May 20, 2008

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

An ATFP translation of Hassan Al-Batal’s opinion piece in al-Ayyam daily looks at how Palestinian refugees have helped to build the identity of their host countries (1). The Jewish Quarterly hosts a symposium on the future of Israel’s Arab citizens (2). Der Spiegel examines President Bush’s Middle East policy legacy (4). The U.S. role in brokering a peace is questioned in Ynet News (9) (10). Shmuel Rosner’s blog features an interview with Jeffry Goldberg regarding his most recent article, which was featured in yesterday’s roundup (11).

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Bush's Heroes And Rogues

The refugees came in a magnificent white yacht, the Michka II. Under a brilliant blue sky, the boat glided smoothly into the harbor at Larnaca, on the east coast of Cyprus. Madame Habib, the wife of the Arab shipowner, bade farewell to her new friends with a peck on the cheek. Then the 12 elegantly dressed Lebanese passengers, with their fashionable sunglasses, handbags and trolley suitcases, disembarked.

Barak Warns Of Military Escalation In Gaza

ISRAELI DEFENCE minister Ehud Barak warned on Monday after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that continued rocket fire from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip could accelerate a military conflict in the territory.

Barak told Mubarak, whose government is mediating a truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, that "the ongoing rocket fire against civilian targets and terror activity from the Gaza Strip could accelerate an escalation towards a military conflict", his office said.

Don’t Depend On Outsiders For A Settlement Of Mideast Dispute

Israel’s 60th anniversary has come and gone. So, too, has President George W. Bush’s final visit to the Middle East. Amidst the celebrations and the soul-searching, no meaningful breakthrough in the deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is visible.

Gaza: 4 Palestinians Killed In Idf Strikes

Palestinian sources in Gaza reported Tuesday afternoon that two Palestinians were killed and five others were wounded by IDF artillery fire at a Gaza City neighborhood, raising the death toll in a series of IDF strikes to four.

America Is Tired

President Bush stood up at the Knesset plenum last Thursday and said things that every Israeli would be touched by. One of the declarations that would be remembered from that speech expands the limits of America’s commitment to Israel and almost turns it into the 51st state. Should Israel need to defend itself, the president said, 300 million Americans will stand by the seven million Israelis

Cairo Is The Key

The rush of Israeli politicians to the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh was more than a ceremonial move. Barak and Livni, and to some extent Benjamin Netanyahu as well, are currently managing a crucial phase in lull negotiations. However, we are not talking about indirect negotiations with Hamas via Egypt; rather, those are direct talks with Egypt over Cairo’s role in such deal.

5 Questions: Does Israel Need Rescue?

I got so much feedback to the interview with Jeffrey Goldberg two weeks ago (Is Israel finished? Five questions), that it was only natural to try a second round. This time, the topic is Goldberg's New York Times article, about "Israel's 'American Problem'".

Goldberg is blogging here. Here is the (written) interview:

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