Kerry 1st trip to Europe, Mideast; no Israel stop
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Bradley S. Klapper - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am |
Obama Forgets the Palestinians Again
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am In his latest State of the Union address, the US President did not utter the word Palestine or mention the Palestinian cause even once. Furthermore, Barack Obama, who has decided to visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month, has no intention of visiting any major Arab capital or talking about an issue the Arabs have long considered their pivotal cause. |
Seven decisions the U.S. must make to jumpstart Middle East peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Daniel Kurtzer - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am |
Palestine ready to engage in peace process: Palestinian FM
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 14, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riad al-Maliki said here Thursday that Palestine was willing and ready to engage in peace process with Israel if it could show more of readiness in the process. Al-Maliki made the remarks at a press conference after the first meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestine Development (CEAPAD). He said Palestine has been "very much willing and ready to engage into peace process with Israel," but emphasized that the process depends on the attitude of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
Chuck Hagel's confirmation and the orthodoxy of US debate on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Michael Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am This week, former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel achieved a rather dubious accomplishment: he became the first nominee for Secretary of Defense to be filibustered by the United States Senate. |
Obama’s Retreat in Parallel to the Arabs’ Surprise
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Zuheir Kseibati - February 14, 2013 - 1:00am The North Korean nuclear experiment was not good news for President Barack Obama, a few hours before the delivery of his State of the Union address. Indeed, now is the time for a “diplomatic solution” which would draw up the roadmap for some sort of a deal with Iran over its nuclear file. And the solution wanted by Obama and the West must guarantee Israel’s security. |
Kerry says it like it is
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am Under American tutelage, history (almost) repeats itself for both the Palestinians and Israelis. President Barack Obama will be travelling next month to Israel, much like what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did four years ago when he met the American president for the first time during his first weeks at the White House. |
What Obama can achieve with Israel trip
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Miami Herald by Frida Ghitis - (Editorial) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am Next month, two months into his second term, President Barack Obama will arrive in Israel, beginning a Middle East trip whose objective is muddled by the turmoil in the region. What exactly does Obama seek to achieve? Any presidential trip begins long before Air Force One leaves the hangar. While the advance travel officials work out the details of the itinerary, the policy, politics and press people are already crafting their desired narrative. Item one on the agenda this time is lowering expectations. |
Erekat: No Settlement Freeze Means No Negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am Israel is waiting for President Barack Obama. Social networks across the internet are full of petitions and “likes,” pleading with the president to give a speech about peace to the Israeli masses gathered in Rabin Square. |
Palestinian president welcomes Obama's visit to Mideast
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 13, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed on Tuesday a planned visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Middle East region slated for next month. "We welcome this important visit for Obama, and also the U.S. efforts to break the ice in the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel," Abbas said following a meeting held here with U.S. Consul General Michael Ratney in Jerusalem. |