The Palestinians Are Taking the Initiative to End the Occupation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Raghida Dergham - September 24, 2010 - 12:00am

New York-The concept of building the state or destroying it remains obscure for many in the Arab region – this not out of a lack of awareness but rather purposely. This is why many ignore the importance of what the Palestinian Authority is doing in terms of strengthening the building of the Palestinian state’s institutions, in parallel with political negotiations, as a strategy to end the Israeli occupation.

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Israel plays down scope of future settler projects
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - (Analysis) September 24, 2010 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Israel urged the Palestinians on Friday not to abandon recently resumed peace negotiations over the imminent expiry of a West Bank settlement moratorium, saying any new construction projects would be limited in scope. The scheduled end on Sunday of the 10-month partial halt to building in Jewish settlements has drawn Palestinian threats to quit the talks sponsored by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has repeatedly called on Israel to extend the freeze.

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Obama calls on Arab nations to support peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Christi Parsons, Paul Richter - September 24, 2010 - 12:00am

President Obama on Thursday pushed Arab nations to provide more political and financial support for the Middle East peace effort, warning that they should not risk the failure of the latest initiative if they truly seek an independent Palestinian state and stability across the region. Obama deplored efforts — assisted by some Arab and Muslim countries — to isolate or "delegitimize" Israel.

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Fatah trying to calm tensions in east Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - (Analysis) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Police forces remain on high alert in Jerusalem in view of the riots following the death of Silwan resident Samar Sarchan, as Fatah is trying to curb any further escalation in the situation. Radical elements in the east Jerusalem village threatened to renew the riots, but sources in Fatah said that the group has issued an order to its members in Jerusalem to ensure the riots do not spread further.

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A Test of Israel’s Character
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

At a dinner hosted by American Jewish leaders for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, I was seated with a senior U.S. diplomat to my left, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization to my right, and Abbas opposite. It was like listening to a rousing peace overture as an ominous leitmotif of disaster keeps returning with ever greater insistence.

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The bad gift that keeps giving
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Just when one thought that the direct peace talks might be able to produce a breakthrough, one got an awakening jolt. Crossing the bridge over the Jordan River must be the world's worst gift that keeps giving. This gift has been giving grief, anger, frustration and an overall realisation of what the occupation is all about. September 18 is a case in point. Palestinians, and others, wishing to cross the nearly dried up river into the West Bank faced over 10 hours of unnecessary wait. Women, men, senior citizens and infants were caught up in this 44-year-old continuous drama.

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Hope for peace talks remain despite tensions in east Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Catrina Stewart - September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has said he may remain in peace talks even if the Israelis resume construction in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after a 10-month building moratorium expires. His comments signal a dramatic about-turn days before the end of the moratorium, and could head off an early challenge to the newly revived peace negotiations.

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For peace, there may be no time like the present
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

When the moratorium on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank expires is somewhat unclear. Some say it ends on September 26; others at the end of the month. What is absolutely clear, however, is that the moratorium must be extended.

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Settlement must stop if Israel wants talks to go on: Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday told Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that settlement must stop if Israel wants direct peace talks between the two sides to go on and succeed. Palestinian state-run news agency "Wafa" quoted Palestinian Presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh as saying that Abbas' statements were made during a meeting with Barak in New York. The leaders are attending the 65th General Assembly convention of the United Nations together with most of the world's leaders.

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Poll: Slim majority support peace negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 23, 2010 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A public opinion poll released Thursday suggests that just over half of Palestinians support negotiations with Israel. But a larger majority, 59 percent, say Palestinians were coerced into entering the talks, the first since 2008. Only one-third of respondents believe the negotiations will succeed, according to the poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center.

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