Hizbollah, Hamas and the false promise of resistance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Michael Young - (Opinion) March 31, 2010 - 12:00am In a recent interview with Hizbollah’s Al Manar television station, Bashar al Assad, the president of Syria, was asked about the state of Syria’s relationship with Lebanon after years of tension following the assassination of the former prime minister, Rafiq al Hariri, in 2005. “Damascus cannot be neutral when one side is engaged in resistance and another is against the resistance,” he responded. » Read more

Netanyahu's days may be numbered ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Believe it or not, Benjamin Netanyahu may return to Washington next weekend. The Israeli prime minister has apparently overcome the embarrassment of his stressful encounter with President Barack Obama last month on ending illegal Israeli colony construction on occupied Palestinian land, especially in occupied East Jerusalem, where the Palestinians hope to establish their capital. But whether he will have his tail tucked between his legs remains to be seen. » Read more

What accountability? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am The US is the only world power that can help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace. Few dispute the unique American standing. For the US to be able to help shepherd a serious peace process, the trust of both parties to the conflict is critical. The absence of trust, more than settlement announcements, seems to be the real reason behind the current anger of the Obama administration toward its most important Middle East ally. » Read more

Settler activists claim area near Rawabi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Some 60 right-wing activists took a stand at dawn Wednesday to stake a claim to a partially developed area close to the new Palestinian city of Rawabi, which is now under construction in the Binyamin Region. According to one of the group leaders, Elad Meir, they went to an area close to Rawabi, which has structures that were partially built years ago and then abandoned. The Palestinian Authority had hoped to use the structures to house policemen. These buildings are well-suited to help settlers begin a new community, which they will call Bear Zeit, Meir said. » Read more

Leverage the crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Steven M. Goldberg - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Rahm Emanuel famously proclaimed, "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." Ironically, although the president's chief of staff has proven to be a false friend of Israel, the leadership of the Jewish state would do well to heed his advice. » Read more

When friends are mad at you ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ephraim Sneh - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am The current crisis between Israel and the United States is fundamental and serious. Even if a nominal solution is found, it will be temporary, until the next one, which won't be far off. These crises are harmful to our national interests, and a true, enduring solution must be implemented. To achieve this, there are 10 assumptions that must be taken into account: 1. Israel cannot keep up a confrontation with its friends for long while its legitimacy is being eroded. This will soon begin to adversely affect the economy, based as it is on exports. » Read more

EU draft document on division of Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - December 2, 2009 - 1:00am The current holder of the rotating European Union presidency, Sweden, has put together a draft document calling for the division of Jerusalem between Israel and a future Palestinian state and implying that the EU would recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood. Haaretz has obtained a copy of the document (below) that has sparked criticism by Israel, which claims that such a move would further harm the chances of renewing the Mideast peace process. » Read more

For Israel's Arabs, Land Day is our narrative and our justice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am I remember the events of Land Day 1976 in particular detail. I was taking part in the demonstration in the center of Taibeh, just opposite the taxi station, when police began dispersing us with clubs, then shot and killed one of the demonstrators, Rafat Zohiri, in cold blood. As on all such days marked by the Arab population of Israel, discussions on Land Day revolve around the question of Arab citizens' place in Israeli society and also on our insistence on commemorating Nakba Day, Land Day and the riots of October 2000 every year. » Read more

Gazans celebrate Egypt's Mubarak's recovery ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Dozens of Palestinians gathered at the border between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt on Wednesday to celebrate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's recovery and return home. The rally, organized by the Islamic Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip, called on Mubarak to release Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails. "We came here today to the borderline area to send our congratulations to President Mubarak for his recovery and also to urge him to release the Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails," said the organizer. » Read more

Joint Palestinian-European committee to convene on supporting Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 1, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian official announced on Wednesday that the Joint Palestinian-European Committee will hold a meeting in Brussels in June to support vital projects in the Palestinian territories. A preparatory meeting was held Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, attended by both senior Palestinian and European officials. Reyad al-Malki, minister of foreign affairs in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) government, said in a press statement that the two sides agreed to prepare a joint working plan. » Read more