What to Do With Lemons
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) June 18, 2011 - 12:00am

While President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have gotten a lot of things right on foreign policy, they’ve made quite a mess in Israeli-Palestinian relations, where they’ve alienated all sides and generated zero progress. They’ve been inconsistent — demanding a settlements freeze then backing down — unimaginative and politically wimpy.

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Benjamin Netanyahu: Why the U.S. Can’t Make Peace in the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Republic
by William Galston - (Opinion) June 16, 2011 - 12:00am

I’ve spent the past week in Israel listening to as many voices as I could. Based on what I’ve heard, a rough summary of the situation is this: Benjamin Netanyahu offers no viable alternative to the status quo, and the opposition offers no viable alternative to Netanyahu. Until Mahmoud Abbas recognizes Israel as a Jewish state, the prime minister says, serious talks are impossible. And besides, negotiating with a coalition that includes Hamas is unthinkable.

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Palestinian Strategy and the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Miftah
by Jerome M. Segal - (Opinion) June 16, 2011 - 12:00am

Many questions have arisen about the wisdom of seeking United Nations recognition of the State of Palestine in September. In particular, two issues stand out: 1) Once recognition is obtained from the United Nations General Assembly, then what? Is there a step-2? 2) Is there really any long-term alternative to negotiations, given that without Israeli agreement issues such as Jerusalem and refugees cannot be resolved? Will a UN strategy lead to productive negotiations at some point in the future, or will it make resolution more difficult?

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September declaration of the Palestinian State: Is it possible?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
June 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian determination to go to the UN Council for recognition of the Palestinian state increases everyday. Reports about secret channels of negotiations were denied by the Palestinian official Sa’ab Erekat who confirmed that without a complete freeze of the settlements building, no progress can be achieved in the peace process.

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Palestinians are still limited, even if they get a state of their own
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) June 14, 2011 - 12:00am

The mood among the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah prior to the anticipated United Nations vote in September is reminiscent of a small child who has received an adult bicycle for his birthday. The child doesn't know whether to rejoice or to cry. He's so happy with the wonderful gift, but his heart is full of fear that he'll fall flat, injure his knee and scratch the shiny bicycle.

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Head to Head: Why does France want a peace conference now?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Adar Primor - (Opinion) June 13, 2011 - 12:00am

Valerie Hoffenberg, 47, a French Jew and a Zionist of Algerian-Tunisian descent, has for the past two years or so been serving as the French president's special envoy to the Middle East. "Sarkozy's turbo engine" is the term used to describe her. Hoffenberg, a lawyer by training, was asked by the president to help bring about Mideast peace "from the bottom up": to break through by means of the economy, education, culture, commerce and the environment. She is behind numerous regional projects and collaborative efforts, the pinnacle of which is creation of the industrial park in Bethlehem.

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Israel's Best Hope to Thwart Palestinian U.N. Plan May Be Palestinians' Own Strategic Doubts
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time
by Tony Karon - (Blog) June 13, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel's government currently lacks a credible plan for getting it out of a diplomatic tight spot if the Palestinians go ahead with a plan to seek U.N. recognition of a state in September. But don't bet against the Palestinian leadership letting the Israelis off the hook as a result of their own divisions over whether to go the U.N. route.

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Palestinian statehood: What is the U.N.'s role?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
(Editorial) June 12, 2011 - 12:00am

Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook insists that a vote this fall in the General Assembly cannot be stopped. The Israeli prime minister's recent trip to the United States was a blatant effort to stop the march of history.

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Haaretz exclusive: Secret cables show Israel's battle plan over Palestinian UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - June 10, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel has started mobilizing its embassies for the battle against UN recognition of a Palestinian state in September, ordering its diplomats to convey that this would delegitimize Israel and foil any chance for future peace talks. Envoys are being asked to lobby the highest possible officials in their countries of service, muster support from local Jewish communities, ply the media with articles arguing against recognition and even ask for a call or quick visit from a top Israeli official if they think it would help.

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Palestinians grapple with opposition to UN plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Mohammed Daraghmeh - June 9, 2011 - 12:00am

Faced with opposition from the United States, a number of top Palestinian officials are quietly advising President Mahmoud Abbas to drop plans to seek recognition for a state of Palestine at the United Nations this fall. Top officials say Abbas remains committed to his plan — a result of the widespread sense among Palestinians that two decades of on-and-off negotiations with Israel have run their course, and that the current Israeli leadership is not a partner for peace.

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