March 9th

News Analysis: Will Israel's pledge to remove some settlements activate peace talks? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - March 9, 2011 - 1:00am The Israeli government on Monday announced that it will remove all Israeli settlements on the West Bank built on private Palestinian land. Despite the government's promises, local analysts doubt its feasibility without an outside push to resume direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Moreover, the political stability within Israel could be affected as some coalition partners are considered pro-settlement. DOMESTIC DOUBTS » Read more

Netanyahu: Israel must hold Jordan River line ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters March 8, 2011 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday the upheaval in the Arab world underscored the need to keep Israeli forces along the Jordan River, the likely eastern border of a future Palestinian state. "Our security border is here, on the Jordan (River)," Netanyahu, reaffirming a longstanding policy, told reporters during a visit to the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. » Read more

Hamas: Gazans will turn Knesset into Tahrir Square ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 8, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar told an audience in Sudan on Monday that the people of Gaza would triumph over the Israeli occupation and "raise the banner of Islam" over Jerusalem. Speaking at the eighth conference of the Iran-funded International Institute for Jerusalem, Zahhar said his party would "not quit until the banner of one God is raised over the occupied Islamic lands and injustice is lifted," a Hamas-linked website said. » Read more

What Obama Should Say to Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Leonard Fein - March 8, 2011 - 1:00am There’s a growing clamor for President Obama to visit Israel (and, presumably, once in Jerusalem, Ramallah as well). But there’s a bit of a problem in imagining such a visit: What would the president say? He would likely deliver a very elegant speech; that’s one of his great skills. But beyond reassuring the Israelis of America’s “unshakable” commitment to Israel’s security and chastising them for their inflexibility on settlements, what is there for him to say? Pretty words, even moving words, no doubt. But useful words, words as a prelude to… to what? » Read more

Fayyad: No solution, no state without Jordan Valley ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 9, 2011 - 1:00am "There is no independent Palestinian state without the Jordan Valley," re-appointed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Tuesday, after comments by his Israeli counterpart that the area would remain under occupation in any peace deal. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had toured the Jordan Valley, telling reporters that "the IDF [Israeli army] must remain deployed on the border as part of any agreement. This is Israel's security border." » Read more

Abbas hints at resignation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 9, 2011 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas hinted Tuesday that he would resign if an independent Palestinian state was not established by September. Abbas' remarks came at a joint press conference with British Foreign Minister William Hague in London. Responding to reporters' questions about his resignation, Abbas said all options were being considered. » Read more

March 8th

AN ISRAELI VIEW: Weak leaders responding poorly ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Editorial) March 7, 2011 - 1:00am The revolutionary events sweeping the region, Egypt especially, have thus far produced a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the PLO and Palestinian Authority leadership that seemingly reflects a shallow decision-making process in Ramallah. The same, undoubtedly, can be said for the Netanyahu government in Jerusalem. » Read more

A PALESTINIAN VIEW: Sharing the search for freedom ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Editorial) March 7, 2011 - 1:00am The wave of protests demanding change in a growing number of countries marks a new era in the recent history of the Arab world. It is not a coincidence that Egypt has taken the lead in its revolution for political and social development. It comes half a century after Egypt took the lead in an Arab liberation movement that succeeded in ending direct colonial control over the region. » Read more

At Berkeley campus, Jewish students from left to right on Israel talk about their motivations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Sue Fishkoff - March 7, 2011 - 1:00am It’s March, which means the days get longer and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict heats up on campuses across North America with the annual staging of Israel Apartheid Week. Last year, pro-Israel activists countered Apartheid Week events ranging from anti-Israel speeches to the staging of mock Israeli army checkpoints with pro-Israel events on 28 campuses highlighting Israel’s diversity and progressive character. This year, more campuses are expected to join in. » Read more

Palestinian Woman Serves Up Success With West Bank Café Chain ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Felice Friedson - March 7, 2011 - 1:00am When Huda El-Jack speaks, it’s with more than an American accent. She exudes an American entrepreneurial drive that she has brought to the Palestinian Authority and, in her own energetic way, she’s paving a path for Palestinian women to assume a greater role in the economy. » Read more