PLO defends Abbas statements on Jewish rights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 20, 2010 - 12:00am

The PLO responded Wednesday to a letter to Mahmoud Abbas authored and endorsed by Palestinian academics and intellectuals questioning the Ramallah-based government's ability to lead. The 22 July letter, signed by dozens of scholars, activists, and civil society leaders, specifically expressed concerns that Abbas had denied Palestinians their basic rights and accepted an "exclusive Jewish claim to Palestine" in remarks during a conversation with American Jews in the US capital.

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Mideast Quartet sees treaty deal within a year
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 20, 2010 - 12:00am

A Middle East treaty creating a Palestinian state at peace with Israel can be completed in one year of negotiations, say major powers who were due on Friday to invite both parties to start talks in two weeks. The Quartet -- the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations -- were due to issue a statement later on Friday confirming that President Barack Obama would invite the Palestinian and Israel leaders to Washington on Sept 2.

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Joint ATFP-JCPA Statement: Israelis and Palestinians Must Show Courage, Flexibility, Persistence for Peace Talks to Succeed
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - August 20, 2010 - 12:00am

Joint ATFP-JCPA Statement: Israelis and Palestinians Must Show Courage, Flexibility, Persistence for Peace Talks to Succeed


Skip the lecture on Israel's 'risks for peace'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by George F. Will - August 19, 2010 - 12:00am

In the intifada that began in 2000, Palestinian terrorism killed more than 1,000 Israelis. As a portion of U.S. population, that would be 42,000, approaching the toll of America's eight years in Vietnam. During the onslaught, which began 10 Septembers ago, Israeli parents sending two children to a school would put them on separate buses to decrease the chance that neither would return for dinner. Surely most Americans can imagine, even if their tone-deaf leaders cannot, how grating it is when those leaders lecture Israel on the need to take "risks for peace."

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Quartet dispute delays statement on direct talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gil Hoffman - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am

A statement by the Quartet that was expected to lead to long-awaited direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed due to disputes between the United States and European Union, Israeli diplomatic sources revealed Tuesday. The Quartet, which is made up of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, was expected to bring Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the negotiating table by releasing a statement early this week about the basis for direct talks.

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One Solution: Two States
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Lara Friedman - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am

The steady march of settlements, the rightward shift in Israeli politics, the growing sense that a conflict-ending peace agreement is impossible — all these things are feeding some pundits’ impulse to declare the death of the two-state solution as a means of ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But what are the alternatives?

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Negotiations under false pretenses
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gershon Baskin - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am

Direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are likely to begin in the near future. The international community under the conductor’s wand of the Obama Administration has applied considerable pressure to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw from all of his demands for setting the conditions for his participation in the negotiations.

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Darkness ahead for the Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon
by Hussein Ibish - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leadership is still seeking a political formula to reenter direct negotiations with Israel. There is no doubt that the Palestinians will agree to this, largely because the United States is insisting on it. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his colleagues feel very exposed politically because they have almost nothing to show for diplomatic efforts in the proximity talks and are facing considerable domestic opposition to such a move.

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Israeli-Palestinian direct talks expected to be announced soon
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Politico - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am

An announcement that Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to go into direct peace talks is expected in the coming days, U.S. officials, Mideast watchers and European diplomats said Monday. “We are close, we are optimistic,” a U.S. official said. “There’s still work to do, details remain.” One western diplomat said the announcement was expected Monday, adding that both parties are essentially agreeing to go into direct talks based on assurances they have received from the United States.

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Last-minute hitch before Palestinians, Israelis launch direct talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by David Harris - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am

A statement is anticipated any day now to announce the commencement of direct Israeli-Palestinian talks. However, the news initially expected as early as Sunday has been put on ice as the parties continue to argue about the terms of reference. DOMESTIC CONSIDERATION The Jewish settlement issue is still on the way leading to the direct talks, as the Palestinians are reportedly insisting the statement stressing there be an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank and that a final deal be signed in two years.

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