Palestinians To Declare End of Exploratory Talks With Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
January 25, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians will declare the end of exploratory discussions with Israel after their sixth meeting in the Jordanian capital of Amman ends Wednesday, sources said. On Tuesday night, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators held their fifth meeting in Amman, but failed to make any progress in reviving stalled peace talks between the two sides, an official at the negotiation affairs department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

»

Israeli, Palestinian Negotiators Clash at Jordan Meeting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury, Barak Ravid - January 25, 2012 - 1:00am

A bitter confrontation broke out between the head of the Israeli negotiating team Yitzhak Molcho and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat during their meeting In Jordan on Saturday, after Erekat refused to let a senior Israeli officer present the Israeli position on security arrangements.

»

“Jordan Mulling Sanctions Against Israel”
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel News
by Roi Kais, Elior Levy - January 25, 2012 - 1:00am

Jordan's King Abdullah alluded to a possible deterioration in Amman's relationship with Jerusalem if unless Israel will "demonstrate it is willing to make considerable moves" to reignite the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Wednesday. According to the London-based Arab publication, Abdullah expected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to "make significant concessions which will allow the Palestinian leadership to justify their return to the negotiating table."

»

Giving peace a chance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Peter Millett - (Opinion) January 24, 2012 - 1:00am

As has been widely reported, His Majesty King Abdullah has succeeded in bringing Israeli and Palestinian negotiators together for the first time in 16 months. They have held three meetings in Amman, choreographed by Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. Comments in the international press have seen a wide range of optimism, pessimism and cynicism. It is easy to be pessimistic and say that nothing will come of it. I prefer realism: no one should pretend that reaching a deal is easy. It has eluded negotiators for years. But as the King himself has said, it is better to talk than not to.

»

Palestine ready to continue talks with Israel: Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
January 23, 2012 - 1:00am

MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas said here on Sunday that the Palestinian authorities are ready to continue peace talks with Israel. "We will continue the dialog and we will continue the (peace) talks because we consider this to be the only way to a peaceful resolution," Abbas told reporters after his meeting with Russia's chief Mufti Ravil Gainutdin. Meanwhile, he blamed unconstructive policies adopted by the Israeli authorities, saying they are hindering the peace talks between the two sides.

»

Abbas: Israel document 'worthless' to talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
January 23, 2012 - 1:00am

MOSCOW (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that Israel's response to a Palestinian proposal on borders and security as requested by Quartet negotiators was "worthless". Speaking to TV channel Russia Today during his the final leg of his European tour, Abbas said his visit to British, German and Russian leaders was not intended to "isolate or delegitimize Israel," but to look at different routes if current talks between negotiators fail. "We want to live side-by-side with Israel, but we want to isolate Israeli policy on settlements," he told the program.

»

Israeli Police Arrest 2 Palestinian Legislators in East Jerusalem Protest
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - January 23, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel arrested two Palestinian legislators affiliated with Hamas as they staged a protest in the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in East Jerusalem on Monday, an act criticized by the Palestinian leadership as a blow to the first direct meetings between the Israeli and Palestinian sides in more than a year now under way in Jordan.

»

Abbas' disheartening European voyage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) January 23, 2012 - 1:00am

During his visit to Berlin and London this week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ mood was identical to the weather in Western Europe. Grey, bleak and depressing. The Germans and the British received Abbas with nearly all the pomp and circumstance due a head of state but even the shower of respect they rained down on him did not succeed in encouraging him.

»

Why negotiations are encouraged
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Musa Keilani - (Opinion) January 22, 2012 - 1:00am

His Majesty King Abdullah’s meeting at the White House with US President Barack Obama was one of the warmest summits between the two leaders and reaffirmed their close relationship. The focus of the meeting was largely the quest for Israeli-Palestinian peace, which has been revived with Jordan’s initiative that brought together negotiators from the two sides for three meetings in Amman. While there was no breakthrough following the meetings, the two sides now appear to better understand each other’s position.

»

Hamas Calls For End to Peace Feelers After Arrests
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal al-Mughrabi - January 20, 2012 - 1:00am

* Hamas leader forecasts "black days" for Israel * Hamas says exploratory peace talks must stop * Calls for end to security cooperation with Israel (Adds Haniyeh quotes) GAZA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas urged President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to suspend exploratory peace talks with Israel following Israel's arrest of two Hamas legislators, and to stop his cooperation on West Bank security with the Israelis.

»


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017