Brief MEPP Circulation: Annapolis Update

To   all NCF MEPP Members
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A brief   update on the Annapolis 'get-together', slated to begin officially with a dinner   in a few hours:
 
Click here   to visit the special Haaretz site on Annapolis
 
Click here to visit the special Jerusalem Post site on   Annapolis 
 
Click here to visit the   special Reut Institute site on Annapolis (with thanks to   Justin)
 
Additional   commentary worth reading:  AP   analysis on the Syrian decision to attend / Eric Trager   on Contentions (for the links as much as the opinion) / Bernard   Lewis in The Wall Street Journal  / Akiva Eldar in   Haretz / 
 
The most   notable development since Fridays' circulation is   Syria's   decision to attend the summit (at deputy Foreign Ministerial level).    It seems that a strong consensus emerged from the Arab League meeting in Cairo,   and as a result Syria and indeed Saudi Arabia will attend the   conference.  The Saudis made   their reservations quite clear, stating that they had only chosen   to attend due to the strong consensus and were not coming for a "theatrical   show".  The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister gave an   interview to Time Magazine, reinforcing their message.    
As is to be   expected, Hamas   has denounced the talks and is said   to be furious at the Arab participation.  The   organisation has threatened to cause bloodshed in Israel, amidst   analyst's assessments that the Syrian acceptance of the invitation has been   a major blow to Hamas.  
 
I leave you   with a write-up from the New   York Times and one from Haaretz on events since   the participants arrived in Washington yesterday, and will write again   soon.
 
 
 
Compiled by   Davis Lewin on behalf of the MEPP Working Group - with best wishes to all our   members
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From   The Next Century   Foundation
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