Obama gives Israel two years to find two-state solution; Shell Oil settles Saro-Wiwa lawsuit; Guantanamo prisoner heads to trial on US soil; Turmoil in Thailand; and more
Top of the Agenda: Mitchell in Mideast
U.S. envoy George Mitchell meets today with leaders from both Israel and the Palestinian territories in an effort to advance the regional peace process, following President Obama's speech last week reaching out to Muslims. The BBC says Mitchell will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, President Shimon Peres, and Palestinian Authority officials Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad. Al-Jazeera reports Washington has signaled it wants both sides to hold "immediate talks" and that President Obama seeks a comprehensive peace deal that would include a Palestinian state.
The Israeli paper Haaretz reports on claims that Obama has presented a plan to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (who has served as a mediator) calling for a two-state solution to be finalized within two years. The story was originally reported by a London-based Arab paper, A-Sharq al-Awsat, quoting unnamed sources in Cairo.
Haaretz says Netanyahu is expected to respond to the proposal within six weeks. The BBC notes that the Israeli prime minister has a speech scheduled this weekend in which he might address developments in the peace process.
Background:
CFR's Crisis Guide provides in-depth background on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
PACIFIC RIM: Planned S. Korea Talks
Yonhap reports South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will travel to Washington next week for a summit with U.S. President Obama, focusing on how to address North Korea's recent nuclear test.
THAILAND: A Thai military spokesman denied any link (BBC) between the Thai military and a recent attack on a mosque in southern Thailand that left ten people dead.
The Bangkok Post says other turmoil has broken out recently in southern Thailand.
This CFR Backgrounder explains the ongoing Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand.
ELSEWHERE:
Oil firm Shell settles Nigeria lawsuit.
First Guantanamo detainee to be transferred to face U.S. civil trial.
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.