Middle East News: World Press Roundup

The New York Times reports on how the continuing blockade of Gaza is preventing students from reaching their schools outside the territory (2.) A Chicago Tribune opinion by Episcopal priest and clinical psychologist Robert Fite recounts experiences the challenges of getting through Israeli checkpoints in the occupied West Bank (4.) An Economist (UK) editorial concludes the the very democratic nature of Israel is at stake if inner tensions over withdrawing from the occupied Palestinian territories are not resolved (8.) BitterLemons (Israel/Palestine) features an interview with Gaza Community Mental Health Project's Eyad Sarraj on the options facing Palestinians today (10.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Gideon Levy urges the Israeli government to break out of the mentality of negotiating an end to the occupation as a result of violence (12.)

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Israel, U.s. Jews Intensify ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - November 12, 2007 - 1:36pm A renewed push from Jewish organizations for tougher sanctions against Iran is facing tough obstacles in Washington and capitals throughout the world. American Jewish groups are aggressively attempting to rally support for isolating Iran until it ends its suspected nuclear weapons program. They are lobbying Congress, reaching out to friendly nations overseas and seeking allies in the United States. » Read more

Mideast: All Not Quite Aboard For Annapolis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Peter Hirschberg - November 12, 2007 - 1:37pm U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has again paid a visit to the Middle East, held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, spoken about the seriousness of the two sides in their efforts to revive the peace process, but has again left the region without issuing invitations to a planned U.S.-led peace summit in Annapolis, Maryland. » Read more

Abbas Urges Support Of Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - November 12, 2007 - 1:39pm Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, on Sunday seized on a demonstration marking the third anniversary of Yassir Arafat’s death to urge support for the latest round of Middle East peace talks and turn up the heat on Hamas, his Islamist rivals. » Read more

Unite Or Dissolve ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons (Interview) November 12, 2007 - 1:45pm bitterlemons: Hamas is saying that by pursuing negotiations with Israel under current circumstances, the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority is in effect collaborating with the occupying power. Is this a fair assessment? » Read more

Good Ackerman, Bad Ackerman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shmuel Rosner - November 12, 2007 - 1:46pm There are people in Jerusalem who have not yet forgotten the criticism leveled at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by Gary Ackerman, a United States congressman from New York and head of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He "kissed President Bush's ass," said the representative, in language that was not quite diplomatic, commenting to The Forward about Olmert's criticism of the new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, after her visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus last April. » Read more

Gaza Violence Shows Worsening Divide ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News by Martin Patience - November 13, 2007 - 3:50pm The violence during a rally to mark the third anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death illustrates the deadly tensions between the two main Palestinian political factions. Six Palestinians were killed and dozens other injured as clashes broke out between Hamas and Fatah supporters at the Gaza memorial. Both sides laid the blame for the violence at each other's door. » Read more

The Prime Minister Vs. Public Opinion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Miftah by Caelum Moffatt - (Opinion) November 13, 2007 - 3:54pm Most commentaries inundating the press at the moment meticulously analyze the consequences of a failed summit and center on the probable break out of another Intifada, as highlighted by Ahmad Qurei. This may well be the case but it is important to recognize that a successful summit could also cause uproar amongst Israelis which in turn could affect the Palestinians and hinder any positive steps taken. » Read more

Mideast-us: New Scholars Group Seen As Close To White House ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Khody Akhavi - November 15, 2007 - 6:23pm And it boasts several big name albeit controversial scholars, among them Bernard Lewis and Fouad Ajami, two academics who advised the George W. Bush administration's policy towards the Middle East. Citing the "the increased politicisation of these fields, and the certainty that a corrupt understanding of them is a danger to the academy as well as the future of the young people it purports to educate," the newly formed Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA) aims to offer "dispassionate" study of the region. » Read more

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