March 5th

Armistice Now: An Interim Agreement for Israel and Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Affairs by Ehud Yaari - (Opinion) March 5, 2010 - 1:00am More than 16 years after the euphoria of the Oslo accords, the Israelis and the Palestinians have still not reached a final-status peace agreement. Indeed, the last decade has been dominated by setbacks -- the second intifada, which started in September 2000; Hamas' victory in the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections; and then its military takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 -- all of which have aggravated the conflict. » Read more

Occupation Turns Palestinian Women Into Breadwinners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mel Frykberg - March 4, 2010 - 1:00am The World Bank (WB) warned over a year ago that unless Israel eased its restrictions on movement and access in the West Bank the Palestinian economy would further deteriorate. In February the WB released another report, ‘Checkpoints and Barriers: Searching for Livelihoods in the West Bank and Gaza, Gender Dimensions of Economic Collapse’. The report outlines the devastating impact Israel’s occupation has caused to Palestinians financially, and women in particular. » Read more

Jewish leaders to Biden: Reach out to Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Jewish leaders who met with Vice President Joe Biden stressed the need to convey the Obama administration's message to the Israeli public. Biden hosted a number of leaders at his residence Tuesday, a week ahead of his visit to Israel. Participants said the meeting, which included top White House Middle East staffers Dan Shapiro and Dennis Ross, lasted an hour -- well beyond the 20 minutes allotted. » Read more

Dahlan against talks: Israel just wants to gain time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - March 5, 2010 - 1:00am Despite support from the Arab League for renewing indirect talks with Israel, more and more Palestinian voices are being heard opposing the move. On Thursday evening, Fatah Central Committee spokesman Mohammad Dahlan added his voice to the chorus. "In light of Israel's acts," he said, "in particular the continued settlement and aggression against holy sites, there is no point to direct or indirect negotiations with the Israeli government." » Read more

Report: Biden to open indirect talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roee Nahmias - March 5, 2010 - 1:00am Days before a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed optimism about the situation in the Middle East and said that "peace negotiations with the Palestinians will begin very soon." A Palestinian source told the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper that indirect negotiations mediate by the United States may be launched next week upon Biden's arrival. According to the minister, he and his fellow Labor Party members "are making sure that the prime minister begins peace negotiations, day and night." » Read more

Palestinian sources: 60 wounded in Temple Mount clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - March 5, 2010 - 1:00am Waqf sources in Jerusalem and Palestinian medical sources reported that at least 60 Arabs, east Jerusalemites and Palestinians were wounded in clashes on the Temple Mount from tear gas, stun grenades, and smoke inhalation. The Palestinians claim that the security forces are using force in areas where there are no clashes and making it difficult for worshippers to leave the mosque. Also according to the reports, five Palestinian protesters were wounded in clashes with the security forces in Nabi Saleh.

Are boycotts and sanctions really effective? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoni Eshpar - (Opinion) March 5, 2010 - 1:00am When it comes to the Middle East and other areas of the world, a certain word seems to have taken over the current affairs agenda: sanctions. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using every possible platform to call for painful sanctions against Iran, Israel's ambassadors are busy contending with a movement that is calling for the imposition of a boycott and sanctions on Israel. » Read more

If Netanyahu wants peace, he knows what to do ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - March 5, 2010 - 1:00am British statesman Leopold Amery's plea to prime minister Neville Chamberlain - "For God's sake, go" - has undergone many incarnations, and I'm surprised at my colleague Nahum Barnea, who made do with a simple "Go" in reference to Avigdor Lieberman. The suspicion that Lieberman received documents relating to the investigation against him from our ambassador in Belarus is now being checked by the police. It doesn't smell good - not to mention that the stench of the foreign minister's behavior justifies speeding up the distribution of gas masks. » Read more

U.S. vows to assign blame if Israel-PA talks fail ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - March 5, 2010 - 1:00am The United States government has committed to playing a role in indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and promised that if the talks were to fail, the U.S. will assign blame and take action, according to a document sent by the U.S. to the Palestinian Authority, which Haaretz obtained on Friday. The U.S. government sent the document to the Palestinians responding to their inquires regarding the U.S. initiative to launch indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians. » Read more

Hamas denies al-Qaida-style groups operating in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 4, 2010 - 1:00am Hamas authorities on Thursday denied reports that al-Qaida-style groups were operating in the Gaza Strip to shake Hamas' rule. "There is no group representing the international definition of Jihad," Hamas' Interior Minister Fatthi Hammad told Xinhua. "There were small groups that have been suppressed," he added. "The situation on the ground is still good and we still maintain order," Hammad said. » Read more