January 16th, 2008

One Hand Clapping ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times (Editorial) January 16, 2008 - 5:25pm The first thing to say about U.S. President George W. Bush's travels around the region to push the cause of an Israeli-Palestinian peace is that it is extremely welcome: The second thing to say is that it would have been much more welcome had it occurred seven years ago, before 3,000 to 5,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis had lost their lives during the second intifada. » Read more

Bush Gets Peace Talk Promises ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Anne Gearan - (Analysis) January 16, 2008 - 5:24pm President Bush received renewed promises of bargaining for Mideast peace and a polite hearing for his warnings about Iran, and he collected major bling from his Arab hosts. But neither Israel nor its Arab neighbors assured Bush that they will do what the United States asks on issues ranging from democratic reform and unauthorized Israeli housing expansion to high gas prices. » Read more

Bush Trip Revives Israeli Push For Pardon Of Spy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Jonathan Finer - January 16, 2008 - 5:23pm A balding, bearded visage loomed over President Bush's visit here last week, peering down from banners and from posters on buses barreling along quiet streets. The face was that of Jonathan Pollard, an American who pleaded guilty in 1986 to passing top-secret information to Israel. Israeli supporters seeking his release were rebuffed by President Bill Clinton during the last period of extended negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Now they are ramping up their campaign for a presidential pardon. » Read more

Faith, Freedom And Bling In The Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Maureen Dowd - (Opinion) January 16, 2008 - 5:21pm As a Saudi soldier with a gold sword high-stepped in front of him, President Bush walked slowly beside King Abdullah through the shivery gray mist enveloping the kingdom, following the red carpet leading from Air Force One to the airport terminal. When the two stepped onto the escalator, the president tenderly reached for the king’s hand, in case the older man needed help. He certainly does need help, but not the kind he is prepared to accept. » Read more

Gaza Strike Hardens Hamas Position ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Dan Murphy - January 16, 2008 - 5:20pm Mahmoud Zahar, the Hamas leader widely seen as the strategic mind behind the Islamist movement's successful takeover of the Gaza Strip last summer, struck a defiant tone when asked in an interview last week how long he thinks Hamas can maintain control in the face of an economic blockade and Israeli pressure. » Read more

January 15th

The Generals Of Professor Rice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - January 15, 2008 - 6:04pm United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the main impetus in the Bush administration for squeezing something out of the 2008 drought year, convinced the president to break from his principle of linkage - the basis of his road map - and skip to the final stage, the final status framework. This is a concession to Palestinian demands, and a further reversal for the Israeli position since Yasser Arafat opened fire in September 2000 and frightened Israel with the possibility that he might declare an independent state unilaterally (the "Magic Melody" scenario). » Read more

Diplomat: U.s. Firmly Opposes All W. Bank, E. J'lem Construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - January 15, 2008 - 6:03pm The United States clarified to Israel during U.S. President George Bush's visit this week that it disapproves of all building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank - including in the large settlement blocs, a senior Western diplomat said Tuesday. The diplomat added that Israel and the U.S. differ on their interpretation of the letter President Bush sent to former prime minister Ariel Sharon in April, 2004. » Read more

Peace Now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) January 15, 2008 - 6:00pm Our region is not short of bloodshed and instability. Iraq, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territories and Afghanistan are all scenes of past and present conflicts where largely innocent blood has flowed in plenty. We do not need yet another dangerous conflict. » Read more

America Must Listen To Its Friends ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Editorial) January 15, 2008 - 5:59pm America has to learn to listen to its friends in the Middle East, and should stop lecturing them from a prepared script. George W. Bush's historic visit to the region is the first time a sitting US president has come to the UAE, and it has given him a tremendous opportunity to hear from the leaders and the people of the region how to tackle the region's serious issues. » Read more

Let's Not Forget The Hardship In Palestinian Areas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Douglas Alexander - (Commentary) January 15, 2008 - 5:59pm Politics isn't just about words and ideas; it has to be about action. The recently held Palestinian donors' conference in Paris was a day when the international community collectively put its money where its mouth is and committed the funds which are desperately needed if the Palestinians are to rebuild their economy and take further strides down the road to peace. » Read more