IDF general: Israel incapable of West Bank pullout ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - September 8, 2009 - 12:00am Almost seven years after he was introduced to Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, initiated the establishment of the Sela disengagement administration to aid evacuees from Gaza and northern Samaria, and became one of the central figures behind the scenes in carrying out the plan - the head of the National Security Council at the time of the 2005 disengagement, Maj. Gen (res.) Giora Eiland, is convinced that Israel is incapable of evacuating settlements on the West Bank. » Read more

Infrastructure Minister Landau: Arabs are the occupiers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yuval Azoulay - September 8, 2009 - 12:00am National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau on Monday lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for a partial construction freeze in the West Bank, deeming the Palestinians "occupiers" and declaring any bounds on settlements a "violation of human rights." Right-wing lawmakers on Monday joined the crowds celebrating the establishment of a new neighborhood in the E-1 corridor connecting Jerusalem to its settlement suburbs. The ceremony was also attended by Supreme Court Judge Eliyakim Rubinstein and Information Minister Yuli Edelstein. » Read more

Haaretz probe: 'New' settlement permits aren't really new ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - September 8, 2009 - 12:00am At the West Bank city of Ariel's adventure park, whose construction Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved, nothing special was going on yesterday. Children were trying out the climbing wall and the mayor was walking around, proud as a groom on his wedding day. The facility was actually only approved yesterday, but has been in existence for a year and a half before receiving construction permits. In fact, a demolition order was issued against it. » Read more

Egypt to open Rafah crossing 15, 16 September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 8, 2009 - 12:00am Egypt will open the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip for two consecutive days on 15 and 16 September Egyptian security sources said Tuesday. The source explained that the crossing for patients, foreign visa holders, and students would be able to leave the Gaza Strip to Egypt, while all Gazans stranded at the Egyptian side of the terminal will be able to return to Gaza. Egyptian authorities said they would consider keeping the crossing open for an additional day or two so all those eligible to cross would be able to do so. » Read more

What Carter Missed in the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Elliott Abrams - (Editorial) September 8, 2009 - 12:00am In an op-ed on Sunday ["The Elders' View of the Middle East"], former president Jimmy Carter, speaking on behalf of a self-appointed group of "Elders," described a rapacious Israel facing long-suffering, blameless Palestinians, who are contemplating a "nonviolent civil rights struggle" in which "their examples would be Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela." » Read more

The Elders' View Of the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Jimmy Carter - September 6, 2009 - 12:00am During the past 16 months I have visited the Middle East four times and met with leaders in Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. I was in Damascus when President Obama made his historic speech in Cairo, which raised high hopes among the more-optimistic Israelis and Palestinians, who recognize that his insistence on a total freeze of settlement expansion is the key to any acceptable peace agreement or any positive responses toward Israel from Arab nations. » Read more

How Israel warms up for a settlement freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - September 8, 2009 - 12:00am Israel approved the building of more than 450 new homes in Jewish settlements on Monday, just weeks before possible Israeli-Palestinian talks on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering in New York. » Read more

Israel Tries to Placate Settlers by Allowing Some Construction Before Freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 8, 2009 - 12:00am Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, authorized plans for 455 new housing units in Jewish settlements in the West Bank on Monday, in a move aimed at placating Israel’s pro-settlement camp before an expected construction freeze demanded by the Arab world and the United States. But the details released by Mr. Barak’s office on Monday seemed to satisfy nobody, enraging not only the Palestinians, but also Israelis on the right and the left. The White House denounced the planned approvals last week, when news first emerged of Israel’s intention to grant them. » Read more