August 11th

Israeli human rights groups back Robinson pick ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) August 10, 2009 - 12:00am Seven Israeli human rights groups wrote to President Obama supporting the choice of Mary Robinson as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. "Mrs. Robinson deserves this honor for a lifetime of unflagging support to the cause of human rights in its many dimensions," the leaders of B'Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Binkom-Planners for Planners Rights, Gisha-Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Hamoked-Center for the Defense of the Individual and Yesh Din-Volunteers for Human Rights said in their letter to the president. » Read more

Hamas turns its attention to 'virtue' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ben White - (Opinion) August 11, 2009 - 12:00am A number of recent reports from Gaza have given cause for concern about the direction the Hamas government is taking with regard to social freedoms and a religiously driven "virtue" promotion campaign. Specific incidents, coupled with public declarations by high-ranking officials, suggest a trend of increasing, forced "Islamisation". » Read more

Israel's anti-immigration immigrants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Well over a million of Israel's population come from the former Soviet Union (FSU), representing more than 15% of the total population – hence the political views of the Russian immigrant community are not easily brushed under the carpet. Their collective stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is credited with sweeping Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party into the upper echelons of power at the last election, and on the strength of the latest poll from the Israel Democracy Institute, it's not hard to see why Lieberman has become the poster boy of the Russian right. » Read more

Young leaders dominate Fatah vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Younger leaders have gained powerful posts in Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, early results from its first poll in 20 years show. Mr Abbas remains the head, but several veterans apparently lost seats on the powerful central committee. Popular jailed leader Marwan Barghouti, and influential Mohammad Dahlan, who is disliked by supporters of rival faction Hamas, were both set to gain seats. Young members wanted to depose an "old guard" seen as divided and corrupt. » Read more

Dahlan: No peace talks without deadline ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Former Palestinian security commander Mohammed Dahlan, who was apparently elected Tuesday to Fatah's Central Committee, said that he would allow no one to negotiate with Israel unless a deadline for peace talks is announced in advance, according to Israel Radio. Fatah elected a group of younger leaders to its top council, according to preliminary voting results. "This election is setting a new future for the movement, a new democratic era," added the 47-year-old Dahlan. » Read more

Barak Hopeful for talks with Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday he believed negotiations with the Palestinians could progress within weeks. Barak also rejected remarks by Ministers Eli Yishai and Avigdor Lieberman, who spoke in favor of construction in settlements. The defense minister said in closed talks that "there is a good chance to further the peace process" and that "the dialogue with Washington will produce an American plan for an inclusive settlement within weeks". » Read more

US Jewish leaders rally in Consul Tamir's Defense ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yitzhak Benhorin - August 11, 2009 - 12:00am “I’ve known Israeli consuls general for the last 30 years or so. And I don’t think Israel has had a more effective leader in New England in that time than Nadav Tamir," former president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Steve Grossman told the Boston Globe Monday. Tamir has been summoned to Israel by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman after a confidential memo he wrote criticizing the way Israel was handling its relations with the US was leaked to the media. He is scheduled to land in the country Tuesday. » Read more

Fatah: New leaders declare 'revolution' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' Fatah party elected a new generation of leaders at its first congress in 20 years, including a popular militant jailed in Israel, according to results on Tuesday. Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in Israel, was among those elected to Fatah's governing body at the landmark conference aimed at rejuvenating a party weakened by internal rifts. » Read more

Senators to Obama: Lean on Arabs to normalize Israel ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - August 11, 2009 - 12:00am A bipartisan group comprising 71 U.S. senators is urging President Barack Obama to lean on Arab states to normalize relations with Israel. In a letter addressed to Obama on Monday, the senators praised Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for lobbying the Arab states to take steps toward supporting the Palestinian Authority, though more was needed to advance peace. » Read more

Jailed Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti elected to party leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 11, 2009 - 12:00am Marwan Barghouti, jailed for life in Israel on charges of organizing the killing of Jews, was elected to a top post in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group on Tuesday, initial results showed. Barghouti, 50, who denies the charges, is a popular and articulate figure among many Palestinians and was once seen as a successor to Yasser Arafat. Some members of the Fatah "Old Guard" lost their positions when the faction elected a new executive body, the initial results showed after more than 90 percent of votes had been counted for the 18-member Central Committee. » Read more