Democrats pressure Barack Obama on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Politico
by Ben Smith - June 1, 2009 - 12:00am

As President Barack Obama prepares to depart for his first trip to the Arab world, the administration’s escalating pressure on Israel to freeze all growth of its settlements on Palestinian land has begun to stir concern among Israel’s numerous allies in both parties on Capitol Hill.

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The Middle East peace process may be on the line
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Mkhaimar Abusada - (Opinion) June 1, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House, the first such visit since US President Barack Obama came to power, revealed major differences between the two leaders. Most importantly, Netanyahu could not say the magic words, "two states for two peoples." He did concede that both Palestinians and Israelis will have to live and coexist side-by-side, and that he supported self-rule for Palestinians. But he made no mention of a state and thus failed to endorse the cornerstone of Washington's Middle East policy, underscoring a rare rift in United States-Israel relations.

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What will happen if Israel 'defeats' Obama?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Editorial) June 1, 2009 - 12:00am

You had to read it twice to believe it: "Criticism of the United States in Jerusalem." A senior Israeli official warns: "We are disappointed." The fly hovering about is complaining that the elephant is not obeying its orders. What chutzpah on the part of Barack Obama. He just entered the White House and already has something to say - about how many new houses we are building in Ofra, and about when we will dismantle the walls in the "illegal outposts," which are already beginning to disintegrate because of old age.

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Israeli Rejection of Settlement Freeze: Trouble for Obama
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time
by Tim McGirk - June 1, 2009 - 12:00am

If President Barack Obama thought he could deliver the promise of a few Israeli concessions during his upcoming Cairo speech to the Muslim world, he was sorely mistaken.

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PM won't freeze settlement construction for natural growth, 'Post' learns
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Herb Keinon - June 1, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel will not freeze settlement construction for natural growth, despite intense pressure from the Obama administration to do so, The Jerusalem Post has learned. While Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has indicated that he will remove illegal settlement outposts, he is determined, the Post has learned, to continue building for natural growth in settlements beyond the security barrier. In Netanyahu's view, it is further understood that there is no reason housing units cannot be built inside the major settlement blocs for people who want to move there, as well as for natural growth.

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U.S. Weighs Tactics on Israeli Settlement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Helene Cooper - May 31, 2009 - 12:00am

As President Obama prepares to head to the Middle East this week, administration officials are debating how to toughen their stance against any expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The measures under discussion — all largely symbolic — include stepping back from America’s near-uniform support for Israel in the United Nations if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel does not agree to a settlement freeze, administration officials said.

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Halutz: Conflict with US must be avoided
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Daniel Edelson - May 31, 2009 - 12:00am

Former IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. (res) Dan Halutz, warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against engaging in a diplomatic conflict with the United States. He also reminded Netanyahu that despite criticisms regarding the Second Lebanon War, Hizbullah has not attacked Israel since it ended.

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Obama and Cautious Optimism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Diana Mukkaled - May 25, 2009 - 12:00am

Since his election, Israel has been keeping a watchful eye on the position and actions of President Barack Obama. Israeli politicians and analysts have often expressed serious concerns about Obama's statements on the peace process based upon the two-state solution, and his demands that Israel abide by this option. Obama's strategy in the Middle East is based upon criticizing his predecessor George Bush, and putting forward a different approach with regards to Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Obama wants to reset the Middle East agenda; Israel must listen
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ellen Laipson - (Opinion) May 25, 2009 - 12:00am

President Barack Obama and Premier Benjamin Netanyahu made it through their first official meeting with no apparent harm done to US-Israel comity. But their careful language about shared threat perceptions and deep historic ties did little to disguise the obvious: there are interesting and difficult challenges ahead as Israel and the United States, separately and together, approach the enduring quest for peace and security in the Middle East.

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Obama meeting: Second round in a long bout
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) May 25, 2009 - 12:00am

The long-awaited Obama-Netanyahu meeting has finally taken place. If this was a boxing match, one would probably have to score the latest round in the White House as a tie.

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