The Egyptian connection
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Uri Savir - (Opinion) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


Anwar Sadat’s decision to visit Jerusalem in 1977 was one of the most courageous decisions in modern history. Despite public opinion in Egypt being hostile to Israel, and a hostile Arab world, Sadat traveled to Jerusalem, breaking a political sound barrier. Thirty-four years later, the peace that emanated from that historic journey is still alive. If we want to understand why peace came alive in 1979, and is still holding strong, we have to comprehend why Sadat came here in the first place.


Turn crisis into opportunity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Editorial) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


The Americans are making a last-ditch effort to convince Palestinians to halt their plan to ask the UN later this month to recognize a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines. The US – as well as other Western countries such as Italy and Germany, not to mention Israel – would rightly like to see the Palestinians scrap their unilateral push for statehood and replace it with serious dialogue with Israel that leads to a negotiated peace agreement acceptable to both sides. Unfortunately, it appears highly unlikely that Washington’s efforts will succeed.


Fanatics, let’s separate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Einat Barzilay - (Opinion) September 8, 2011 - 12:00am


In recent days I found two words to hate – price tag. Once upon a time it used to be in the fashion context and pertained to expensive blouses I could never afford, yet now it’s much more painful, because the despicable term is linked to kippas and biblical excerpts, the materials comprising my faith. I too squirmed when I saw the demolition of the homes in Migron, even though in my view it would have been better not to build there illegally to begin with, as not to face such painful situations later on. Yet nonetheless, the people of Migron are my brothers.


Settlers target W. Bank mosque - officials
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Reuters - (Analysis) September 8, 2011 - 12:00am


YATMA, West Bank, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Israeli settlers sprayed graffiti on a mosque and torched Palestinian cars in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, angered by Israel's demolition of structures at an unauthorised outpost, Palestinian officials said. "We condemn these attacks and also the Israeli government for allowing this to happen," Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib said, urging the international community "to provide our people with protection".


Sacramento food co-op becomes battleground over Israeli products
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Shane Goldmacher - (Analysis) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


Reporting from Sacramento -- Its aisles brimming with a rainbow of ripe organic produce, bins of grains and refrigerators stocked with soy everything, the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op has long been an oasis of civility in this combative city. Democrats and Republicans may quarrel at the Capitol a few miles away, but here they break gluten-free bread, munch on kale chips and sip acai juice in blissful bipartisan harmony: "Peace, love and granola," said Republican strategist Donna Lucas, a proud co-op member. But now politics has intruded on their sanctuary.


Netanyahu must go, it's as simple as that
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


The head of the Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg, warns: The probability and danger of an all-out war have increased. "Israel has discovered new and dangerous weapons in Gaza," he says, summing up the poem by saying: We can expect a radical Islamic winter. On the other hand, Amos Gilad, who was once known as a doomsayer, says the opposite: Our situation has never been better.


Israel faces perfect storm in shifting region
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Crispian Balmer - (Analysis) September 8, 2011 - 12:00am


Militarily strong, Israel is battling a diplomatic storm as Arab uprisings upset once-stable relationships and worsen the Jewish state's isolation in its conflict with the Palestinians. Domestic political pressures are exacerbating the problems, as is the perceived weakness of Israel's main ally, the United States, which is itself struggling to adapt to the consequences of the turbulence that has swept the Arab world this year.


Blair: Palestinian UN statehood bid is unilateral cry of frustration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Reuters - (Analysis) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


A Palestinian bid for greater recognition at the United Nations this month would be a cry of frustration, Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair said, calling for a new campaign to get Israeli-Palestinian peace talks back on track. The Palestinians have vowed to upgrade their United Nations status, either by seeking full United Nations membership for a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank or recognition as a "non-member state."


Train Wreck in Turtle Bay
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) September 8, 2011 - 12:00am


Late September is fast approaching, and the stage seems set for yet another crisis in the Middle East. Palestinian leaders are determined to push for greater international recognition of their state at the upcoming annual session of the U.N. General Assembly. A large number of countries are reportedly poised to vote in Palestine's favor, much to the chagrin of the Israeli government, which has mounted a vigorous lobbying campaign against recognition. COMMENTS (9) SHARE: Twitter Reddit Buzz More...


UN chief: Palestinian statehood 'long overdue'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am


CANBERRA (AFP) -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Palestinian statehood was "long overdue", a day after its leadership launched a campaign to become the world body's 194th member state. "The two state vision where Israel and Palestinians can live ... side by side in peace and security -- that is a still a valid vision and I fully support it," he told reporters in Canberra. "And I support also the statehood of Palestinians; an independent, sovereign state of Palestine. It has been long overdue."



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