November 7th, 2007

The New York Times examines how the shortage of parts is putting Gazans in danger of another sewage flood similar to the one earlier this year that drowned five people (2.) The New York Review of Books features the text of the letter sent to President Bush and Secretary Rice by a bipartisan group of former senior U.S. officials emphasizing the importance of the Annapolis meeting being successful and setting the parameters for such a success (4.) An International Herald Tribune opinion by Immanuel Wallerstein analyzes the prospects for a two-state solution based on current political realities (6.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports on the lobbying efforts for and against the Annapolis meeting within the Jewish-American community (8.) BBC (UK) interviews Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the deepening political divisions between the two parts (10.) In the Daily Star (Lebanon) Rami Khouri interviews retired U.S. General Abizaid on the strategic problems confronting the U.S. in the Mideast (11.) A Haaretz (Israel) editorial urges Israeli actions that are considered achievements by the Palestinians in order to strengthen the Abbas government and its platform (13.)

November 5th

The Christian Science Monitor examines Israeli and Palestinian reaction to recent reports concerning Israel's willingness to negotiate the issue of Jerusalem (1.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency analyzes how the Annapolis meeting is shaping up to have ramifications far beyond Israeli-Palestinian peace (4.) In the National Interest, president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Lee Hamilton lays out in detail his vision for an engaged, realistic and productive U.S. foreign policy (6.) The Independent (UK) looks at how politics and shady real estate sales to extremist Jewish groups factor into the struggle within the Greek Orthodox church over its Jerusalem patriarchate (8.) Le Monde Diplomatique (France) identifies five challenges facing the Annapolis meeting (9.) In BitterLemons (Israel/Palestine) former Palestinian minister of planning Ghassan Khatib explores the range of Arab countries' attitudes towards the Annapolis meeting (10.) Asharq Alawsat (pan Arab) takes a close look at the latest developments on the internal Palestinian political scene (12.) In his Haaretz (Israel) blog, Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner examines the debate over the role American Jews should play in Israeli politics (13.)

November 4th

A New York Times editorial stresses the need for serious and sustained U.S. engagement at the Annapolis meeting and beyond if there is to be any chance of an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement (1.) A Washington Post opinion by Robert Novak contrasts the former President Carter's 'clarity' on the Palestinian issue with that of President Bush and Congress (3.) The Christian Science Monitor examines how the deployment of Palestinian police in Nablus is a test of the ability of the Palestinian president and could bolster his position in upcoming talks with Israelis (5.) The Guardian (UK) reports on the campaign by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to prevent clerics affiliated with Hamas from preaching dissent at West Bank mosques (8.) The Independent (UK) reports from Nablus on reaction to the deployment of PA forces in an effort to improve security (10.) A Gulf News (UAE) editorial urges that the upcoming Annapolis meeting address the 'core issues' if there is to be any serious progress towards peace (11.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Akiva Eldar makes the case for a nuclear-free Middle East (12.)

November 1st

Reuters reports on the new Palestinian security drive in the occupied territories starting with the town of Nablus (1.) In Israel Policy Forum, MJ Rosenberg is critical of Palestinian rocket attacks out of Gaza into southern Israel, yet takes issue with Israel's strategy in preventing them (4.) A Forward opinion by Leonard Fein rejects the proposition that addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict necessitates choosing sides (6.) A Daily Star opinion by Israeli professor Moshe Amirav, published in collaboration with Common Ground News Service, draws lessons from the failed 2000 Camp David summit for the upcoming Annapolis meeting (9.) In Miftah (Palestine) Caelum Moffatt analyzes the latest signs of disunity within the ranks of Hamas over their military takeover of Gaza and their current policies (10.) A Jerusalem Post (Israel) opinion by David Kimche takes Israelis to task for their growing apathy and inwardness (12.)

October 31st

A Boston Globe opinion by Israeli filmmaker Hilla Medalia discovers the humanity of Palestinians by visiting the Deheisheh refugee camp in the occupied West Bank (2.) In his Prospects For Peace blog, New America and Century Foundation senior fellow Daniel Levy is supportive of the bipartisan letter sent to President Bush by eight former senior U.S. officials regarding the upcoming Annapolis meeting (5.) A Financial Times (UK) opinion by CSIS's Jon Alterman outlines why the way that the Annapolis meeting is unfolding will only prove how hard it is to achieve peace and will strengthen rejectionists on both sides (6.) The Independent (UK) reports on the visit by British university vice-chancellors to the occupied Palestinian territories in order to strengthen ties with universities there (8.) A Gulf News (UAE) opinion by George Hishmeh takes issue with the fact that none of the US presidential candidates have said anything meaningful about the Annapolis meeting (10.) In a Jerusalem Post (Israel) interview, Canterbury Archbishop Rowan attributes the emigration of Palestinian Christians from their land to the separation barrier and its effects (12.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Aluf Benn explains how Israel's avoidance of the 'core issues' at the Annapolis meeting will result in the meeting's failure and harms chances of a future agreement (14.)

