Analysis: Saudis seek illusory 'third way' in regional diplomacy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jonathan Spyer - (Opinion) January 13, 2010 - 1:00am


Syrian President Bashar Assad is reportedly scheduled to visit the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he is to meet with Saudi King Abdullah. The meeting is rumored to be a prelude to a three way summit also to involve Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The current round of talks is the latest stage in Syria's return from the cold in terms of its reintegration - on its own terms and with no concessions made - into the mainstream of Arab diplomacy. This process, in turn, is testimony to the current weakness of Saudi Arabia's position.


'PMO, Foreign Ministry failed at hasbara'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Katz - January 14, 2010 - 1:00am


Citing a major failure, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss slammed the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday for not creating an effective Arab-language public diplomacy team. In a report released Wednesday, the comptroller said that the lack of Arabic speakers to address the relevant media was a "national failure" that was demonstrated during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last year. The government also failed to set up proper radio stations that could be used to transmit Israel's message to the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.


The first Hebrew ghetto
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Aviad Kleinberg - January 14, 2010 - 1:00am


“Eventually, there will be no choice but to fence Israel in on all directions,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a closed-door session (which was immediately reported, as is common in Israel.) “The country will have to be fully fenced on all directions." “On all directions.” “Fully.” A fortified island, armed to the teeth, surrounded by minefields and fences, high cement walls, and suspicion.


Fatah fears Israel to renounce security agreements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - January 13, 2010 - 1:00am


Fatah activists fear Israel will renounce security agreements signed with the Palestinian Authority, as part of which many Palestinian gunmen were granted amnesty. The concern was raised following the assassination of three organization members involved in the shooting attack that killed Rabbi Avshalom Meir Hai near the West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron. Two of those killed were gunmen pardoned by the Jewish state.


No entry for Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avirama Golan - (Opinion) January 14, 2010 - 1:00am


Anyone observing Israel these days - and the hazing to which the Turkish ambassador was subjected is only the latest example - sees the neighborhood bully. Anyone who cares about self-preservation will stay away from this hard-hearted, dull-witted madman whose sole guiding principle is "national honor" - or in other words, sowing strife and dissension that undermines the state's interests.


Israel restricts Palestinian lawyers' access to West Bank detainees
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - January 14, 2010 - 1:00am


Israel is prohibiting Palestinian lawyers and the relatives of Palestinian detainees from reaching a military tribunal via the Beitunia checkpoint west of Ramallah.


ATFP Original Translation: “Not through a narrow prism!”
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Hassan Al-Battal - (Opinion) January 9, 2010 - 1:00am


One can excuse the Palestinians for viewing the problems of Middle East and terrorism through their own narrow prism. This is precisely the same prism they are using to view the recent events of Rafah and Al-Arish.



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