February 11th

Palestinian official denies contacts to resume peace negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 11, 2011 - 1:00am

A senior Palestinian official on Thursday affirmed that there were no contacts with Israel to resume stalled peace talks. "There has been no sort of contacts with the Israeli government recently," said Nabil Shaath, a member of the Palestinian negotiation team. Shaath was commenting on Israeli media reports that staff from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office and officials at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office exchanged messages to discuss the resumption of the negotiations.

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Mideast upheaval to alter peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Adam Gonn - February 11, 2011 - 1:00am

With the world's media focused on the street protests in Egypt that now has entered their 17th day, observers are asking whether the Israeli-Palestinian peace process will be put on the backburner because all eyes are on Egypt. Following the successful ousting of Tunisian President Zine al- Abidine Ben Ali three weeks ago, a wave of popular protests have been sweeping the Middle East with large-scale demonstrations in Egypt, Jordan and Yemen calling for regime change.

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Israel demolishes Bedouin village for 16th time
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 11, 2011 - 1:00am

Dozens of Palestinians were injured Thursday morning as Israeli forces raided the Al-Araqib village in the Negev and demolished it for the 16th time. Forces raided the village and used metal bullets and tear gas grenades. The forces also attacked the villagers after demolishing their houses. Dozens were injured including three women. One woman was critically injured. Israel views the village as illegal and lacking appropriate permits.


UN commissioner meets prisoner families in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 11, 2011 - 1:00am

Relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails urged the United Nations on Thursday to exert pressure on Israel to respect their human rights. In a memorandum to visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, the families asked her to "to take necessary measures and actions to activate the protection of human rights and set upon a monitoring system to ensure that Israeli government abides by these human rights principles."

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Israel-Egypt trade links may help limit any rupture in ties
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - February 10, 2011 - 1:00am

Even as most of Israel frets about the possibility that a new Egyptian government might downgrade the bilateral relationship, one group remains upbeat. Israeli businessmen with activities in Egypt still believe that the economic foundation of the peace between the two countries will help stave off a rupture in ties.

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Task Force Changes Mideast Debate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am

As developments in Egypt move many Israelis to become more wary of a peace process that will require them to give up occupied land and Jewish settlements on the West Bank, Palestinian advocates for a two-state solution in Washington are struggling to persuade Israel’s supporters that the opposite is true.

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February 10th

Sallai Meridor looks at Israeli concerns about unrest in Egypt. Gazans rally in support of the protests. NATO says it would provide peacekeepers if Israel and the Palestinians want that. Pres. Peres inaugurates a hi-tech recruitment program for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Pres. Abbas calls Israel's policies "dangerous." FM Lieberman says he may leave the Netanyahu coalition. A Jewish Israeli woman gives birth in a Palestinian hospital. Occupation forces demolish both settler and Palestinian structures in the West Bank. US officials reaffirm the American commitment to Israel's security. Local elections may deepen the Palestinian divide. FM Hauge says the peace process is at risk. Daoud Kuttab asks why Americans seem to be boycotting Bethlehem's mayor. Michael Young says Israel's fears about Egypt are the consequences of its own short-sightedness. George Hishmeh says PM Netanyahu should worry about peace with the Palestinians, not events in Egypt.

US officials emphasize commitment to Israel security
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
February 10, 2011 - 1:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon at the White House Wednesday where they emphasized the US's commitment to Israel's security and its qualitative military edge in the region. According a press release, Barak met with the US officials for an hour and 15 minutes, during which time they discussed events in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Turkey and as the status of negotiations with the Palestinians.

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Municipal Elections Likely to Widen Palestinian Divide, Politicians Say
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Miller - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am

Palestinian municipal elections called for this summer will likely accentuate the rivalry between Fatah and Hamas, Palestinian politicians said. Fatah officially welcomed on Wednesday an announcement by the Palestinian cabinet to hold elections on July 9, the first in the Palestinian Authority since 2006. In a statement, Fatah said the elections would “forge political unity.” Local elections were previously set to take place on July 17, 2010, but were postponed by the PA after Hamas refused to participate.

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Middle East peace process at risk, William Hague says
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

William Hague, who is touring the region, said it could "lose further momentum" if international focus shifts to countries like Tunisia and Egypt. He urged Israel to avoid "belligerent language" and called for "bold leadership" from the United States. Protests are continuing in Egypt with the aim of ousting the president. Last month, Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali stood down after weeks of anti-government demonstrations.

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