Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Ahmad Tibi calls for more attention to the Palestinian minority in Israel (1). President Obama reiterates his commitment to a two-state solution (2)(5)(6)(8). A Palestinian motorist is shot dead by Israeli police (3). Police question Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman for the 3rd time since he took office (4). George Mitchell, announces his plans to return to the region next week (7). Jordan's King Abdullah II urges Israel to join an Arab peace initiative (9). Ghassan Rubeiz responds to both Arab and Israeli critics in discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict (10). Donald Macintyre emphasizes the need for the US to press for a two state solution (11). Stuart Reigeluth opines that despite American and European support for a two-state solution, the current conditions make it nearly impossible (12). The appointment of Lieberman is a reflection of Israeli distrust of its Palestinian minority (13).

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A Harsh Reality for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The right-wing coalition of the new Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, does not bode well for Palestinians in Israel. With the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister, the extremists are going after the indigenous population and threatening us with loyalty tests and the possibility of “transfer” into an area nominally controlled by the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

In Turkey, Obama Presses for Mideast Accord ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Helene Cooper - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am ISTANBUL, Turkey — President Obama continued to use his bully pulpit on Tuesday to call for Israelis and Palestinians to make the compromises necessary to reach a Middle East peace accord. During a question-and-answer session with university students here, Mr. Obama said that he still believes that “peace in the Middle East is possible. I think it will be based on two states side by side,” he said. “What we need,” Mr. Obama said, “is political will and courage on the part of the leadership.” » Read more

Police kill Palestinian motorist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli police have shot dead a Palestinian motorist in East Jerusalem who tried to run over officers guarding the demolition of a home. The house belonged to a Palestinian man who killed three Israelis with a bulldozer last year. A police spokesman said officers shot the man after his car hit three guards, injuring them lightly. Police responded by firing more than 20 bullets into the windshield, killing the man in Sur Baher village. Clashes erupted in the area after the shooting, as about 50 Palestinians threw stones at police, who fired back with tear gas and stun grenades. » Read more

Lieberman grilled for third time since becoming foreign minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Police questioned Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday morning for approximately five hours as part of a corruption probe against him for the third time since he took office as Foreign Minister. Police believe the Yisrael Beiteinu leader will need to be questioned once more before fraud squad detectives can complete their work and hand over material from the investigation to the State Prosecutor's Office. The site of Lieberman's questioning has been kept secret by police, in an effort to prevent the media from covering the minister's arrival for questioning. » Read more

Obama saying Israel still bound to two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Analysis) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Dialogue between Jerusalem and Washington over the past week has been done via speech-making. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman swept aside the Annapolis process, and U.S. President Barack Obama swept it right back. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the two-state solution and Obama "clarified" that the United States not only "strongly" supports it, but he himself intends to advance it. » Read more

Israel fears US pressure to continue Annapolis process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer, Ali Waked - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am In the wake of US President Barack Obama's speech before the Turkish parliament, Jerusalem is preparing for the possibility of increased tensions with the American administration ahead of special envoy George Mitchell's visit to the region next week and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled trip to Washington in about a month. » Read more

US envoy to return to region next week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times April 7, 2009 - 12:00am US special envoy George Mitchell will return to the Middle East next week on his first trip since Israel's new conservative government took office, the State Department said on Monday. Mitchell will travel to the region starting April 13 and meet officials from Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Gulf and North Africa. The former US senator and veteran negotiator aims "to advance the goal of the two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region", State Department spokesman Robert Wood said. » Read more

Palestinians, Israel hail Obama’s commitment to peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority on Monday welcomed US President Barack Obama's renewed support for the Annapolis agreement and the stalled roadmap plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. At the same time, the Israeli government hailed what it said was Obama's commitment to Israel's security. » Read more

Israel can embrace peace plan 'or risk further conflict' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press April 7, 2009 - 12:00am BUCHAREST, Romania: Jordan's King Abdullah II said Monday an Arab peace initiative offers a solution for peace in the region, adding that Israel should use the opportunity or risk ongoing conflict in the region. "Israel must decide whether they want to observe this opportunity and become integrated in the region or whether they want to remain a fortress ... and keep the Middle East hostage in conflict," Abdullah said in Bucharest, during an official visit. The king met Romanian President Traian Basescu Monday and discussed bilateral issues and the urgent need for peace in the Middle East. » Read more

Reaching People on Both Sides of the Arab-Israeli Divide ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Ghassan Rubeiz - (Opinion) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am Writing fairly about the Arab-Israeli conflict often feels like walking on thin ice. Arab readers advise me to be "bold" in reporting on Palestinian suffering. In contrast, pro-Israeli readers advise me to be more sensitive to the "Jewish perspective," I try, and often fail, but I continue to try. » Read more

Steering Israel to peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - (Opinion) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am ANY lingering hopes abroad — and there were some — that Avigdor Lieberman, who replaced Tzipi Livni as Israel’s foreign minister last week, was suddenly going to be transformed from nationalist demagogue to peace-seeking statesman were cruelly dispelled when he spoke on Wednesday, brutally rejecting the Israeli-Palestinian negotiating process that started at Annapolis well over a year ago. » Read more

Tackling the Gaza maze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Stuart Reigeluth - (Opinion) April 7, 2009 - 12:00am With both the Israeli and Palestinian political systems in shambles, the 1967 peace plan pursued by the West seems a distant dream. In whatever remains of Palestine, it is no longer surprising to see the two-state solution fading further out of reach. What is surprising is that the US and the Europeans still want to pursue the peace process to adjacent nation-states. » Read more

Grappling with the ‘Problem of Lieberman’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Omar Karmi - April 7, 2009 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, WEST BANK // While the new right-wing Israeli government undoubtedly poses a challenge to the international community, with its continued refusal to commit to the two-state solution, it is the presence of Avigdor Lieberman, the new foreign minister, that poses the most interesting questions. » Read more

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