Abed Rabbo: National conference on Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 17, 2010 - 12:00am


A conference will be held to reconcile factions on a united plan to support Jerusalem and counter Israel’s position toward the Palestinian people and holy places, PLO secretary-general Yasser Abed Rabbo said Tuesday. Abed Rabbo hinted that the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah may officially take its case to the UN Security Council seeking support for its efforts against what he termed provocative Israeli actions in Jerusalem.


Why Iran smiles on Jerusalem clashes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Scott Peterson - (Analysis) March 17, 2010 - 12:00am


Iran is closely watching the unfolding crisis between Israel and the United States over Israeli settlements – and Jerusalem clashes with Palestinians that injured more than 100 today – for ways to rejuvenate its diminished influence in the Middle East.


Anger builds over Israel housing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Maher Abukhater, Paul Richter, Edmund Sanders - March 17, 2010 - 12:00am


Reporting from Washington and Jerusalem Paul Richter -- With anger over Israeli building plans stoking tensions about the future of Jerusalem's holy sites, violence spilled into the streets Tuesday in a string of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police that injured more than 100 people. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delayed a trip to the Middle East by the U.S. special envoy as Washington pressed the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to roll back construction of housing units in disputed East Jerusalem.


More than 100 injured in Â?Day of RageÂ? Israeli-Palestinian clashes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Maher Abukhater, Edmund Sanders - March 16, 2010 - 12:00am


Rising political and religious tensions in Jerusalem spilled into the streets Tuesday with a string of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police that left more than 100 people injured. In scenes reminiscent of past uprisings, dozens of Palestinian youths, some with scarves masking their faces, pelted police with rocks, blocked roads and burned tires in half a dozen neighborhoods around East Jerusalem. Israeli police, who have been on high alert for days, responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades, witnesses said.


With subtle shift in nuance, Hillary Clinton reiterates U.S. stance on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Glenn Kessler - March 17, 2010 - 12:00am


In the face of bipartisan concern over U.S. criticism of Israeli policies, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday reiterated the administration's demand for a "full commitment" to peace talks from Israel but also ever so slightly bolstered her rhetorical support for the Jewish state.


Bibi’s Tense Time-Out
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Maureen Dowd - (Opinion) March 16, 2010 - 12:00am


So, Barack Obama can lose his temper without a teleprompter. And we have the supremely aggravating Bibi Netanyahu to thank for that. On St. Patrick’s Day, of all days, we wouldn’t want to think that our president did not know how to pick his donnybrooks. The American government did unfortunately apologize to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, who got mad when a State Department spokesman correctly observed that the Libyan leader doesn’t always make sense. But in the case of a defiant Israel, the White House has not yet retreated into its usual compromising crouch.


Let’s Fight Over a Big Plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) March 16, 2010 - 12:00am


Underlying the latest U.S.-Israel spat over settlements is the deeper — real — problem: There are five key actors in the Israeli-Palestinian equation today. Two of them — the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the alliance of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah — have clear strategies. These two are actually opposed, but one of them will shape Israeli-Palestinian relations in the coming years; indeed, their showdown is nearing. I hope Fayyad wins. It would be good for Israel, America and the moderate Arabs. But those three need their own strategy to make it happen.


Israel Objects to U.S. Construction Demands
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - March 16, 2010 - 12:00am


The discord between the United States and Israel over Jewish building in East Jerusalem deepened Tuesday with Israeli officials saying they would reject demands by Washington and expressing anger over the public upbraiding of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the Obama administration.


Opportunity in a Fight With Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Mark Landler - (Analysis) March 16, 2010 - 12:00am


For President Obama, getting into a serious fight with Israel carries obvious domestic and foreign political risks. But it may offer the administration a payoff it sees as worthwhile: shoring up Mr. Obama’s credibility as a Middle East peacemaker by showing doubtful Israelis and Palestinians that he has the fortitude to push the two sides toward an agreement.



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