April 24th

Israel raps calls to freeze EU ties upgrade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Khaleej Times
April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised EU calls to freeze a planned upgrade of ties until his government commits to the Middle East peace process, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Friday. ‘Don’t set conditions for us,’ the daily quoted him as telling visiting Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek of the Czech Republic, which currently holds the European Union’s presidency. ‘Peace is in Israel’s interest no less than it is in Europe’s interest, and there’s no need to make the upgrade in relations with Israel conditional on progress on the peace process,’ Netanyahu said.

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Israeli mayor defends demolition of homes in East Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Center For Strategic & International Studies
April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel's mayor of Occupied Jerusalem rebuffed on Thursday Palestinian and Western calls for a halt to demolitions in the city's Arab half, saying laws that prohibit illegal building were being enforced. Mayor Nir Barkat said his goal was to maintain a Jewish majority in Occupied Jerusalem but denied that demolitions of Palestinian homes were meant to drive them out. The demolitions, and calls by Barkat to expand Jewish settlements on occupied land, have stoked tensions in the city, and put Israel on a possible collision course with its US and European allies.

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Lieberman brands Arab Peace Initiative 'dangerous'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

sraeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has branded the Arab Peace Initiative as "dangerous" because it requires the Jewish state to allow Palestinian refugees to return to its borders, a senior official said Wednesday. "Lieberman considers the Arab Peace Initiative as dangerous and as a threat to Israel because it includes the clause on the Palestinian refugees," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "The foreign minister has nevertheless not rejected the initiative as a whole," he said.

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A grand bargain?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist
April 23, 2009 - 12:00am

ASKED about the hardy perennial of Palestinians and peace, officials in Israel’s new government now reply with dire talk about Iran and the threat of nuclear war. “However much progress we might make on peace,” says one, “it would all disintegrate if Iran achieved the ability to make a bomb and proliferate it.”

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Israel 'risking support on Iran'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel risks losing Arab support against Iran if it does not make progress on the Palestinian issue, says US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mrs Clinton told legislators in Washington that the two issues "go hand-in-hand". Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran as its main threat. Unlike his predecessor, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not voiced support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, a key Arab demand.

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Remarks by His Majesty King Abdullah II Centre for Strategic and International Studies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, Thank you, General Scowcroft. I am delighted to be with all of you this afternoon. CSIS has been a tremendous source of understanding about the important relationship between the Middle East and the United States. It is an honour to be invited to join in your dialogue. My friends,

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Clinton Counters Israeli Stance on Palestinians and Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Center For Strategic & International Studies
by Glenn Kessler - April 24, 2009 - 12:00am

Progress on establishing a Palestinian state must go "hand-in-hand" with efforts to stem Iranian influence in the Middle East, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said yesterday, implicitly rejecting the emerging position of the new Israeli government.

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April 23rd

The Israeli military announces the conclusion of several internal investigations of its conduct during the Gaza war (1), while Human Rights Watch deems the investigations an attempt to cover up misconduct (7). The Jewish Daily Forward speculates on the growing differences between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (2), and MJ Rosenberg offers his assessment of the issue (4). An Egyptian American Muslim woman is appointed as an advisor to President Obama (3). After meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pledges strong support for a two-state solution (9). Jordan’s King Abdullah II meets with U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (10).

Connect Gaza and West Bank now
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) April 22, 2009 - 12:00am

US presidential envoy George Mitchell is touring the region searching for signs of progress to report back to his boss and to move the peace process forward.

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Netanyahu's Mideast policy damaging EU ties
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - April 23, 2009 - 12:00am

The foreign policy of the Netanyahu government, which deems unacceptable the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict as an outline for negotiations with the Palestinians, has damaged Israel's relations with the European Union.

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