Senior Hamas leader says Israel could be isolated by Egypt vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - June 8, 2012 - 12:00am


A presidential victory for the Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt would leave Israel isolated and vulnerable in the Middle East, according to senior Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad, who serves as the Palestinian militant group's deputy foreign minister.


Palestinian dimension in Egypt's presidential poll
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


Khaled Ali, a lawyer and a candidate in the Egyptian presidential elections, has said that any settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even one that would force Israel to pull back to its pre-1967 borders, will not satisfy him. Another candidate, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, vowed to amend the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel if he were elected.


Israeli soldiers arrest Hamas lawmaker in West Bank, fifth such arrest in as many days
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
January 23, 2012 - 1:00am


RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israeli troops detained a Hamas legislator in the West Bank early Tuesday in the fifth such arrest in as many days, the Islamic militant group said. Hamas has accused Israel of trying to sabotage possible Palestinian elections, the centerpiece of reconciliation attempts between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement of internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas has said it would only participate in elections, tentatively set for late spring, if its candidates are safe from arrest by Israel.


Arab Spring elections boost democracy, and Israeli fears
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - (Opinion) November 28, 2011 - 1:00am


Egyptian parliamentary elections that begin Monday are expected to result in victory for an Islamic party - in this case, the one affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood As in the other election campaigns in the Middle East that have taken place since the Arab Spring, the Egyptian parliamentary elections that begin Monday are expected to result in victory for an Islamic party - in this case, the one affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.


Palestinians should vote in Jerusalem elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avraham Burg - (Opinion) October 13, 2011 - 12:00am


It was depressing to see American President Barack Obama's weak appearance at the United Nations. It was depressing to see this talented man, who brought such great hope to the world, presenting the pitiable position of a feeble empire. It was embarrassing to see him defending positions and people whom only a few months earlier he had attacked with fury. His obsequiousness is shameful, and this weakness is a real danger to the world. Therefore anyone who wants peace cannot make do merely with accusing Obama. One cannot allow his desperation to have veto power over our hope.


Encountering Peace: Off to the UN we go
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) May 30, 2011 - 12:00am


It is now quite evident that there can be no end to our conflict with the Palestinians, and no peace without a negotiated agreement. Yet without a fundamental change in relations between the parties, the option of a two-state solution will soon be off the table. That is my assessment with regard to the Palestinian side. Once the current Palestinian leaders in Palestine come to believe that they can no longer advance the cause of peace and end the occupation, they will resign and turn the issue over to the next generation.


Obama's defeat is bad news for the peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) November 10, 2010 - 1:00am


The results of the US mid-term elections last Tuesday were not only bad news for the Democrats and the White House, but also for the Palestinians. President Barack Obama will emerge weaker at home now that the House of Representatives has been retaken by the Republicans. The Democratic majority in the Senate has been drastically reduced and while the people have spoken it is now up to the President and Congress to find a formula to govern in the remaining two years of Obama's term.


Broader than party politics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) November 9, 2010 - 1:00am


For the most part, the United States government builds its strategies on national interests rather than on narrow party or personal politics. Nevertheless, the recent congressional elections inspired debate over possible effects on American Middle East policies, the peace process in particular. The reason for this is that in the eyes of some analysts and politicians, the current administration is leaning a little bit on Israel, especially on the issue of settlements. They believe that the new Republican-majority House of Representatives might restrain the administration.


Anger at Israel flares in Jordan election campaign
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Jamal Halaby - November 7, 2010 - 12:00am


Frustration with the interminable deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is bleeding over into Jordan, where bitterness at Israel is flowing more freely than ever during campaigning for this week's parliamentary elections. Behind the anger expressed by candidates and voters lies U.S. ally Jordan's greatest fear: that if peacemaking collapses, Israel will try to force it to take in the residents of the West Bank and stand as the Palestinian state. Recent talk by right-wing Israelis about the "Jordanian option" has only fueled the belief here that this is Israel's ultimate plan.


Obama still wants peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Orly Azoulay - November 5, 2010 - 12:00am


In the past two years, Israelis liked to hate the American president, “Hussein Obama” as rightists make sure to refer to him, after he moved closer to the Muslim world and forced Netanyahu to freeze settlement construction. However, as it turned out Wednesday, American Jews think otherwise. An exit poll among 1,600 Jewish voters published by pollster Jim Gerstein showed that 66% of American Jews voted for Democratic candidates for Congress. Most respondents told pollsters that they support Barack Obama’s leadership and endorse his efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict.



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