October 15th

Arabs Skeptical Of U.s. Peace Effort
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Jeffrey Fleishman - October 15, 2007 - 2:41pm

The upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace conference resembles a dinner party with a less-than-inspiring menu and a bunch of well-tailored yet exasperated guests who, if they show up at all, doubt that anyone will go home happy. Posturing and recrimination often characterize such negotiations, but Arab nations, including Washington's closest allies, are criticizing the November conference as a miscalculated photo op by a Bush administration desperate to repair its image in the Middle East.

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Obstacles Stall Rice's Mideast Diplomacy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Matthew Lee - October 15, 2007 - 2:39pm

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opened an intense round of Mideast shuttle diplomacy Sunday, struggling to bring Israelis and Palestinians close enough to make a planned U.S.-hosted peace conference worthwhile. The two sides are at bitter odds over an outline of a peace agreement that would be presented at next month's conference, and Rice sought to lower expectations her mission would finalize preparations for the gathering.

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October 14th

The Los Angeles Times examines Arab misgivings regarding the intentions behind the fall Mideast meetings as well as prospects for its success (2.) The Associated Press reports on plans for the first Palestinian census in the occupied territories in a decade and how the results could impact future peace talks with Israel (3.) The New York Times reviews the new book by Israeli historian Zertal and Israeli journalist Eldar on the Israeli settlement project in the occupied Palestinian territories (5.) The Christian Science Monitor assesses the prospects of reviving the Mideast peace process as the Bush administration ratchets up its engagement in the lead up to the fall meeting (7.) The Guardian (UK) looks at new statements by Israeli PM Olmert regarding Israel's willingness to return parts of occupied East Jerusalem to the Palestinians (9.) The Independent (UK) reports on the impressions being made on Quartet envoy Tony Blair as he travels the West Bank as part of his mission of strengthening Palestinian institutions and the economy (11.) An Arab News (Saudi Arabia) editorial finds positive signs for movement on the peace process in recent Israeli and Palestinian statements on the issue (13.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Akiva Eldar spells out what an personal involvement by President Bush in advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace should be composed of (15.)

October 12th

Peace Virus Is Back
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Gadi Baltiansky - (Opinion) October 12, 2007 - 2:26pm

Lately, a new epidemic has been threatening to attack Israel’s public discourse. A peace conference, an agreement with the Palestinians, ceremonies with the US president – diseases from the past we thought we had already overcome. We got used to the comfortable life of no partner, no negotiations, and no hope; and suddenly, the peace virus is approaching again. The cure that was found for it is rather simple: A dismissive hand gesture; let that bothersome mosquito flies away from here.

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A Welcome Right-wing Leverage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - October 12, 2007 - 2:19pm

To his aides, Ariel Sharon would praise Uzi Landau, the leader of the Likud "rebels," who opposed the disengagement plan. Uzi has a historic role, Sharon explained: If the plan is implemented without encountering any resistance, the world will think such a move is easy and that Israel did not make enough concessions. For this reason internal opponents are important - they strengthen you outwardly.

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The City Of David, Below And Above Ground
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Danny Rubenstein - (Opinion) October 12, 2007 - 2:18pm

The uncovering of ancient sites currently taking place on the City of David hill, on the slope south of the wall around Jerusalem's Old City, is almost certainly the most impressive archaeological enterprise in Israel today. During a visit there during the Sukkot holiday, one could see thousands of visitors, tourists from abroad and Israelis.

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Forecast Poor
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) October 12, 2007 - 2:16pm

As the Annapolis meeting approaches, Palestinians grow less enthusiastic over its prospects. One can think of a number of good reasons for this pessimism, primary among them the bitter experience Palestinians have had with such summits in the past, especially when sponsored by the US. The last such meeting, lest we forget, was the Camp David summit in 2000.

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Damascus Understands That It Needs Peace With Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Shlomo Ben-ami - (Opinion) October 12, 2007 - 2:12pm

An Arab-Israeli peace requires a comprehensive approach, because the problems at stake are intertwined. Not only are key issues such as Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees insoluble without an all-Arab consensus, but any country that is left out of the peace process is bound to persist in its role as a revolutionary power bent on regional destabilization.

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One Reason For The Absence Of Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist
October 12, 2007 - 2:08pm

TWO months ago Heftsiba, an Israeli construction firm, went bust. One reason for its woes was a court order last year to freeze work on a big housing project on an Israeli settlement just inside the West Bank. The land, it turned out, had in effect been stolen from private owners in a neighbouring Palestinian village, Bilin. Yet after the bankruptcy, the same court ruled that the apartment blocks—and their prospective buyers, who had broken in and occupied them at the news of Heftsiba's impending collapse—could stay.

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Islamist Leader Hints At Hamas Pull-out From Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by James Hider - October 12, 2007 - 2:04pm

Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip, took a significant step towards reconciliation with the Palestinian President yesterday, saying that its rule of the tiny coastal territory was only “temporary”.

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