July 7th

What do we do with our accumulated experience? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ron Pundak - (Opinion) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am When I think back and analyze the Oslo negotiations with regard to the task of the mediator, I recall three episodes that best describe the mission the Norwegians took upon themselves. The first took place on the first day of our meetings. Following an official event that provided cover for the Israelis and Palestinians to come to Oslo, the Norwegians left us in the room and our host Terje Roed-Larsen said, "We'll return only if you summon us or if we hear you quarreling . . ." » Read more

Mediators matter, and good mediators can broker agreements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Daniel Kurtzer - (Blog) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Mediators matter, especially in the Arab-Israel conflict, where all parties have looked to the United States to play the role of third party helper. During the more than 30 years of active American mediation, the parties have sometimes defined what they wanted the US to do or to avoid doing, but they have not defined clearly the structure or functioning of the mediator's role. » Read more

For America, An Arab Winter ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Mark Twain once observed that history doesn’t repeat; it rhymes. As America reacts to the dramatic changes sweeping the Arab world, it would be wise to keep Twain’s insight in mind. These aren’t quite secular revolutions like those of 1789 and 1917, and they certainly aren’t Islamic ones, like Iran’s in 1979, at least not yet. They more resemble popular uprisings like those in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991. » Read more

Hamas arrests man for styling women's hair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews July 6, 2011 - 12:00am The Hamas government in Gaza has arrested a man for violating a recent legislation that prohibits men from styling women's hair, the BBC reported Wednesday. The report said that following the arrest, many male hairstylists could be found loitering at the entrance to their salons, terrified of being detained as well. Last year Hamas officially announced a new law prohibiting men from styling women's hair, as it negates Sharia. » Read more

Is Israel the 'National Home of the Jewish People'? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time by Tony Karon - (Opinion) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am In a scathing commentary on the folly of the Obama Administration relying on Dennis Ross to resuscitate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israeli journalist Akiva Eldar notes that Ross has been at the center of just about every failed initiative on that front over the past two decades -- and that now, as ever, he is running interference for the Israelis, sustaining what he says is an illusion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to make major concessions while restraining the U.S. from putting any significant pressure on him. » Read more

Palestinian official: UN vote on statehood won't contradict peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat attended a meeting with U.S. officials at the U.S. State Department Wednesday, at which U.S. officials were expected to push the PA negotiator to accept American terms for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Acting Middle East Envoy David Hale and diplomat Dennis Ross both attended the meeting with Erekat. Following their meeting, Erekat said in a brief press conference that he does not expect the Quartet’s meeting scheduled for July 11 to “invent the wheel.” » Read more

Israel and Turkey row delays UN flotilla report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Catrina Stewart - July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli and Turkish officials are working feverishly behind the scenes to agree on a reconciliation document which would draw a line under Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla last May, which left nine Turkish activists dead and chilled relations with its closest ally in the region. » Read more

PNA lifts immunity for ministers over corruption inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 7, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) lifted immunity for several ministers in a rare move aimed at investigating charges of corruption, a Palestinian official said Thursday. The PNA commission against corruption presented the names of some ministers to President Mahmoud Abbas who accepted to withdraw their immunity, said Rafiq Al-Natsha, the head of the commission. » Read more

Colonisation, occupation - core problems ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians, Arabs and foreign regional players have to admit that all strategies adopted so far have failed to resolve the Palestinian/Arab-Israeli conflict. Armed struggle, the 1988 Palestinian declaration of independence and negotiations have not brought the Palestinian people nearer to liberation. » Read more

PNA lifts immunity for ministers over corruption inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 7, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) lifted immunity for several ministers in a rare move aimed at investigating charges of corruption, a Palestinian official said Thursday. The PNA commission against corruption presented the names of some ministers to President Mahmoud Abbas who accepted to withdraw their immunity, said Rafiq Al-Natsha, the head of the commission. » Read more