Arabs losing hope in Obama's ability to broker Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ilene Prusher - July 30, 2009 - 12:00am

Nearly two months after President Obama's historic address to the Muslim world from Cairo, his administration made a high-profile drive this week to shore up Arab and Israeli support for a comprehensive peace deal. A trio of senior officials – US Mideast envoy George Mitchell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and US National Security Advisor James Jones – have visited officials throughout the region, with particular emphasis on Israel.

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Senators want Obama to press Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
July 27, 2009 - 12:00am

Two U.S. senators, a Democrat and a Republican, are circulating a letter pressing President Obama to lean on Arab nations to make peace overtures to Israel.

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Congressional letter to Saudi king gathering signatures
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
July 27, 2009 - 12:00am

A letter urging Saudi King Abdullah to "assert a strong leadership role" in the Middle East is gathering signatures in the House of Representatives. The AIPAC-backed letter, circulated by Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Ed Royce (D-Calif.), expresses disappointment with the Saudi government's public reaction thus far to President Obama's Cairo speech, noting that the Saudi foreign minister recently said that his country could not "take any step toward normalization before the return of all Arab land."

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Waiting for Obama to deliver as promised
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) July 22, 2009 - 12:00am

Six months have passed since Barack Obama settled in the White House, a precedent-setting achievement for an African-American, and yet he now seems inexplicably hesitant to follow up his initial and commendable step in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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U.S. Agrees to Resettle Palestinians Displaced by Iraq War
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal
by Miriam Jordan - July 17, 2009 - 12:00am

The U.S. agreed to resettle 1,350 Palestinians displaced by fighting in Iraq, marking the largest resettlement ever of Palestinian refugees in the nation. The decision appears to signal a shift in Washington's previous position against resettling Palestinians out of concern about the potential impact on U.S. relations with Israel and the Arab world. The resettlement, which is slated to begin this fall, is likely to illicit strong reactions from people on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Arabs must aid US efforts in peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel, and some American Jews, have been crying foul. Both are claiming that the United States has been leaning too hard on Israel in the peace process, while giving the Palestinians a free pass on their obligations. To counter perceptions of a bias towards the Palestinians, Barack Obama met privately on Monday with 15 American-Jewish leaders at the White House. While he reassured the attendees of the US’s continued support for Israel, the meeting included a pointed message.

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The one-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yigal Sarna - (Opinion) July 2, 2009 - 12:00am

One of these days, an American president will tell us: One state. After three more premiership terms, during which Netanyahu will return to power time and again in the wake of resounding failures, President Eduardo S. Gonzales will arrive here from Washington. The son of Cuban immigrants, Gonzales will stand up on top of the Masada, and with Elie Wiesel and China’s president by his side declare his unequivocal support for one state. Yet Bibi, boasting great experience and shaking because of his age, concerns, and anxiety, will insist: Only two states.

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Fayyad meets Washington officials in push for settlement halt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
July 2, 2009 - 12:00am

Bethlehem - Ma’an - Palestinian caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was in Washington this week meeting with high-level officials in an effort to push the American administration to act on its request that Israel halt settlement construction. Fayyad met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, National Security Advisor General James Jones, as well as Congressional leaders.

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ATFP Translation: The Palestinian Obama
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Quds
by Mohammed Daraghmeh - (Opinion) July 1, 2009 - 12:00am

Over the last few weeks, we witnessed three speeches by three leaders at three universities: United States President Barack Obama and his speech at Cairo University, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and his speech at Bar Ilan University, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and his speech at al-Quds University.

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U.S. Rejects Hamas Criticism Middle East Peace Process Too Slow
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg
by Paul Tighe - June 26, 2009 - 12:00am

June 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. rejected criticism by the leader of the Palestinian Hamas group that the Middle East peace process is too slow, saying it is trying to bring all parties back to talks. “We’re encouraging all parties to take steps that will lead to a positive context, that will lead to renewed negotiations,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said at a briefing in Washington.

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