahead with his Middle East peace intiatives, America's new tone and new modesty are going down well in the region. Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is finding it hard to resist the pressure to compromise on the Palestinian question.

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Obama hails Netanyahu move
Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Washington Times - June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

President Obama on Monday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acceptance of a future Palestinian state, saying it boosted prospects for new peace talks. But U.S. officials distanced the administration from conditions outlined by the Israeli leader in a speech Sunday. Mr. Obama said Mr. Netanyahu had demonstrated the "possibility we can restart serious talks." The president made his remarks after a White House meeting Monday afternoon with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

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Obama hails Netanyahu move
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times
by Nicholas Kralev - June 16, 2009 - 12:00am

President Obama on Monday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acceptance of a future Palestinian state, saying it boosted prospects for new peace talks. But U.S. officials distanced the administration from conditions outlined by the Israeli leader in a speech Sunday. Mr. Obama said Mr. Netanyahu had demonstrated the "possibility we can restart serious talks." The president made his remarks after a White House meeting Monday afternoon with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

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Netanyahu pushes one right button
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times
(Editorial) June 15, 2009 - 12:00am

As a speech, it targeted headline writers with perfect accuracy. The words “Netanyahu”, “Palestinian” and “state” duly appeared in the same sentence, without the word “not”. But nothing in Sunday’s speech by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggests he believes that freedom for the Palestinians, in their own state, on their own land, is the key to peace and the long-term security of Israelis.

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A Change of Heart?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist
June 15, 2009 - 12:00am

WHAT to make of a speech on Sunday June 14th by the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, in which he reluctantly but explicitly articulated his acceptance of the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories? Local commentators have made much of the image of pulling teeth, suggesting that Mr Netanyahu spoke largely in response to pressure from the United States.

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