Beware "Creative Alternatives"
In Print by Hussein Ibish - The Daily Beast (Opinion) - May 18, 2012 - 12:00am

It's easy to understand why so many people are giving up on negotiations and a two-state solution, and instead are looking for “creative alternatives.” Israeli-Palestinian talks are at an impasse. The two sides haven't seemed this far apart since the second intifada. The number of settlers and settlements continues to baloon relentlessly. Israel's government appears united behind recalcitrant policies, while the Palestinians appear hopelessly divided.


NEWS: Palestinians say Interpol is refusing to cooperate in the investigation into a former aide to the late Pres. Arafat who is suspected of massive corruption. In a move likely to make municipal elections come sooner rather than later, Pres. Abbas issues a decree amending the election law. Leaders of Fatah and Hamas will reportedly meet in Cairo next week. Palestinians increasingly view settlements as an impossible impediment to the creation of an independent state. Israeli NGOs accuse Israeli police of severely abusing Palestinian prisoners. Northern Cyprus warns Israel against violations of its airspace. Israel says the international Olympic Committee's rejection of a request for a moment's silence for athletes killed in 1972 is “unacceptable.” An Israeli hospital bans people from speaking in Arabic. Plans are being made for the first joint industrial park on the Israeli-Jordanian border. Following the deal between Israel and prisoners resulting from a collective hunger strike, Palestinians are being increasingly drawn to nonviolent tactics. COMMENTARY: The CSM interviews Michael Sfard, an Israeli lawyer fighting settlement expansion. David Landau says the pro-Israel right wing wants to maintain the status quo, including the occupation. Jay Bushinski says it's “unthinkable” that some Jewish Israelis and state-funded institutions commemorated Nakba Day. The Media Line interviews Israeli photojournalist David Rubinger. Aaron David Miller says the peace process may seem dead, but it will come back to life eventually. Shmuel Rosner says the new Israeli coalition government probably won't pursue more constructive policies towards the Palestinians. Noam Sheizaf says ordinary Israelis feel no pressure to end the status quo and the occupation, but Ron Pundak says boycotts and threats to cut off contact will backfire on Palestinians and their allies. Ahmed Majdoubeh says neither Israelis nor Palestinians really have an independent state. Hussein Ibish says “creative alternatives” to negotiations and a two-state solution are invariably implausible and usually barely conceal maximalist ambitions.

Beware "Creative Alternatives"
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am


It's easy to understand why so many people are giving up on negotiations and a two-state solution, and instead are looking for “creative alternatives.” Israeli-Palestinian talks are at an impasse. The two sides haven't seemed this far apart since the second intifada. The number of settlers and settlements continues to baloon relentlessly. Israel's government appears united behind recalcitrant policies, while the Palestinians appear hopelessly divided.


Does Israel have a state?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Ahmad Majdoubeh - (Opinion) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am


Sixty-four years passed since the creation of the “state” of Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians, and neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis have achieved the aspiration of having a viable state. Because of this, both Palestinians and Israelis need to seriously reflect on the situation.


Boycotts and threats ultimately hurt the Palestinian cause
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ron Pundak - (Opinion) May 14, 2012 - 12:00am


A few days ago, hundreds of left-wing Israeli peace activists met to discuss the big issue: what to do? Should the focus be social or political? Is there a political solution? One state or two? And how to generate a center-left majority in the next elections? This time around, we looked at an additional topic: the influence of a peace process vacuum on the capacity to actually carry out activities involving interaction between Israeli and Palestinian societies.


Putting on the Pressure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Noam Sheizaf - (Opinion) May 18, 2012 - 12:00am


In the wake of a unity deal between the Likud and Kadima, which resulted in one of Israel's largest coalitions in history, some claimed that there is a chance to revive the peace process, and ultimately, arrive at a two state solution. Others have claimed that it's too late for a plan based on separating Palestinians and Israelis.


Coalition of the Unwilling
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune
by Shmuel Rosner - (Blog) May 17, 2012 - 12:00am


WASHINGTON — Hopes for the resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians rekindled last week with the creation of a broad and more centrist governing coalition in Israel. The leaders of the Likud and Kadima parties declared that they would work to “advance a responsible peace process.” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that she welcomed the commitment.


Israel-Palestine Peace Process Will Return From the Dead
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) May 16, 2012 - 12:00am


A wise Israeli once observed that in Israeli politics, you could be just dead or more permanently dead, and buried.  It’s a useful distinction which also has relevance for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process these days.


Jerusalem Day Interview With Photojournalist David Rubinger
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Felice Friedson - (Interview) May 16, 2012 - 12:00am


Photojournalist David Rubinger has been described as “the common thread” – the link between events collectively comprising the history of the modern state of Israel. Long before Rubinger shot the iconic classic of three soldiers, faces apparently awash in awesome amazement as they gazed upon the just-liberated Western Wall during the 1967 war, the Vienna-native-turned-Jerusalemite was the proverbial “fly on the wall” in meetings between Israel’s founding fathers and the world leaders who came to visit.


A slanted view of Middle East history
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jay Bushinsky - (Opinion) May 18, 2012 - 12:00am


It was inconceivable that Tel Aviv University, part of whose budget is covered by the State of Israel, would permit the observance of “Nakba Day” – “The Day of the Catastrophe” – on campus. It was unbelievable that Arab students who are Israeli citizens would be joined by Jewish students to commemorate the suffering endured by Palestine’s Arabs due to Israel’s emergence as an independent Jewish state 64 years ago.



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