King Abdullah: Time is Running Out for Arab-Israeli Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National Interest by Bruce Riedel - (Book Review) April 13, 2011 - 12:00am King Abdullah II of Jordan, like the rest of us, was apparently surprised by this winter’s eruption of political dissent in the Arab world. His just published autobiography, Our Last Best Chance: the Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril, warns that upheaval and war is coming to the Middle East if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not resolved by a just and fair peace, but does not prepare the reader for the revolutions that swept Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and the rest of the Arab world this winter and spring. That is not a criticism—no one else saw it coming either. » Read more

Hamas and the Iranian life-line ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Dr. Hamad Al-Majid - April 13, 2011 - 12:00am Has Iran begun to reap the fruits of its support for Hamas? Some observers believe that the recent conversion of several Gazans to Shiism represents one of these fruits. The Al-Arabiya website, citing a report published by the Arsiran website – which is affiliated to a number of conservative groups in Iran – published a story claiming that the Shiite doctrine is beginning to spread in Gaza and that the number [of converts] reaches into the hundreds. Abdul Raheem Hamad, a Gazan convert, also expressed the same point [in this report]. » Read more

The ravaged palace that symbolises the hope of peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Matthew Kalman - April 13, 2011 - 12:00am The first remodelling of Albert Abu Zgheibreh's impressive home in Beit Jala on the outskirts of Bethlehem was free of charge, but not to his taste. Hellfire missiles fired from Israeli Apache helicopter gunships left gaping holes in the walls, tank shells smashed through the supporting pillars of the verandas and the stonework was raked with heavy-calibre machine-gun fire. » Read more

Analysis: Putting the UN in perspective ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - (Analysis) April 13, 2011 - 12:00am For years, the Likud and the Right have been accused of fear-mongering, of playing upon the country’s real security concerns to turn their backs on peace. » Read more

Government mulls allowing flotillas to reach Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 13, 2011 - 12:00am The government is considering allowing flotillas bound for Gaza to dock in the Strip so long as they undergo a thorough search by an international authority, Channel 2 news reported Tuesday evening. According to the TV report, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was examining the idea of letting ships dock in the Strip as long as Israel and a third, international party, such as Greece, were to check any incoming vessel for illegal weapons or illicit materials. » Read more

'Blair to endorse Palestinian state at Brussels parley' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 13, 2011 - 12:00am Quartet envoy Tony Blair was set to present a report in Brussels on Wednesday endorsing a future Palestinian state, the London Times reported. » Read more

'US will have hard time standing alone in UN' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - April 13, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli state officials estimated Wednesday that the US decision to postpone a European initiative to set parameters for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will involve a price to be paid by Benjamin Netanyahu. "The prime minister will be forced to outline his plans in a clear manner," one state official said. Israel has been working to prevent UN support in a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, however efforts to block endorsement have thus far failed. State officials now believe such efforts are futile, particularly in regards to the General Assembly. » Read more

Bieber: Netanyahu meeting never scheduled ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Raz Shechnik - April 13, 2011 - 12:00am Justin Bieber never intended to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his manager told Yedioth Ahronoth Tuesday in response to reports that the teen idol had refused to hold such a meeting after discovering that children from the Gaza vicinity would also be in attendance. "We never asked to meet with (Netanyahu) nor has anyone connected with us asked to meet him," Scooter Braun told the paper. » Read more

Palestinians seek $5 billion for state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters April 13, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will brief Western representatives in Brussels on Wednesday on his bid for nearly $5 billion in investment to launch a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority's three-year development plan, obtained by Reuters, requires $1.467 billion this year, $1.754 billion in 2012 and $1.596 billion for 2013. "We have distributed the plan to the donors and they have welcomed it," Palestinian Planning Minister Ali al-Jarbawi said. The plan will be presented formally to donor countries at a pledging conference in June, he said. » Read more

Netanyahu's West Bank plan reeks of irrational desperation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - April 13, 2011 - 12:00am When Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu led the opposition to the Oslo Accords, he had a stroke of media brilliance. Speechwriter Netanyahu called the dynamic of the negotiations not "give and take," but "give and give," ridiculing the leaders of the left and promising that he would insist upon reciprocity. The Palestinians would have to pay through concessions for every dunam they receive in the territories. If they give, they'll get, he said on assuming office as prime minister, and if they don't give, they won't get. » Read more