March 26th

As U.S.-Israel rift continues, Netanyahu finds himself in a bind
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Janine Zacharia - March 26, 2010 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was welcomed home Thursday night with signs reading "Obama, No You Can't" and "Netanyahu Stand Strong" after a trip to Washington that appeared only to widen a two-week-old rift between the close allies over Israeli housing construction.

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U.S. Fails to Persuade Israel on Housing Plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Helene Cooper, Isabel Kershner - March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

With Israeli officials saying that construction on a contentious Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem could begin at any time, President Obama seemed to have failed on Wednesday to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give a written commitment to rein in any further building and to move ahead on peace talks with the Palestinians.

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Conflicting Demands Test Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

After contentious meetings in the White House, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, returned home on Thursday with the politically explosive task of responding to an unyielding American demand that he limit Israeli building in East Jerusalem.

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March 25th

Deep chill in U.S.-Israeli relations
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Politico - March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

Bad personal chemistry, public confrontation and mutual silence a full day after a two-hour meeting Tuesday night between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have deepened the impression of a worsening fracture in the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

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Israel confirms building of 20 new settler housing units in occupied East Jerusalem could begin "at any time," as the White House continues to seek "clarification." Administration officials have reportedly asked Israel for a series of measures, outlined by Nathan Guttman, but there has yet to be any agreement. PM Netanyahu says progress has been made but he needs approval of his cabinet colleagues. The Arab League may discuss a withdrawal of the Arab Peace Initiative. PLO officials slam Israel's settlement actions. Reuters interviews PIF chief Mohammad Mustafa. Aluf Benn says Netanyahu leaves Washington disgraced, isolated and weaker. A Labor minister says Israel's governing coalition may have to change. A new survey shows Kadim growing in popularity. Seth Freedman says settlements come at a huge price to Israel. George Hishmeh says Pres. Obama has more leverage with Netanyahu because of his health care victory. The National says Netanyahu has miscalculated, and Michael Young says Israel is losing the battle of narratives.

Amid Public Clash, U.S. Moves Israel Closer to Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - March 24, 2010 - 12:00am

Under the klieg lights, American officials calmly repeated their opposition to key policies of Israel’s current government. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu snorted defiance in the face of the American warnings. And nothing appeared to change. But as high-profile leadership meetings and major policy speeches fixated the public during the annual conference of American Jewry’s primary pro-Israel lobby, U.S. officials moved the ball steadily, if incrementally, forward toward substantive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

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The real price of Israel's settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

The cost of building Israeli settlements in the occupied territories stands at more than $17bn, according to a report released this week. The painstaking study into the economics of construction in the West Bank encompasses every building and road in the settlements, which cover a combined space of 12m square metres, and in doing so quantifies the enormity of the 43-year-old project of colonisation.

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Israel’s new Center
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Gadi Taub - (Opinion) March 24, 2010 - 12:00am

A Yedioth Ahronoth poll published this past weekend revealed that Kadima had not only maintained its status as Israel's largest party, but even boosted its advantage over Likud, climbing up to 32 Knesset seats. Yet if Kadima officials are overjoyed because of this poll, they are wrong to do it – the same poll shows that the rightist bloc remains the only one capable of forming a government; Kadima only takes votes from the Left.

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Obama may have edge over Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

Barack Obama must be feeling ecstatic and very confident that he is going down in history as the first American president able to guarantee health care coverage for all Americans, regardless of their background or social status. The landmark health care bill which the American president signed into law on Tuesday at a White House ceremony will eventually extend health insurance to about 32 million Americans who could not afford health insurance.

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Netanyahu to US: I need cabinet's approval on understandings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yitzhak Benhorin - March 25, 2010 - 12:00am

Aides to Benjamin Netanyahu met with American officials at the Mayflower Hotel for several hours overnight Thursday (Israeli time) in an effort to resolve the disagreements that had resurfaced during the Israeli prime minister's meeting with President Barack Obama and agree on trust-building Israeli measures that would advance the so-called "proximity talks" with the Palestinians.

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