January 11th

Palestinian attacks test Israel's quick-retaliation policy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - (Analysis) January 9, 2010 - 1:00am

A recent spate of cross- border and mortar attacks by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip -- the worst in a year -- is testing Israel's resolve to strike back hard against such provocation. But it remains to be seen whether the get-tough approach will hinder or escalate violence, analysts and officials said Friday. Israeli military planes struck several Gaza targets early Friday, including what Israeli officials described as the first air attack on Gaza City in nearly a year.

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In West Bank, conditions 'not ripe' for Palestinian uprising
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - (Opinion) January 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Born in a refugee camp in this restive West Bank city, Ammar Arafat threw his first stone at 13. At 15, he was jailed for scaling the fence at an Israeli military camp with explosives under his shirt. Upon release, he took up arms again and landed back in prison. Freshly out of jail for the second time, Arafat, 20, is mulling his next move. But nowadays, he has traded in his explosives vest for a designer military jacket with shiny Armani buttons. A more mature Arafat said he wants to enroll in college, find work as a Palestinian police officer and build a stable life.

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U.S. ambition alone won't forge Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Jackson Diehl - (Opinion) January 11, 2010 - 1:00am

Give George Mitchell points for perseverance, at least. Last year the attempt by President Obama's Middle East envoy to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, with an ambitious two-year deadline, was an embarrassing flop. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians showed much interest in new negotiations. As the world watched, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu forced the administration to retreat from its demand for a complete freeze on settlement building, while Saudi King Abdullah directly rebuffed Obama after he traveled to Riyadh to ask for a gesture to Israel.

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January 10th

Assessing the Position
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Hassan Khader - (Opinion) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am

Translated by ATFP Four factors govern Egypt’s policy towards the Gaza Strip: 1. The Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the upholding of which is a key priority for Egyptian national security. 2. Concerns triggered by Israel’s desire to transfer responsibility for the Gaza Strip onto the Egyptian state, especially in light of Israel’s redeployment from the strip, and its attempts to rid itself of the obligations imposed by international law on the occupying power.

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Clinton urges Israel, Palestinians to plunge into talks
Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Los Angeles Times - January 9, 2010 - 1:00am

By Paul Richter January 9, 2010 Reporting from Washington

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January 8th

Special Envoy Mitchell seeks to restart peace negotiations and is interviewed by Charlie Rose. Israel agrees to pay the UN $10.5 million in Gaza war damages. Hamas' military options are being constrained by anti-smuggling efforts and a new Israeli rocket defense system. Abbas is shoring up Arab support for the Palestinian position. Israeli air attacks kill three Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has announced a further easing of its temporary, partial settlement moratorium. A senior PLO official says talks may begin within weeks, but Israel reiterates its rejection of a two-year timetable. The Independent publishes a recollection of the Gaza war. The Jordan Times says ownership of the Dead Sea scrolls should be determined by international mediation. The Arab News says Israel's new rocket defense system removes the justification for the siege of Gaza. Egypt's ambassador to Saudi Arabia says its new Gaza border barrier is aimed at smuggling of contraband, not food, and Abdel-Moneim Said says Egypt is defending its vital national interests. Aaron Miller says the Obama administration is beginning to recognize the difficulties of pursuing Middle East peace.

Sobering up on Arab-Israeli Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Aaron David Miller - (Analysis) January 7, 2010 - 1:00am

Big decisions should never be made after a night of hard drinking or on the basis of wishful thinking. Almost a year into his presidency, Barack Obama has begun to sober up. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the administration's policy on the Arab-Israeli issue, where a series of tactical mistakes (none fatal) have left the president and his team battered but wiser when it comes to what's possible and what's not.

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Defending Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ahram
by Abdel-Moneim Said - (Opinion) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am

No Egyptian should disagree with defending Egypt against all threats, whether from home or abroad. This is why every official charged with safeguarding the country's welfare, from the president and government ministers to representatives in the People's Assembly and the Shura Council take an oath of office in which they pledge not only to promote the interests of the people and uphold the constitution but also to defend the nation and "safeguard the integrity of its territory".

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Steel wall not meant to starve Gazans, says Egyptian envoy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Analysis) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am

RIYADH: The Egyptian ambassador to Saudi Arabia has dismissed allegations that a steel underground wall being built by his country on its border with the Gaza Strip is aimed at starving local Palestinian people or forcing them to support any resumption of peace talks with Israel. Mahmoud Ouf issued the denial at the launch of the new Egyptian Cultural Center in Riyadh on Wednesday night. “Forced starvation is not possible because 95 percent of Gaza’s food, medicine and electricity do not come through these tunnels, but via crossing points along the border with Israel,” he said.

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Editorial: ‘Iron Dome’ system
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) January 8, 2010 - 1:00am

Israel says it is about to initiate a major “strategic” shift in its battle with the Palestinians. It has conducted a successful test of a short-range rocket interceptor that will now be rolled out along its border with Gaza in the coming six months. The “Iron Dome” system will, it is said, defend against rockets fired by militant Palestinians into Israel and also against mortar rounds. At a later date, the rocket shield will be deployed along the border with Lebanon.

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