April 16th

Un Calls For Disarming Of Hezbollah, Israel-lebanon Solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
April 16, 2008 - 6:00pm

The UN Security Council called Tuesday for the disarming of Hezbollah and all other militias in Lebanon and greater progress toward a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel. A statement adopted by consensus by the 15-member council reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of all provisions of Resolution 1701 which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in August 2006.

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Obama Slams Carter For Meeting Hamas, Tries To Reassure Jewish Voters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
April 16, 2008 - 5:58pm

U.S. Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday criticized former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for meeting with leaders of the Islamic terrorist group Hamas as he tried to reassure Jewish voters that his presidential candidacy is not a threat to them or U.S. support for Israel. The Democratic presidential candidate's comments, made to a group of Jewish leaders in Philadelphia, were his first on Carter's controversial meeting scheduled this week in Egypt. Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain called on Obama to repudiate Carter in a speech Monday.

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Legitimizing Hamas: Carter's Visit Sends The Wrong Message
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Weekly Standard
by Matthew Levitt - (Opinion) April 16, 2008 - 5:57pm

Imagine the Alice in Wonderland scene that will take place later this week, when U.S. Secret Service agents entrusted with protecting former president Jimmy Carter stand guard over a meeting with the head of a designated terrorist group responsible for near daily attacks targeting civilians, including numerous attacks in which American citizens have been injured and killed. The former president may have altruistic motives, but his meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mishal is both imprudent and dangerous.

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How Many West Bank Barriers Will Israel Forgo?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - April 16, 2008 - 5:55pm

This crossroads used to be a daily battle for Palestinian motorists, with traffic stretching a half-mile and wait time before inspection by Israeli soldiers longer than an hour. Now, as a small step toward peace that included Israel's removal of 60 security barriers throughout the Palestinian territories, soldiers are gone from the road, and traffic between the northern West Bank and Jericho glides through the junction.

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April 10th

Joshua Mitnick reports in the Washington Times concerning Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s reaction to former US President Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas (1). In the Israel Policy Forum, M.J. Rosenberg presents an argument for land distribution regarding current settlements goalposts (2). Moran Banai and Mara Rudman examine the strategy that the US must utilize post-Annapolis in Middle East Progress (3). In the Arab News, Mohammed Mar’i reports that the expected year end peace agreement will not include an agreement on Jerusalem or refugees (8). Gulf News reports that the White House has urged former US President Jimmy Carter to not meet with Hamas leadership (10).

The Settlements Are The Biggest Impediment To Security
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 2:01pm

At the very heart of the roadmap phase I issues that dominated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit a week ago are security and settlements. The West Bank-based Palestinian leadership that Israel is negotiating with has little to brag about in terms of improving security. But at least it is sincerely trying. The Olmert government is not trying as hard, particularly with regard to settlements. And settlements are the biggest impediment to security.

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U.s. Wants To Hold Summit At Sharm During Bush Visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 2:00pm

The United States is keen on holding a summit at the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to coincide with President George Bush's visit to Israel next month for the country's 60th anniversary celebrations. Bush would like to use the event as a way station in the diplomatic process, following November's Annapolis conference, so as to provide another boost to efforts to reach an agreement by the end of the year over the core issues for a final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

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Egypt Makes Gaza Border Warning
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
April 10, 2008 - 1:59pm

Egypt has warned that it will not accept any further violation of its border with the Gaza Strip. A government official said Egypt's borders were a red line that could not be crossed. It came after Hamas said it was prepared to take action to break the Israeli blockade of the territory. Militants destroyed parts of the Gaza border with Egypt in January, allowing hundreds of thousands of people stock up on much-needed supplies.

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Empty Gestures Destroy Credibility
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 1:58pm

There would appear to be two strands of interaction between Palestinians and Israelis in the current negotiations process. One deals with final status issues and involves the top political leadership on both sides, Mahmoud Abbas and Ahmed Qurei and Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. The other deals with day-to-day practicalities and is led by Salam Fayyad and Ehud Barak.

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Gazans Grapple With Fuel Shortages, Turn To Black Market
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
April 10, 2008 - 1:56pm

Sleeping in their cars outside petrol stations, Palestinians are feeling the pinch of a fuel crisis in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, where black market gasoline sells for about $7.50 a litre. Station owners, decrying Israel's reduction of shipments since Hamas took over the territory in June, and accusing the armed group of siphoning off fuel for its own use, declared a protest at the pumps this week.

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