May 4th

Lieberman takes first foreign trip as minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am vigdor Lieberman embarks today on his first official European tour since becoming Israel’s new foreign minister as his hardline government bids to mitigate escalating tensions with the European Union, prompted by its resistance to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The top diplomat, who has drawn fire for controversial statements against Israel’s Arab minority and his opposition to making territorial concessions in exchange for peace, will meet his counterparts in Italy, France, the Czech Republic and Germany this week. » Read more

Israel Will Accept Palestinian State, Rejects Syria Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Gwen Ackerman, Jonathan Ferziger - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am The new Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu gave the strongest signal yet that it would accept a Palestinian state, while rejecting peace negotiations with Syria. “We do want to see peace and do understand that long-term peace and stability will entail a two-state solution,” Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said in an interview. » Read more

PM Netanyahu’s tank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eitan Haber - (Opinion) May 4, 2009 - 12:00am There is no doubt that someone at the White House’s protocol department suffered a stroke recently, or at the very least was overcome by consternation: Shimon Peres, the State of Israel’s president, is the first one to arrive for a meeting with President Obama? » Read more

Suspect Arrested in Ramat Gan Bus Stabbing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews May 4, 2009 - 12:00am The security forces on Sunday night arrested a Palestinian suspected of stabbing an Israel Defense Forces soldier on a bus in Ramat Gan. The man, whose identity has been placed under a gag order, was turned over to the Shin Bet for questioning. The suspect was seized near the place where the soldier was stabbed. » Read more

Understandings before a clash ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ephraim Sneh - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am Glimmers of concern have recently crept into conversations with various American officials about a possible clash between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government. On the one hand, the U.S. president has reiterated his intention to implement an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on the existence of two independent states. On the other hand, official voices in the Israeli government are heralding an attempt to evade, thwart or at least delay such a move. » Read more

Livni: Iran threat opens door to peace with Arabs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am Opposition leader and Kadima party head Tzipi Livni on Sunday said that Israel must view the threat posed by Iran as an opportunity to further peace with other neighbors in the region. "Let me be clear: On the issue of Iran, there is no opposition party in Israel," Livni told an audience at the annual AIPAC conference in Washington. Livni continued: "The threat from Iran has created new possibilities for alliances between Israel and the pragmatic states in the region - countries that realize that Israel is not the source of the problems in the Middle East." » Read more

Spain okays Gaza war crimes probe against Israeli officials ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 4, 2009 - 12:00am Spanish National Court judge Fernando Andreu announced Monday that he will pursue his investigation into a 2002 Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip, despite contrary advice by prosecutors at the court. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he would call on the Spanish government to prevent the investigation, reiterating Israel's stance that the Israel Defense Forces is the most "moral" army in the world. » Read more

UN experts discuss Gaza mission ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News by Imogen Foulkes - May 4, 2009 - 12:00am UN investigators are beginning a week-long meeting in Geneva, ahead of a mission to Israel and the Gaza Strip. The team is mandated to investigate possible war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas during Israel's incursion into Gaza last December and January. But it remains unclear whether Israel will grant the investigators access to the former conflict zone. The team, which is led by South African judge Richard Goldstone, was appointed by the UN's Human Rights Council. Other team members include a military specialist and a human rights lawyer. 'Impartial' » Read more

PA minister: Ending Hamas rule is a national, moral and religious duty ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 3, 2009 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority minister of Agriculture and Social Welfare on Sunday told an Israeli radio station that "ending Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip is a national, moral and religious duty." The minister, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, added that removing Hamas from power in the Gaza Strip "should be accomplished as soon as possible." » Read more

May 1st

ATFP Backs UN Call for End to Home Demolitions in Jerusalem Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - May 1, 2009 - 12:00am Washington, DC, May 1 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today voiced strong support for a report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs calling for an end to Israel’s demolitions of Palestinian homes and other restrictions on Palestinian living conditions in occupied East Jerusalem. Read more