May 29th

Why a Jewish Settlement Freeze Has Become the Defining Issue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Daoud Kuttab - May 28, 2009 - 12:00am The demand by the Obama administration for the Israelis to fully and completely freeze all settlement activities has become a point of contention between the US and Israel for a number of reasons. » Read more

Kerry to Al Hayat: Change in Iraq has worked counter to American interests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Raghida Dergham - May 28, 2009 - 12:00am The current Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry assured that when President Barack Obama “referred to the Islamic Republic of Iran for a reason—to recognize publicly the legitimacy of the current governance, and to find a way to try to move forward to talk about the issues that are important between us.” He added that this is “the opening to a new security arrangement, and we want to work on it.” » Read more

Israeli policy is a disaster in the making ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News May 28, 2009 - 12:00am It is important that the international community comes to realise the dangers posed by the current Israeli policy towards Palestinians which precludes any prospect of peace. The direction adopted by the Israeli government is actually a disaster in the making that will affect the entire region. » Read more

US stand on settlements could bolster Abbas’s hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Steven Stanek - May 29, 2009 - 12:00am President Barack Obama was scheduled yesterday to host the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, for a round of talks at the White House, hoping to prop up a much weakened leader the United States views as crucial to implementing the two-state solution. The visit by Mr Abbas comes at a critical time, in the wake of Mr Obama’s sit-down last week with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and as the US president attempts to revitalise a peace process he sees as essential to improving stability in the broader Middle East. » Read more

Obama 'confident' on two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News May 29, 2009 - 12:00am US President Barack Obama says he is confident that Israel will recognise that a two-state solution is in the best interests of its security. Speaking after White House talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Obama again urged Israel to freeze settlement expansion. Israel has insisted it will allow existing settlements to expand, despite pressure from Washington. President Obama also said Palestinians must rein in anti-Israeli violence.   » Read more

Palestinian negotiator: We are encouraged by Obama-Abbas meet ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 29, 2009 - 12:00am The Palestinians' top negotiator on Friday said he was "encouraged" following President Mahmoud Abbas' White House meeting on Thursday with U.S. President Barack Obama. "Palestinians are encouraged by the commitment President Obama and his administration have shown to Middle East peace," Saeb Erakat said in a statement early Friday. » Read more

Israeli police shut Palestinian literature festival in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 29, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli police shut down a Palestinian theatre in East Jerusalem on Thursday, forcing foreign writers taking part in an international literature festival to move elsewhere for the second time in a week. The police action was the latest in recent weeks against what Israel sees as attempts by the Palestinian Authority to host political activities in the city, where both sides in the conflict have staked claims to have their national capital. » Read more

Obama: ‘time of the essence’ on peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - May 29, 2009 - 12:00am Israel and the Palestinians don't have "a moment to lose" in pursuing peace, President Barack Obama said, while recognizing political obstacles on both sides. Obama spoke Thursday after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, just over a week after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more

AIPAC-backed letter gets 329 House signatures ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) May 28, 2009 - 12:00am More than three-quarters of the House of Representatives signed an AIPAC-backed letter to President Obama on Middle East peace. The document, signed by 329 members of Congress, calls for "every effort" to be made to realize an Arab-Israeli peace while laying out certain "basic principles" to achieve it. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) spearheaded the letter since its introduction earlier this month. A similar letter in the U.S. Senate garnered 76 signatures. » Read more

PA official: Abbas expects US pressure to push out Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 29, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will not resume negotiations with Israel unless the Netanyahu government agrees to a complete settlement freeze and publicly accepts a two-state solution, Abbas has told The Washington Post in an interview. And since he does not believe Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will lift his opposition on these issues, Abbas and his leadership expect American pressure to gradually force Netanyahu out of office, the paper reported on Friday. "It will take a couple of years," it quoted one of Abbas's officials as saying. » Read more