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An article in the Economist finds that life is improving in the West Bank. Speculation continues regarding prospects for revival of a US-led peace process in the Middle East. Special Mideast envoy George Mitchell is scheduled to visit both Israel and the Palestinian territories this weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mubarak are scheduled to meet in Cairo. Senior Fatah member, Azzam Al-Ahmad, expresses reservations over Egypt’s proposal for Palestinian elections. The severing of ties between the Bank of Israel and Gaza banks has severe repercussion for disabled Palestinian laborers. Israeli Defense Minister Barak urges Israel's left to tone down its criticisms. Police forces of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have reportedly demonstrated increasing cooperation.
Articles by ATFP President Ziad Asali and Daoud Kuttab examine Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s plan for de facto statehood. The New York Times profiles J Street. Zahi Khouri argues that occupation and economic growth are incompatible. A 2006 letter from captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit adds pressure on Israeli leaders to secure his release. Violent incidents erupt on the Israel-Gaza border. The UN reiterates that Israeli settlements are illegal, and analysis of a possible freeze continues. Commentaries consider a new Palestinian TV satire program and the B’Tselem report on Gaza civilian deaths.
Former President Jimmy Carter responds to Elliott Abrams’ criticism of his recent op-ed in the Washington Post. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem says that Israel underestimated Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza war and that most Palestinians killed were civilians. Israel picks contractors for 486 new settlement homes in occupied East Jerusalem. PLO officials Yasser Abed Rabbo and Saeb Erekat say settlement expansion may terminate the peace process before it begins.Fatah appoints Muhammad Dahlan to an information post. Palestinian citizens of Israel plan to strike on October 1. The Israeli Right pressures the government to reject US demands for a settlement freeze.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, authorizes plans for 455 new housing units in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Former President Jimmy Carter recounts his travels in the occupied territories, and Elliott Abrams responds, both in the Washington Post. Military rabbis are transforming the traditionally secular culture of the IDF. Egypt announces that it will open the Rafah crossing for two consecutive days. Israeli minister Uzi Landau calls the Palestinians "occupiers." Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly visits the capital of an Arab country which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
In an op-ed for The Guardian, ATFP President Ziad Asali analyzes Salam Fayyad’s blueprint for a de-facto Palestinian state. Prime Minister Netanyahu will reportedly approve the construction of hundreds of new housing units in existing West Bank settlements as a prelude to a building freeze, drawing sharp criticism from many Quarters. President Abbas says that a possible summit meeting with Netanyahu and President Obama depends on "steps that are taken beforehand regarding a settlement construction freeze." Israeli warplanes bomb a tunnel linking the southern Gaza Strip with Israel. Israeli police are deployed in Jerusalem as thousands of Palestinians head to the city for prayers on the second Friday of Ramadan. Hamas leader Khaled Meshal is reportedly planning to finalize a prisoner swap deal involving the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
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