May 24th

Barack blinks again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Barely 48 hours after he called for a “viable Palestine” on the basis of the 1967 borders and exchanged cold vibes and hot words with Benjamin Netanyahu, poor Barack Obama found himself doing what successive US presidents and leading politicians have always done: Offer obeisance at the altar of almighty AIPAC and sing endless hosannas to the “Great State of Israel.” The so-called historic speech of the US president on Thursday was seen as “too little, too late” by the Arabs. However, even that timid “audacity of hope” was apparently too much for Israel’s friends in the US establishment. » Read more

Wary Netanyahu may offer concessions on West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - (Opinion) May 24, 2011 - 12:00am The first four days of the US visit of Benjamin Netanyahu have drawn much speculation of an open dispute between the Israeli prime ministerr and Barack Obama, the US president, over the borders of a future Palestinian state. » Read more

AIPAC Hits Capitol Hill With Hard Line Message on Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am In a break from its stance in recent years, the pro-Israel lobby is pursuing a hard-line agenda toward the Palestinian Authority at its annual conference, as 10,000 activists prepare to carry its message to Capitol Hill. The lobbying agenda of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee traditionally includes two elements over the past several years — ensuring foreign aid to Israel and tightening sanctions against Iran in order to block its nuclear ambitions — that are once again being stressed this year. » Read more

Palestinians at Odds Over Obama Peace Policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Miller - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians were left confused and divided over U.S. President Barack Obama after he made two major policy addresses on Israel, the Palestinians and the peace process in the space of four days. The Obama speeches – one at the State Department largely devoted to broader Middle East issues an a second in front of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) left a trail of confusion for policy analysts and political figures, especially over the U.S. leader’s meaning when he called for negotiation a future Palestinian state to be based on “1967 lines.” » Read more

Moussa: Israel 'not serious' about peace negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Egyptian presidential likely Amr Moussa said that the Israeli refusal to negotiate a peaceful settlement with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas is illegitimate. He said that the current Israeli leadership "is not serious" about negotiating with any Palestinian faction. Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Moussa said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to "take into consideration that the Arab world is changing," and that the new Arab leadership will not represent the old status quo. He said now is the time for the Israeli government to "seize this opportunity." » Read more

Moussa: Israel 'not serious' about peace negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Egyptian presidential likely Amr Moussa said that the Israeli refusal to negotiate a peaceful settlement with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas is illegitimate. He said that the current Israeli leadership "is not serious" about negotiating with any Palestinian faction. Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Moussa said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to "take into consideration that the Arab world is changing," and that the new Arab leadership will not represent the old status quo. He said now is the time for the Israeli government to "seize this opportunity." » Read more

'Jordan is Palestine,' MK Eldad declares at embassy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ben Hartman - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am A handful of Israelis marked Jordanian Independence Day on Tuesday by attempting to present the Jordanian embassy in Ramat Gan with a petition to make the country the official national homeland of the Palestinian people. The initiator of the petition, Arye Eldad (National Union) said that the petition "requests that King Abdullah declare Jordan as the national homeland of the Palestinian people. His father said Jordan is Palestine, Palestine is Jordan. Unfortunately Abdullah doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps on this." » Read more

Livni: 2-state solution good for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Give peace a chance: The two-state solution is good for Israel and is the only way to maintain a state that is both Jewish and democratic, Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni told the AIPAC conference in Washington Monday. The notion of two states, Israel and Palestine, is not just a slogan or a move that would be beneficial for other parties, such as the US president, Livni said. "It is not an anti-Israeli policy – it is vital for Israel’s interests," she said. » Read more

PA: Netanyahu's policies fraudulent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian officials criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's AIPAC address Tuesday, saying that it reflects his "fraudulent policies, which are in contrast with all international laws and agreements." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's advisor Nimr Hammad said that Netanyahu's speech – and the apparent speech he will give before Congress later Tuesday – was a "clear challenge" vis-à-vis Washington's policies and vision. » Read more

Netanyahu's Congress speech: Will it change his relationship with Obama or ruin it forever? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - May 24, 2011 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Tuesday before the U.S. Congress will be the formative event of his term, if not his entire political career. A statement released by his bureau promises that the speech will "garner major international attention," alluding to a surprise. The speech, whose purpose is to curb international pressure on Israel, gives Netanyahu a rare opportunity to reboot his leadership. Just a few months ago, he appeared to be directionless. Now, people are hanging on his every word. » Read more