Hillary vs. The Israel Lobby
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Nation by Ari Berman - February 27, 2009 - 1:00am In her 2000 race for the US Senate, Hillary Clinton was loudly denounced by uncritical right-wing supporters of Israel for a 1999 trip to Ramallah, where she kissed Palestinian First Lady Suha Arafat and listened as Arafat denounced Israel (in Arabic). Pictures of "the kiss" were repeatedly slapped across the cover of the New York Post, in TV ads and invoked by the campaigns of Rudy Giuliani and Rick Lazio. The flap almost derailed Clinton's campaign. |
Clinton puts 'heart' into Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Nicholas Kralev - March 3, 2009 - 1:00am Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday committed herself personally to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, saying that finding a solution is "in my heart, not just my portfolio." Mrs. Clinton cited the persistent peacemaking efforts of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and linked a solution to the future of Israeli and Palestinian children. |
After Gaza war, a harder coexistence for Jews and Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Joshua Mitnick - February 27, 2009 - 1:00am The Hagar bilingual kindergarten was founded as a rare cocoon from ethnic alienation for children and parents in Israel. But even this place of innocence and coexistence isn't immune to the deeper divisions between Jews and Arabs here that has followed the Gaza war. "When Assin came back from her first day [after the war] she said, 'Mommy, today we played war between Israel and Gaza,' " says Suha Farhat, about her 5-year-old daughter. |
Challenge of Israeli settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Katya Adler - March 3, 2009 - 1:00am Israel's Prime Minister designate, Benjamin Netanyahu, will not openly commit to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the US insists it's the only way forward, and Hillary Clinton is visiting the region for the first time as secretary of state. "I feel like a stranger in my own land. I can't go for a long walk. I have to sneak around. Otherwise I'm stopped by Israeli soldiers or threatened by Israeli settlers." “ This is no longer occupation, this is colonisation. Israel has no right to this land ” Raja Shehadeh |
The Path of Realism or the Path of Failure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Weekly Standard by Elliott Abrams - March 2, 2009 - 1:00am Repetition of failed experiments is not a sign of mental health or a path to scientific progress, nor is it a formula for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Yet that is the road we may again take, unless the lessons of the Bush years are learned. |
Abbas: Palestinian unity government must support two-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post February 28, 2009 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday said that a Palestinian unity government with Hamas must support a two-state solution. In a Ramallah speech, Abbas went on to say progress was being made toward establishing a Palestinian unity government "that will be committed to our values and will respect agreements previously signed by the Palestinian Authority," Israel Radio reported. |
Netanyahu faces moment of truth
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - March 2, 2009 - 1:00am Pressed to take a firm stand on the two-state solution, Benjamin Netanyahu’s moment of truth may have come sooner than he wanted. Despite strong international and domestic pressure, Israel's prime minister-designate is refusing to come out in support of the idea of two states for two peoples, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. Ever since President Bush outlined his vision of two states in June 2002, the two-state solution has been consensus international policy and the basis for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. |
Could Netanyahu be an Israeli Maverick?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Mel Frykberg - March 3, 2009 - 1:00am Kadima chairwoman and Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has lashed out at prime minister-designate and leader of the hawkish Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, for being an extremist and unwilling to compromise with the Palestinians. "Netanyahu is more extreme than Lieberman, who doesn't rule out a two-state solution. Netanyahu isn't even willing to discuss it," said Livni on Friday after meeting with him to discuss the possibility of Likud and Kadima joining forces in a unity government. |
For Gaza’s sake this can’t be just another summit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) March 3, 2009 - 1:00am Another summit in Sharm el Sheikh to deal with the fallout of another violent episode in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is one way to understand yesterday’s meeting between heads of state, foreign ministers and officials at the Egyptian resort. But given the magnitude of the human suffering in Gaza, this cannot be just another meeting. |
PA official warns peace process at risk of crumbling
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - March 3, 2009 - 1:00am Should rightist government being formed in Israel abandon notion of two-state solution, Palestinian moderates will likely lose public's support while Islamic forces gain in strength, senior PA official says Ali Waked Should the two-state solution fail to become viable in the near future," the entire notion of the two states and the diplomatic process in general will collapse," a senior Palestinian official told Ynet Tuesday. Peace Process Clinton reiterates need for two-state solution / Roni Sofer |