March 15th

Clinton Rebukes Israel on Housing Announcement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Mark Landler - March 12, 2010 - 1:00am In a tense, 43-minute phone call on Friday morning, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel’s plan for new housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem sent a “deeply negative signal” about Israeli-American relations, and not just because it spoiled a visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. » Read more

Driving Drunk in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) March 13, 2010 - 1:00am I am a big Joe Biden fan. The vice president is an indefatigable defender of U.S. interests abroad. So it pains me to say that on his recent trip to Israel, when Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government rubbed his nose in some new housing plans for contested East Jerusalem, the vice president missed a chance to send a powerful public signal: He should have snapped his notebook shut, gotten right back on Air Force Two, flown home and left the following scribbled note behind: “Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. » Read more

Netanyahu Offers Apology, but No Shift in Policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - March 14, 2010 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told his cabinet on Sunday that the ill-timed announcement of new housing plans for a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem during a visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. last week had been “regrettable” and “hurtful.” Mr. Netanyahu also said that the government had set up a committee to “examine the chain of events and to ensure procedures” to prevent such an episode from happening again. » Read more

March 12th

Joe Biden delivers 'hardest truth' in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Politico by Laura Rozen - March 12, 2010 - 1:00am Vice President Joe Biden departed from Israel Thursday leaving behind a raging controversy over the consequences of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists was the unintentional embarrassment of the highest-ranking member of the Obama administration to visit his country. » Read more

Israel Seals off West Bank to Prevent Unrest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times March 12, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel has sealed off the West Bank for 48 hours, preventing Palestinians from entering Israel because of fears of unrest. There have been clashes after Friday prayers at mosques in Jerusalem and elsewhere in recent weeks, sparked by deadlock in peace talks and Israel's inclusion of two West Bank shrines on a list of national heritage sites. Several Palestinians have been badly wounded and dozens of protesters and Israeli policemen have suffered light injuries. » Read more

Israel's Challenege to the U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times March 10, 2010 - 1:00am Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was unpleasantly surprised in Israel on Tuesday when the country’s Interior Ministry declared that it would expand housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem. Mr. Biden, who earlier that day had expressed American support on Israel’s security needs, condemned the announcement, which had been made without the knowledge of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What did the incident reflect about the state of the Obama administration’s relations with Israel and the future of talks with the Palestinians? Aaron David Miller - » Read more

Washington is the indispensible partner for a settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Ziad Asali - (Analysis) March 12, 2010 - 1:00am The situation facing Israel, the Palestinians and all other interested parties, especially the United States, is difficult, but it also presents important new opportunities. Negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians may resume soon, although continued disagreements over Israeli settlement building may yet derail this. » Read more

Breaking down the Biden speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - March 11, 2010 - 1:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's attempt to reassure Israel of American steadfastness survived a steadfast Middle East tradition of self-sabotage. Biden's intended message in a much ballyhooed speech Thursday -- that the United States would stand by Israel in thick and thin -- was unequivocal. Yet it was clear that he and his speechwriters tweaked the text to encompass references to the Israeli settlement building and Palestinian incitement that almost marred his trip. » Read more

How Bibi lost a best friend ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) March 12, 2010 - 1:00am

UN humanitarian chief criticises Israel over Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News March 12, 2010 - 1:00am The UN's top humanitarian official, John Holmes, has criticised Israel for linking the 2006 capture of an Israeli soldier to its blockade of Gaza. Mr Holmes also said Israeli actions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including expanding settlements, was counter to the peace process. He urged a relaxation of the blockade, warning Gaza was "de-developing". It came as Israel ordered the army to seal off the West Bank for 48 hours until midnight on Saturday. An army spokesman said the move had been made because of heightened tensions in Jerusalem. » Read more