October 30th

In a Christianity Today blog, U.S. evangelical leader David Neff reports on a meeting he and five other Evangelical leaders held recently with Secretary Rice to express their support for her current Mideast peacemaking efforts (1.) McClatchy Newspapers examines the recently released public letter by former Hamas government spokesman Hamad, criticizing the movement for ideological rigidity and for its military takeover of Gaza (3.) A Christian Science Monitor commentary by Tariq Ramadan addresses his barring from the U.S. resulting in his inability to assume his professorship at Notre Dame university (5.) Middle East Progress interviews Palestinian NY Times Gaza journalist Taghreed El-Khodary about the situation in Gaza during the current closure (7.) A Daily Star (Lebanon) opinion by Rami Khouri relates his attendance at a panel featuring 'Israel Lobby' authors and professors Walt and Mearshiemer and ties in their analysis to growing calls for war against Iran (10.) Haaretz (Israel) reports on the recent visit to Israel by U.S. national security advisor Hadley and his urging Israel to provide tangible changes on the ground for the Palestinians including the removal of outposts (12.) Also in Haaretz, an opinion by Shmuel Rosner examines how it is the fear of the consequences of failure that is bringing the parties to the Annapolis meeting (13.)

October 29th

The Christian Science Monitor examines the implications of the new Palestinian census on peace negotiations with Israel (2.) Inter Press Service reports on comments by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu likening conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories to apartheid (3.) BBC (UK) looks at how the intervention of the Israeli Attorney General to suspend Israel's plan to restrict power to Gaza raises the issue of Israel's obligations to the Strip under international humanitarian law (4.) The Independent reports on the UN's position that Israel's cuts in Palestinian power and fuel are illegal under international law (5.) A Daily Star (Lebanon) opinion by former Palestinian minister Ziyad Abu Zayyad, published in collaboration with Common Ground News Service, analyzes how the principle of public opinion impacting the political system does not apply to the Israel-Palestine case (7.) In BitterLemons (Israel/Palestine), Israeli lawyer and Jerusalem expert Danny Seidemann explains how Jerusalem's time to be resolved has arrived politically (8.) A Haaretz (Israel) editorial is critical of the punishment of the Palestinian civilian population of Gaza, concluding that it does not further Israeli security (10.)

October 28th

The Associated Press reports on meetings that Secretary Rice is having with former U.S. officials associated with past U.S. peacemaking efforts in order to benefit from the historical record on the issue (2.) The Jewish Telegraphic Agency looks at remarks by a leading Orthodox rabbi publicly advocating the 'division' of Jerusalem in order to achieve peace with the Palestinians (4.) Americans For Peace Now present their weekly review of the Israeli press (6.) The Financial Times (UK) examines worldwide reaction to Israel's restriction of fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip (7.) In a BitterLemons (Israel/Palestine) interview, advisor to Palestinian president Abbas on Jerusalem Affairs Adnan Husseini outlines the Palestinian position on Jerusalem and the Old City (10.) Haaretz (Israel) explores the inability of over 600 Gaza students to return to their schools overseas due to Israeli restrictions (11.)

October 25th

The Associated Press reports on continuing Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at producing a joint document at the Mideast fall meeting (2.) A Forward opinion by Leonard Fein examines the 'psychic dissonance' that is characteristic of an American Jewish community that both supports a two-state solution yet are resistant to assigning any blame to Israel for actions undermining such a solution (3.) Inter Press Service looks at the discrimination and marginalization facing the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (6.) In the Guardian (UK), filmmaker Clancy Chassay goes to Gaza to witness a debate on the issues that divide the organization (9.) In The Times (UK), former BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston recounts the 144 days he spent as a hostage in Gaza (10.) In Dar Al Hayat (Lebanon) Raghida Dergham contrasts the Mideast fall meeting with the 'Damascus Conference' planned as a counter, suggesting ways for the fall meeting to succeed (12.) Haaretz (Israel) analyzes as two-fold Israel's reasons for imposing further sanctions against the Gaza Strip (15.)

October 24th

The Associated Press looks at statements by Secretary Rice that the window of opportunity for realizing a two-state solution is small and in jeopardy (2.) Reuters reports on Israeli plans to cut electric power to Gaza's population in response to militant rocket fire out of the strip against Israel (4.) The Forward examines the consensus coming out of a recent Washington Institute conference that the fall meeting could not be expected to produce Israeli-Palestinian peace (6.) BBC (UK) reports on the call by Israeli minister Ami Ayalon for the Israeli government to invite 'moderate' members of Hamas to the fall Mideast meeting providing that they recognize Israel's right to exist (7.) A Guardian (UK) editorial warns of the erosion to President Abbas' standing due to the continued isolation of Gaza, both in terms of the Palestinian people and Israel (8.) A Gulf News (UAE) opinion by George Hishmeh examines efforts in the U.S. to increase knowledge about the Mideast and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (9.) A Haaretz (Israel) opinion by Shmuel Rosner analyzes the divisions within the Republican party over Mideast policy and the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (11.)

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