Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Jordan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
May 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The previously unannounced trip is the Israeli leader's second this week. He went to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office. Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May. The Jordanian ruler pressed the Israeli premier to endorse a Palestinian state which so far he has decline to do. A two-state solution based on independent is a goal strongly backed by the US and by Jordan and Egypt, Israel's only allies among Arab states.

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Ex-diplomats, U.S. Jews urge Obama to push two-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya - May 14, 2009 - 12:00am

A number of leftist Jewish groups and former diplomats have urged United States President Barack Obama to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to Washington. Four former U.S. ambassadors and officials of a left-leaning Jewish organization sent a letter to Obama on Wednesday asserting that there was a broad consensus within the American Jewish community and among policymakers in support of an active U.S. role in assisting the sides to reach such a solution.

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A New Plan for Mideast?
Media Mention of Ziad Asali In Khaleej Times - May 14, 2009 - 12:00am

There has been much chatter in recent days that Middle East peacemakers are on the verge of a major breakthrough with some predicting that there may be an announcement when Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanhayu comes to Washington on May 18 to meet with President Barack Obama.  

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Arab Initiative Needs International Support
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Hussein Shobokshi - (Opinion) May 13, 2009 - 12:00am

The Arab Initiative is on the table anew; it is a source of controversy and the subject of intense debate, amid talk about requests that some of its provisions should be "amended." These requests are made by the Israelis and Americans, but they have been met with a clear Arab rejection.

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No Amendment to the Arab Peace Initiative
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) May 12, 2009 - 12:00am

The Arab [peace] initiative was born as a political miracle amid unusually favorable circumstances at a time when there was a short-lived inter-Arab agreement that enabled all Arabs to accept it. After being signed by all Arab and Islamic states, it is unreasonable for this initiative to be reproduced. It is a miracle because the Arabs rarely agree on a political plan dealing with any issue, namely the conflict with Israel.

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King Abdullah of Jordan's ultimatum: peace now or it’s war next year
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by Richard Beeston, Michael Binyon - May 11, 2009 - 12:00am

America is putting the final touches to a hugely ambitious peace plan for the Middle East, aimed at ending more than 60 years of conflict between Israel and the Arabs, according to Jordan’s King Abdullah, who is helping to bring the parties together.

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UN to Debate How to Revive Flagging Mideast Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
May 11, 2009 - 12:00am

The UN Security Council on Monday is to hold talks on reviving the stalled Middle East peace process and creating an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with a secure Israel. Although Israeli and Palestinian representatives will not take part in the UN talks, Russia called for the debate saying that "vigorous" diplomacy was needed to resolve the issue of Middle East peace. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who chairs the 15-member Security Council this month, called the Council meeting to stress the "urgency of reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle East."

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Arabs work for unified approach
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
May 7, 2009 - 12:00am

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo to formulate a united approach on the Middle East peace process. The meeting is the first since the election of the right-wing Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It comes ahead of a flurry of diplomatic activity in the coming weeks, focussing on the Middle East. The ministers are also to discuss a report on alleged crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza strip last January. The Arab foreign ministers will be discussing how to restart "serious and direct negotiations" between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

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Obama gets tougher with Israel on Palestinians, Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid - May 5, 2009 - 12:00am

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington May 17 approaches, the United States is sending strong messages on the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israeli settlement activity. Gen. James Jones, national security adviser to President Barack Obama, told a European foreign minister a week ago that unlike the Bush administration, Obama will be "forceful" with Israel. Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told an AIPAC conference last night that two states for two peoples is the only solution the United States is committed to.

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Understandings before a clash
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Ephraim Sneh - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am

Glimmers of concern have recently crept into conversations with various American officials about a possible clash between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government. On the one hand, the U.S. president has reiterated his intention to implement an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on the existence of two independent states. On the other hand, official voices in the Israeli government are heralding an attempt to evade, thwart or at least delay such a move.

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