News Analysis: New US Congress affects Obama's Middle East policy
Media Mention of ATFP In Xinhua - November 4, 2010 - 12:00am

Early results of the U.S. midterm elections indicate President Barack Obama's Democrats have lost control of the House of Representatives and the Republican Party has increased its presence in the Senate, which may affect Obama's role as a peace broker in the Middle East. When Obama convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year to impose a ten-month freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank so that the peace process could be resumed, hopes were high that it could lead to a breakthrough.

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How will the Republican-controlled House affect U.S.-Israel ties?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya - November 3, 2010 - 12:00am

The Republican's victory in the House of Representatives on Tuesday leaves many in Israel wondering whether President Barack Obama's stymied domestic agenda will encourage him to concentrate more on foreign policy, including the Middle East peace process.

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IDF spokeswoman completely denies hinting Israel coordinated Gaza hit with Washington
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
November 3, 2010 - 12:00am

An Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said Thursday that she had been completely misquoted ina reported that hinted the army's assassination of a Islamist militant leader in Gaza had been cleared in advance with Washington. "I did not, in any way, say that," said the spokesman. Following the clarification. DPA agreed to publish a correction to the article. Asked whether Israel had coordinated the hit on Mohammed Nimnim, a commander in the Army of Islam group, with its American ally, the spokesman did not respond.

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Obama's message to Israel: Freeze settlements or get rid of Dimona
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amir Oren - (Opinion) November 2, 2010 - 12:00am

Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz will retire from his post as deputy chief of staff at the end of the month and begin his demobilization leave. It is hard to believe he will be offered another senior defense post. In the view of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, his strategic approach is too moderate, just like that of his boss, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. The chief of staff and his deputy failed to volunteer grave security assessments and enthusiastic recommendations for operations to their political superiors.

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Likud Wing Plays Tea Party Over Israeli Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - November 1, 2010 - 12:00am

TEL AVIV — There were plenty of tea bags around: Wissotzky, the Israeli brand. But the inaugural event of the Israeli version of the Tea Party, organized by the right flank of Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud Party in this Mediterranean city on Sunday night, felt less like the start of a popular rebellion and more like a tepid political stunt.

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Erekat: Arabs to bring Palestinian issue to UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 1, 2010 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Egypt has proposed a joint Arab initiative to bring Palestinian demands for statehood to the United Nations, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has told Ma'an. He told Ma'an Radio that one aim of this plan, which he said is close to being finalized, would be to force Israel to stop expanding West Bank settlements before resuming negotiations. Erekat said the idea of approaching the UN stemmed from the US government's failure to stop Israel from expanding settlements.

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Bibi, Biden To Meet at Sidelines of Federation GA
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
October 31, 2010 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the General Assembly of The Jewish Federations of North America. Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that at the New Orleans conference he will discuss with Biden and other senior U.S. administration figures”a series of issues, including of course the resumption of the diplomatic process in order to reach a peace agreement with security for the future of the State of Israel.” Netanyahu and Biden are featured speakers at the annual General Assembly, which is being held Nov. 5-9.

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Israeli PM to visit US next week
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Josef Federman - October 31, 2010 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister said Sunday he will head to the U.S. next week to discuss Mideast peace talks with Vice President Joe Biden, in a possible sign of movement for the troubled diplomatic process. Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in late September over renewed Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, and U.S. and Israeli officials have been working feverishly since then in hopes of finding a formula to revive the negotiations.

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Secret Negotiations: Palestinian State in Return for Israeli Land Lease?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Ali El-saleh, Nazar Majli - October 29, 2010 - 12:00am

Asharq Al-Awsat has learnt from informed sources that secret talks have been talking place between the US and Israel on the formation of a Palestinian state. Washington and Tel Aviv have discussed a Palestinian state being established in return for Israel leasing land from the Palestinian Authority; this includes land in occupied eastern Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. The sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat that this land-lease deal would last for a period of time between 40 and 99 years.

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Obama can let Palestinians seek state recognition at the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
(Editorial) October 29, 2010 - 12:00am

President Obama may soon have an unusual chance to serve the cause of Middle East peace by remaining silent. He could quietly acquiesce to a move being considered by Palestinian leaders to ask the United Nations to recognize a state of Palestine. Such a request would only be necessary in one case: if Israel effectively ends any hope of renewed peace negotiations by continuing to build Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory in the West Bank.

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