Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to deliver a policy speech that may accept the need for a Palestinian state (1) (11) (12). In Time magazine, Aaron David Miller urges the Obama administration to keep up pressure on Israel (3). A Palestinian youth is hanged for allegedly collaborating with the Israeli army (4). Special Mideast Envoy George Mitchell calls on Arab states to make efforts towards normalizing relations with Israel (9). A recently released poll shows that 56% of Israelis support continued settlement construction, despite international pressure for a freeze (10). The UN is reportedly considering fining Israel for damage to its facilities during the Gaza war (13).

Palestinian civilians bear brunt of settler violence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
by Djallal Malti - June 11, 2009 - 12:00am


Nestled amid rolling hills and with an eagle eye's view to the Mediterranean coast, Nahla Ahmed's house has all the elements of Eden... if it weren't for the Molotov cocktail-throwing neighbours. "We put bars on the windows after the first attack that came at 2:00 am three years ago," says the 36-year-old mother of four. "Now they come each week." Ahmed has the misfortune of living in a hilltop house on the edge of this Palestinian village, with the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar on a facing hill.


Why Obama Should Keep the Heat on Israel ...
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time
by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) June 12, 2009 - 12:00am


The big question about Barack Obama has always been this: Is he a risk taker? Domestically, he answered it months ago with his massive stimulus package. On foreign policy, we only just learned the answer. By taking on the Israeli government over the issue of settlement growth, Obama is showing that he's a gambler overseas as well. Despite the conventional wisdom that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is impossible anytime soon, he seems hell-bent on pursuing one. And if he breaks china in the process, so be it.


Obama's resolve on Mideast facing a history of blunt reality
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Richard Boudreaux - June 12, 2009 - 12:00am


Infuriated by pressure from Washington, Israel's prime minister summoned the American ambassador. "You have no moral right to preach to us," he lectured the envoy. "What kind of talk is this, 'punishing Israel'? Are we a vassal state of yours? Are we a banana republic?" That scolding was 28 years ago, but it echoes as a cautionary tale.


Can Bibi and Obama make it work?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ami Eden - (Analysis) June 9, 2009 - 12:00am


Those rushing to declare the fix-up between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a flop after just one date should remember that a good relationship takes time. It’s been less than five months since Obama’s inauguration, and Netanyahu has been on the job for only two months.


Netanyahu meets MKs ahead of Sunday's policy address
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
June 12, 2009 - 12:00am


Ahead of a foreign policy speech Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to deliver Sunday, where he will outline his vision for the future of Israel and the region, the prime minister met coalition partners for discussions.


PM feels he can go left, keep coalition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gil Hoffman - June 11, 2009 - 12:00am


Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not believe that any of the parties in his coalition would leave at this stage if his diplomatic policies shifted leftward in Sunday's address at Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, sources close to Netanyahu said Thursday. A look at the pressures Netanyahu is facing ahead of his policy speech on Sunday


Civil fights: It's the reciprocity, stupid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Evelyn Gordon - (Opinion) June 11, 2009 - 12:00am


Many people are understandably puzzled by the refusal to freeze settlement construction. Binyamin Netanyahu has offered no explanation and, at first glance, it seems utterly illogical. Why would Israel court confrontation with its only ally merely to increase the almost 300,000 settlers by, at most, another few thousand?


Palestinian FM: We'll have majority in 20 years
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - June 11, 2009 - 12:00am


The alternative to the two-state vision is a bi-national state, where Palestinians will be the majority, PA Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki said Thursday after meeting with European Union representatives. The Palestinian foreign minister said that "Israel continues its occupation, which has become the world's longest-lasting occupation," urging the international community to "intervene in order to put an end to it."


Ban considering fining Israel for Gaza damage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yitzhak Benhorin - June 12, 2009 - 12:00am


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday it was "critical" that Israel halt all settlement activity. He added that he was considering fining the state $11 million for damage it did to UN facilities during the Gaza war. Ban says the fine was recommended by a committee elected to investigate damage done by the IDF to UN structures during Operation Cast Lead.



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