October 15th

Gaydamak Promises Arabs Paradise if Elected Jerusalem Mayor
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Abd el-Raouf Arnaout - October 12, 2008 - 8:00pm

Beginning by appointing an Arab as deputy mayor, to opening the way for Muslims and Arabs to invest in the city of Jerusalem, to building an international airport in the city for Muslim pilgrims, Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak is promising Jerusalem Arabs paradise if they help elect him mayor of Jerusalem. A weekly news bulletin called “Al-Amal” (hope) appeared for the first time in the streets of Jerusalem a couple of weeks ago with a long interview with Gaydamak clarifying his positions regarding the city of Jerusalem, and making a wide range of promises.

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The Department of State releases Secretary Rice’s remarks at yesterday’s Palestinian Business and Investment Forum (1). Haaretz reports on the pledge made in those remarks to continue work towards a Middle East peace deal (2). The Washington post reports about increased radicalism among settlers in the West Bank (3). Rami Khouri lauds the leadership of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (5).Israeli officials are meeting to discuss the future of the Arab citizens of Acre displaced from their homes following several days of clashes in the city (10).

Salam Fayyad's noteworthy leadership
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

Some of history's most memorable personalities often are un-flamboyant, low-key people who find themselves thrust into the limelight due to the circumstances of their time and place. Such people sometimes rise to the challenge thrust upon them, and achieve noteworthy deeds. They usually do so by summoning powers of persistence and clarity of focus, while always articulating a sense of what is right for their wider society.

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Palestinian group threatens Israeli minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

The Palestinian militant group that assassinated Israeli Cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001 said Tuesday it has another politician in its sights. A spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine made the threat against Israeli lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman. The spokesman identified himself as Abu Jamal and spoke on the group's radio station. Lieberman wants to transfer Israeli Arab towns to Palestinian jurisdiction and annex large Jewish settlements in the West Bank to Israel.

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W. Bank Settlers' Rage Grows
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Linda Gradstein - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

Avi Ben Yakov is a soft-spoken Jewish settler who loves playing with his young children in their red-roofed home in the hills above Nablus, deep inside the West Bank. But when it comes to his Palestinian neighbors, his tone hardens. "They will not be my neighbors if I do what I have to do, which is take them back to their lands," he said. "We don't want them here. Expelling them is the solution."

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Rice vows to do best to reach Mideast peace deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that she would leave "no stone unturned" in order to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before leaving office, but conceded that time is running out. Speaking to a U.S. conference on Palestinian business and investment, Rice said she still hoped to reach the Bush administration's goal of a peace deal by the end of 2008, which was set at the Annapolis summit nearly a year ago.

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Remarks at the Palestinian Business and Investment Forum
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by Condoleezza Rice - October 13, 2008 - 8:00pm

Thank you very much. I’d like to thank Walter for that very kind introduction. I also really want to pay tribute to Jim Jones and the hard work that he has done as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace and Security. In fact, Jim has been tireless in working to help the two of the legs come together in a more integrated way. It is absolutely true that security is clearly very important for the Palestinian people, for the neighborhood that both Israelis and Palestinians can feel secure.

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October 14th

The Middle East Times reports on the address given by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at ATFP's Third Annual Gala (1). Leaders from both Hamas and Fatah call for reconciliation in separate speeches given over the weekend (2). Israel bars entry from the West Bank for the weeklong Sukkot holiday (3). Tzipi Livni continues work towards building a coalition government (4). Shimon Peres appeals for tolerance following four days of clashes in the city of Acre between Arabs and Jews in Israel (7).

ATFP Senior Fellow to Participate in Oct. 20 Panel on McCain, Obama, and the Middle East
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - October 13, 2008 - 12:00am

ATFP Senior Fellow Hussein Ibish will participate in a panel discussion at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, Mon., Oct. 20.  The event will also be broadcast on a live webcast via the Wilson Center website. Event Details:McCain, Obama, and the Middle East: The influence of Domestic Politics on U.S. Policy.  October 20, 2008: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Speakers: Graeme Bannerman,Adjunct Scholar, Middle East Institute and Former Chief of Staff, Senate Foreign Relations Committee


Abbas, Olmert to meet Friday
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
October 13, 2008 - 8:00pm

Outgoing Israeli PRIME Minister Ehud Olmert is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a new round of peace talks this week, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Monday. "[Abbas] will meet Prime Minister Olmert on October 17 within the framework of their regular meetings," Riyad Malki said at a news conference in Ramallah. Olmert and Abbas have been meeting about twice a month since the peace process was relaunched at a US conference in November.

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