July 14th

'Settlements aren't Obama's problem' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post July 14, 2009 - 12:00am The Peace Now movement launched a new campaign on Tuesday, calling on Israelis to push for a freeze on settlement construction. The campaign focuses around the slogan: "Settlements are not Obama's problem, not the world's problem, but your problem." At a press conference held in Jerusalem Tuesday morning, Peace Now chair Yariv Oppenheimer said, "The Israeli public has been brainwashed, first by the Labor party, and then by Kadima, Likud and obviously the right-wing parties, that settlement building is in the nation's interest." » Read more

Obama tries to allay US Jews' concerns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hilary Leila Krieger - July 14, 2009 - 12:00am In their first official White House meeting, US President Barack Obama tried to reassure American Jewish leaders that there was a mistaken perception that the United States is pressuring Israel more than the Palestinians or Arab countries. Obama considers visiting Israel Instead, he spoke of the need for Palestinian and Arab leaders to take steps toward Israel, suggesting that effort would become more pronounced in the coming weeks and emphasizing his bedrock commitment to Israel's security, according to participants. » Read more

Israeli ships may have crossed Suez ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Two Israeli navy ships made a rare crossing of Egypt’s Suez Canal today, headed from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea a source at the port said. One of the ships, the Hanit, already crossed the canal both ways in June, in what the source said was the first case of a large Israeli warship using the strategic waterway, although this was not possible to confirm officially. After fighting several wars since Israel’s foundation in 1948, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979. » Read more

Israel rejects EU call for Palestinian state deadline ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Israel on Monday rejected a European Union call for the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state by a certain deadline even if Israel and Palestinians fail to agree on a peace deal. "A peace agreement can come only following direct negotiations and cannot be imposed," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told public radio. Lieberman was commenting on a speech by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in London on Saturday in which he called for the international community to set a deadline for recognising the state of Palestine. » Read more

Avigdor Lieberman: Politically Incorrect ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time by Romesh Ratnesar - July 13, 2009 - 12:00am For a man reputed to be Israel's biggest loudmouth, Avigdor Lieberman speaks softly. His flat, Russian-accented baritone rarely rises above a murmur. He's not a shouter. But when Lieberman talks, people listen — less because he is Israel's top diplomat than because of his knack for saying decidedly undiplomatic things. Lieberman believes that Israel's Arab citizens, who make up nearly 20% of the population, should be forced to sign oaths of loyalty. He has advocated the death penalty for Arab members of parliament who meet with members of Hamas. » Read more

Gaza to Get $21.5 Million From World Bank to Rebuild ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Gwen Ackerman - July 14, 2009 - 12:00am The World Bank pledged an additional $21.5 million for Palestinian Authority operations in the Gaza Strip, including the reconstruction of areas damaged during an Israeli military offensive in December and January. The funds will be administered by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s staff under assessment by the bank, which has encouraged donors to channel funds through the Palestinian Authority’s budget and Central Treasury Account. » Read more

Blair praises Israeli gestures to PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Recent steps taken by Israel to improve the quality of life for Palestinians are not getting enough credit, Mideast envoy Tony Blair said. Blair made the statements at a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Silvan Shalom, minister of Regional Development in Jerusalem, Monday evening, Maariv said Tuesday. Blair praised the recent removal of West Bank checkpoints and roadblocks by Israel and recent steps taken to boost the Palestinian economy, the paper said. » Read more

Trading a settlement freeze for action on Iran, Arab ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - (Analysis) July 13, 2009 - 12:00am The fact that Israel and the United States have yet to reach an agreement on Jewish settlement growth in the West Bank is as much a question of wider Middle East concerns as about the settlement issue itself. » Read more

West Bank fence not done and never will be, it seems ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Seven years after construction work began on the West Bank separation fence, the project seems to have run aground. Work has slowed significantly since September 2007, and today, after the state has spent about NIS 9.5 billion, only about 60 percent of the more limited, revised route has been completed. » Read more

IDF thinks Israelis fabricated stone throwing incident ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Erfat Weiss - July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Three Israelis were wounded in car accident in the West Bank Monday night. One sustained serious injuries and the other two were lightly wounded. The men told security forces Palestinians in the village of Kifl Hares near the town of Ariel pelted their car with stones, but the police believe they were lying, because no signs of violence were found on their vehicle. » Read more