April 14th

Prospect unpromising as U.S. Middle East envoy to return to push talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by David Harris - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am The United States special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell is expected back in the region next week to try once again to advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Israel dispatched its senior negotiators to Washington on Monday for consultations with members of the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Back in Jerusalem, senior Israeli government ministers met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night to consider their formal response to a series of pointed questions from Obama. » Read more

Israel's West Bank deportation order comes into force amid controversy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 14, 2010 - 12:00am Two military orders that authorized Israeli army to deport Palestinian residents from the West Bank came into effect on Tuesday, revealed Israeli human rights organization HaMoked. "Signed but not revealed by Israeli authorities, the orders are worded so broadly, such as theoretically allowing the military to empty the West Bank of almost all its Palestinian inhabitants," said HaMoked. The military orders, with prevention of infiltration and security provisions, view anyone who is present in the West Bank without an Israeli permit as an "infiltrator," said the rights watchdog. » Read more

Hamas orders Gaza smuggling tunnels shut ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am Gaza's Hamas rulers have ordered residents to shut smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt indefinitely, cutting off the economic lifeline for 1.5 million Palestinians in the impoverished territory, residents and tunnel operators said Wednesday. Forces of the Islamic militant Hamas moved into the border area late Tuesday and ordered tunnel operators to cease operations until further notice. The operators were allowed to retrieve food and other perishable goods, but otherwise barred from the area on Wednesday. » Read more

Egypt closes Rafah crossing indefinitely ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 14, 2010 - 12:00am Egyptian authorities announced Wednesday morning that the Rafah crossing into Gaza would be closed to travelers indefinitely. The crossing is usually opened on Wednesdays and Thursdays to allow Palestinian patients who have completed their treatment in Egypt to return to Gaza. However, Egyptian authorities gave no explanation as to the decision's motives. Mustafa Al-Tayeh, an Arab Doctors Federation official, said authorities informed him that the decision would be implemented for an "indefinite period of time." » Read more

Israeli Troops Kill 2 Militants in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times April 14, 2010 - 12:00am At least two Palestinian militants were killed and two others were wounded Tuesday when Israeli troops shot at them as they tried to plant explosives near the border, according to an Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv and Palestinians in Gaza. Tanks rolled in to chase down the Palestinian assailants. Residents said the Israelis also used machine guns, artillery and missiles. » Read more

Mideast Land Conflict Now Includes Street Signs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am A city project marking every street name and house number in this temporary Palestinian capital has stirred an international dispute and exposed yet again how the Israelis and Palestinians live in sealed narrative bubbles and seem almost incapable of hearing one another. The dispute started last week when an Israeli television crew came through. As it passed the office of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the construction site of the new presidential compound, it noticed that a main road bore new blue signs declaring it Yahya Ayyash Street. » Read more

Israel should help create Palestinian state in its interest: Peres ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 14, 2010 - 12:00am PARIS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres said here on Tuesday that the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians should be relaunched soon and a Palestinian state could be set up as long as it was in Israel's interest. "It's already late. A negotiation must be relaunched urgently so that we can reach a compromise ... We should help to create a Palestinian state in Israel's interest," the president said after meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon. » Read more

April 13th

Sly maneuver ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) April 12, 2010 - 12:00am The Israeli Army’s plan to deport tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank is both inhuman and illegal. It is also highly provocative and could reignite the intifada. This, of course, would suit the Netanyahu government very well, since once more, even the indirect peace talks with the Palestinians would be back on hold and Israel could protest yet again that its security was threatened by “terrorist violence.” » Read more

Acting for peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) April 13, 2010 - 12:00am His Majesty King Abdullah has stepped up diplomatic efforts to create momentum for the restart of the peace process. A week ago, he gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal in which he made it clear that Israel is leading the region into a mess. The interview was timed well before the King’s visit the United States to meet with President Barack Obama. Jordan, a country that worked more than any other to realise a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, is thus sending the message to the American administration that enough is enough. » Read more

Israel’s plan is a shot across the bow ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) April 12, 2010 - 12:00am Outrage is the only appropriate reaction. The revelation that thousands of Palestinians could face forced eviction, separation from their families, and imprisonment – and be expected to foot the bill for it all – beggars belief. If approved, two military orders would broaden who is termed a so-called infiltrator into the Palestinian territories. This cannot be allowed to happen, nor can the international community, and particularly the Arab world, remain silent on the issue. » Read more