New Conservative Group Targets Democrats Working With J Street ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - August 30, 2010 - 12:00am With two months left before the midterm elections, a hawkish group is targeting several congressional Democrats who last January signed a letter sponsored by J Street, the dovish Israel lobby, pressing the administration to get Israel to loosen its blockade of Gaza. As the newly founded Emergency Committee for Israel airs attack ads against these congressional candidates, J Street is responding with a campaign of its own seeking to discredit the group as extreme and out of sync with the mainstream Jewish community. » Read more

Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad signals make or break for two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - August 30, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, warned today that a "moment of reckoning" was approaching as Israel and the Palestinian Authority prepare to embark this week on their first direct negotiations for 20 months. Setting out his second-year plans to build the institutions and framework of a Palestinian state, due to be completed in 12 months, Fayyad said the talks "can and must" succeed or the chances of a two-state solution to the conflict would fade. » Read more

Encountering Peace: The indefatigable peacemaker’s advice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) August 31, 2010 - 12:00am There won’t be many more opportunities to make it work. That is the growing consensus. Even if the public does not sense it, there is a real urgency; we must move toward reaching an agreement. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolvable. There are solutions to all problems. In addition to the multiple rounds of Track I negotiations that have taken place since Madrid in 1991, there have also been thousands of hours of informal Track II negotiations in which a couple of hundred Israeli and Palestinian experts have participated and have reached understandings and “shelf agreements.” » Read more

US may give Israel arms in exchange for concessions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Herb Keinon - August 31, 2010 - 12:00am Israel is looking into the possibility that it will receive an arms package as compensation from the United States in the event that it reaches a peace agreement with the Palestinians that entails significant concessions, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Israel’s argument is that there is a need to compensate for security assets that would be lost under a deal that would necessitate a withdrawal from almost all of the West Bank. » Read more

Rabbi Yosef gives PM breathing space on building freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Atilla Somfalvi - August 31, 2010 - 12:00am Just hours before he takes off for the US for the start of direct talks with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received surprising political reinforcement from Shas even as it remains unclear how he will maneuver around the continuation of the West Bank settlement building moratorium demanded by the US and the Palestinians. Ynet learned that Shas is prepared to allow Netanyahu "breathing space" after the building freeze expires not to stick to his original promise to renew construction throughout the West Bank. » Read more

Fayyad: Netanyahu must explain his definition of 'Palestinian state' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - August 30, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday forecast a "moment of reckoning" in the coming weeks when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is forced to explain what kind of state he has in mind for the Palestinians. The Palestinians are set to resume direct negotiations with Israel in Washington on Thursday. They will be the first direct talks in 20 months and are the result of painstaking U.S. diplomacy aimed at reviving the peace process. Fayyad has expressed doubt about whether Netanyahu is ready to offer the Palestinians a state on terms they could accept. » Read more

Israeli PM weighing "goodwill" gestures to Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Gur Salomon - August 30, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to offer Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas several "goodwill gestures" in exchange for the Palestinian leader's approval of an Israeli renewal of construction activity in the West Bank, political sources said. » Read more

Palestinian PM reveals more of state-building plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 30, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday announced the second part of his plan which aims at preparing national institutions for a possible declaration of a Palestinian statehood. In the second year of the two-year plan, which was first declared in August 2009, would focus on "continuing the rebuilding of the state's organizations." The newly-revealed part of the plan include spreading the basis of fairness, transparency, separation of powers and boosting security and order, Fayyad said in a news conference. » Read more

Fayyad says self-sufficient economy PA's next goal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 31, 2010 - 12:00am A year into his two-year plan to build a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad says the next goal is be a self-sufficient economy. Speaking at a presentation marking the midway point of his plan, Fayyad said recent growth was a result of foreign aid, but aid-dependency must be reduced to build an economy that can support statehood. The Ramallah-based prime minister explained that financial policy reforms and investment were required to achieve the aim of a democratic system that incorporates freedom of speech, civil liberties and a strong civil society. » Read more

At least they're talking ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times (Editorial) August 31, 2010 - 12:00am After nearly three decades of failed peace negotiations, Israelis and Palestinians are understandably dubious about the prospects for success of the latest round of talks, this one between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, starting in Washington on Thursday. President Obama had to drag the leaders to the bargaining table after a 20-month hiatus in face-to-face contact between the two sides. » Read more