November 10, 2008

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes an historic visit to the West Bank town of Jenin during what will likely be her last official trip to the Palestinian territories (1) (2). In an interview with Der Spiegel Syrian Foreign Minister calls on the US to play a central role in Middle East politics (3). Israel has closed Gaza to outside fuel, food, and journalists (4). More Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem have reportedly been demolished by Israel (5). Outgoing Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert warns that time is running out for a two-state solution (7). Prime Ministerial candidates Livni and Netanyahu make pledges for the continuation of the peace process under their respective administrations (8) (11).Rice

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Rice Visits West Bank City; U.S. Announces Aid

In the first visit by an American secretary of state to the city of Jenin, a once-infamous hub of Palestinian militancy, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought to strike a positive chord at the close of what will probably be her last official trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Ms. Rice has acknowledged that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is unlikely to achieve its goal of an agreement by the end of the year and has devoted this trip to other aspects of the process, chiefly the building of reliable Palestinian institutions in preparation for a state.

Secretary Rice fights peace-process inertia

Inertia, history shows, can be a dangerous thing in the Middle East. It leaves room for radicals and rockets to reset the agenda.

That's why US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – and members of The Quartet – were in Egypt Sunday: To keep the peace train running, or at least to keep its engine warm.

"I believe that the Annapolis process is now the international community's answer and the parties' answer to how we finally end the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Rice told reporters afterward.

'America's Role Is Central'

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Minister, what do you think of the vote that America has cast?

Moallem: I am happy about the result of the American election and I congratulate President-elect Barack Obama. I hope that he will help us make a dream come true: a Middle East of peace, of stability and prosperity. There is no way around it: To achieve this, America’s role is central.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Syria is a neighbor of Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territories -- and it is Iran's best friend. Which Middle East conflict would you like to see Obama tackle first?

Gaza shut to fuel and journalists

Over the last six days, Israel has all but closed its crossings with the Gaza Strip.

No fuel (paid for by foreign donors) has been allowed into Gaza for its power station, no food has been allowed in for the United Nations' aid distribution centres on which most Gazans rely.

No journalists are being allowed into Gaza to cover the story.

The one crossing through which people can get into Gaza, if they have Israeli permission, is at the northern tip of the territory, at Erez.

Israel demolishes homes for 'City of David' heritage site

Israel has been accused of demolishing Palestinian houses in Arab East Jerusalem while international attention was focused on the election of Barack Obama.

Row over Jerusalem Muslim cemetery

Religious leaders in Jerusalem are warning of dangerous consequences after a decision by Israel's Supreme Court to allow the destruction of part of an ancient Muslim cemetery.

The graveyard has not been used for more than 50 years, but contains the bodies of some important Islamic figures.

Many of those bodies will now be disturbed to make way for a new Jewish "Museum of Tolerance".

Earlier this week hundreds of Muslims - young and old - marched through the centre of Jerusalem towards the city's Mamilla cemetery.

Olmert says time running out for two-state solution

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday time was running out for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

At an annual memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister killed by an ultranationalist Jew in 1995, Olmert again advocated a peace deal under which Israel would withdraw from nearly all of the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu: Peace Talks Will Continue if Elected

Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pledged to continue negotiations with the Palestinians if he wins February elections, backing away from earlier hints he would abandon U.S.-backed peace talks.

But Netanyahu gave no indication he would make significant concessions.

Hamas and the Art of Time-Wasting

An official Egyptian statement released the day before yesterday expressed regret over Hamas's decision to boycott the reconciliation talks with Fatah in Cairo and in the process wasting an opportunity for national unity, despite the strenuous efforts exerted by the Egyptians the statement said.

But the question here is; what's new about that?

IDF: Army may need to respond to fresh terror alerts from Gaza

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip may be planning to execute terror attacks against Israel which would require responsive military operations like the one carried out last week, Israeli defense officials said on Sunday.

Over the next two days, Defense Minister Ehud Barak will determine whether to reopen the border crossings with Gaza, which were shut down last Wednesday after Gaza militants resumed rocket fire on the western Negev.

Livni, after Quartet meet: I’m not repeating mistakes of Camp David

Israel and the Palestinian Authority presented the Quartet for Mideast peace with several agreements on Sunday on the way negotiations will proceed next year on the conflict's core issues.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who updated the Quartet at Sharm el-Sheikh with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, said she was convinced she has not repeated the mistakes of Camp David in 2000.

She said although no deal was reached this year, both sides are determined to continue talks.

Livni and Abbas stressed "the need for continuous, uninterrupted, direct bilateral negotiations."

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