March 3rd

Israelis Float an Interim Peace Plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am There were signs on Wednesday of a new effort to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process after months of stagnation, but chances of a resumption of talks looked slim, and Israel appeared to be stepping back from the stated goal of reaching a framework agreement resolving the core issues of the conflict by September. Instead of a final accord on Palestinian statehood by fall, Israel is now floating the idea of an interim arrangement as a step toward a two-state solution, even without Palestinian agreement. » Read more

The Palestinians' Long Wait in Lebanon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Josh Wood - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Lebanon hands out and renews hundreds of thousands of work permits every year to people from Africa, Asia and other Arab countries. But until now, only a handful have been given to the country’s large Palestinian refugee population. Six months ago, the Lebanese government was internationally applauded for passing legislation granting the Palestinian population the right to work. But real changes remain to be seen. » Read more

Go to Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Editorial) March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Go to Jerusalem, Mr. President. Israel is anxious. It preferred the old Middle Eastern order. It could count on the despots, like Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, to suppress the jihadists, reject Iran, and play the Israeli-Palestinian game along lines that created a permanent temporariness ever more favorable to Israeli power. Israelis are doubly worried. They wonder, Mr. President, if you like them in a heart-to-heart way. You’ve been to Cairo, you’ve been to Istanbul, so what’s wrong with Jerusalem? Why won’t you come and kvetch with us, President Obama, and feel our pain? » Read more

Go to Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Editorial) March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Go to Jerusalem, Mr. President. Israel is anxious. It preferred the old Middle Eastern order. It could count on the despots, like Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, to suppress the jihadists, reject Iran, and play the Israeli-Palestinian game along lines that created a permanent temporariness ever more favorable to Israeli power. Israelis are doubly worried. They wonder, Mr. President, if you like them in a heart-to-heart way. You’ve been to Cairo, you’ve been to Istanbul, so what’s wrong with Jerusalem? Why won’t you come and kvetch with us, President Obama, and feel our pain? » Read more

Go to Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Editorial) March 3, 2011 - 1:00am Go to Jerusalem, Mr. President. Israel is anxious. It preferred the old Middle Eastern order. It could count on the despots, like Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, to suppress the jihadists, reject Iran, and play the Israeli-Palestinian game along lines that created a permanent temporariness ever more favorable to Israeli power. Israelis are doubly worried. They wonder, Mr. President, if you like them in a heart-to-heart way. You’ve been to Cairo, you’ve been to Istanbul, so what’s wrong with Jerusalem? Why won’t you come and kvetch with us, President Obama, and feel our pain? » Read more

March 2nd

Keep Israel Jewish, freeze settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) March 2, 2011 - 1:00am As might have been expected, the government's decision to inform the Supreme Court of its intention to immediately demolish all unauthorized settler outposts on privately-owned Palestinian land (except for the home of the late Maj. Eliraz Peretz ) has aroused the rage of settlers and their patrons in the Knesset. The right wing has learned that in most cases a combination of violent demonstrations and political pressure is enough to turn such decisions into requests that the Supreme Court instead allow the outposts to remain, and to continue to turn a blind eye to their expansion. » Read more

Netanyahu lacks credibility in the eyes of world leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Two years after returning to power, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is enmeshed in a web of onerous constraints and seeking a way out. Polls show his popularity plunging, and his Likud party's brand has been squeezed between Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu. » Read more

Veteran Israeli diplomat: Netanyahu and Lieberman harm Israel's international standing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am The diplomatic policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman are harming Israel's international standing, a senior Israeli diplomat said in his retiring letter on Tuesday, adding that he felt Israel's declared stance regarding regional peace attempts was aiding in its own delegitimization. » Read more

Hamas demands PLO reform ahead of reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas said on Tuesday that achieving national reconciliation requires the reform of Palestine Liberation Organization. "Any speech on reconciliation is useless without the reform of the PLO and the Palestinian National Council," said Yousef Rizka, an aide to Hamas leader Ismail Haneya in Gaza. He called on the heads of PLO's factions to start the reform immediately. Hamas is not represented in the PLO, which is dominated by the Fatah party of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Abbas wants Quartet to launch "meaningful" peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called on the European Union (EU) to urge the Quartet of Middle East peace players to launch a "meaningful" peace process. Abbas made his remarks after his meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi in the West Bank city of Ramallah. » Read more