PM aide: 3-way summit important
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - September 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The success of US special envoy George Mitchell's visit to Israel will be measured by whether or not it leads to the scheduling of a three-way summit between US President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the UN General Assembly in New York next week. As of yet, it remains unclear whether such a meeting will take place, and both parties are still in talks with Mitchell on a construction freeze in West Bank settlements, and goodwill gestures on the part of the Palestinians and the Arab world.

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Mubarak: Stop attempts to judaize Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
September 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak urged Israel to halt "all settlement activity" and warned of the dangers it posed in Jerusalem, in talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Cairo on Sunday. Mubarak "called on Israel to stop all settlement activity, including 'natural growth' settlements," presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said. The president "also urged (Israel) to stop attempts to judaize Jerusalem, warning of the dangerous consequences to peace efforts and highlighting the sensitivity of the Jerusalem issue to the Arab and Islamic worlds," Awad said.

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US envoy has hopes for settlement deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Vita Bekker - September 14, 2009 - 12:00am

George Mitchell, the top US envoy to the Middle East, said yesterday that he hoped to conclude an agreement with Israel on a possible freeze of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank this week to help spur the renewal of peace talks. Mr Mitchell, who arrived in Israel on Saturday, said after a meeting with Shimon Peres, the Israeli president: “While we have not yet reached agreement on many outstanding issues, we are working hard to do so, and indeed the purpose of my visit here this week is an attempt to do so.”

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US Envoy to hold three days of talks with Palestinian, Israeli leaders
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 11, 2009 - 12:00am

US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell is set to start three days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders Sunday in an effort to prepare the region for potential peace talks, the US State Department said.

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Barak to Left: Tone down criticism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Atilla Somfalvi - September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak urged Israel's leftist camp to tone down its criticism of his recent decision to approve the construction of hundreds of housing units in the West Bank so as not to hurt the efforts to jumpstart the negotiations with the Palestinians. Ynet learned Thursday that one of Barak's senior advisors told Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer that the approval of building permits for projects beyond the Green Line was actually meant to advance the peace process.

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Netanyahu risks US anger by building settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Josef Federman - September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light for hundreds of new homes in a Palestinian-claimed area of Jerusalem, officials confirmed Wednesday, part of a gamble to mollify his restive coalition without sparking a major confrontation with the U.S.

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A frustrating vicious cycle
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Daoud Kuttab - (Analysis) September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to approve new Jewish settlements just as a possible settlement freeze was being suggested shows yet again his country’s disregard of reason, a trend exhibited for over 40 years now.

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Is It a Resolution or Dissolution?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times
by Reema I. Ali - September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

Palestinians refer to initiatives for a peaceful resolution of their conflict with Israel as “dissolution and not a resolution.” It is referred to as another attempt to dissolve their national identity and pride and not to resolve the conflict. This outcry is not without basis. The path to peace has complicated their lives and their voice is far too often lost in the corridors of politics for the sake of expediency.

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UN chief Ban: Israel settlements in West Bank are illegal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed "deep concern" on Wednesday about Israel's decision to approve new settler homes in the occupied West Bank and urged the Jewish state to end all such activity. "Such actions and all settlement activity are contrary to international law and the roadmap," said a statement read out by UN spokesman Farhan Haq. The 2003 Middle East roadmap drawn up by international mediators calls on Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank and for the Palestinians to rein in militants.

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Spain supports Palestinian statehood on 1967 borders: FM
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 10, 2009 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister of Spain Miguel Angel Moratinos said Wednesday that his country supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian statehood on the borders of 1967. Moratinos made the statement in a joint news conference held in Ramallah with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, adding that Spain and the European Union "will keep exerting every possible effort to achieve the Palestinian goals."

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