May 17th

Chomsky Barred From West Bank by Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Robert Mackey - May 16, 2010 - 12:00am

Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and political thinker who has been critical of Israel, was denied entry into the West Bank on Sunday by Israeli immigration officials when he tried to cross into the Palestinian territory from Jordan to deliver a lecture. Amira Hass of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported:

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The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Review Of Books
by Peter Beinart - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

In 2003, several prominent Jewish philanthropists hired Republican pollster Frank Luntz to explain why American Jewish college students were not more vigorously rebutting campus criticism of Israel. In response, he unwittingly produced the most damning indictment of the organized American Jewish community that I have ever seen.

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Palestinians turn to boycott of Israel in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Janine Zacharia - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

MAALEH ADUMIM, WEST BANK -- In Mishor Adumim, a bougainvillea-lined industrial zone inside this West Bank Jewish settlement, at least 17 businesses have closed since Palestinians began boycotting its products several months ago. For the Israelis, it's "an insufferable situation," according to Avi Elkayam, who represents the settlement's 300 factory owners. But for Palestinians, it might be the strategy they have been looking for.

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May 14th

Newsweek analyzes Israel's reaction to the PA settlement boycott. Israeli settlers kill a stone-throwing Palestinian child, and break a woman's nose in separate incidents. A senior PLO official says progress in talks is unlikely. Israeli ministers squabble over Jerusalem settlements, leaving analysts befuddled. Yoel Marcus says more American pressure on Israel is coming. Hagai El-Ad and Larry Derfner denounce the campaign against Judge Goldstone, as an effort is launched to bar him from the US. Following US pressure, Israel puts Palestinian home demolitions on hold. Human Rights Watch calls the destruction of Palestinian property in the Gaza war unlawful. The US will provide $200 million for an Israeli missile defense system. Omar Rahman says an imposed solution is required. Palestinian citizens of Israel say they're being targeted by the authorities. Hassan Haidar says Gazans should not pay the price for Hamas intransigence. Hussein Ibish looks at new Palestinian strategies for independence.

Gaza is a Victim Twice!
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Hassan Haidar - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

According to an ordinary piece of news, the Egyptian Supply Control members seized a truck loaded with 100 small power generators at a security checkpoint at the entrance of Al-Arish City. These were being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, so the load was confiscated and the person accompanying the driver arrested.

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Israel's secret police targeting leaders of country's Arab minority, say Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Jonathan Cook - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

The recent arrest of two respected public figures from Israel’s Palestinian Arab minority in night-time raids on their homes by the Shin Bet secret police – brought to light this week when a gag order was partially lifted – has sent shock waves through the community.

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Imposed solution can end Palestinian conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Omar Rahman - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

It is a sign of how far the peace process has retrogressed that the Israelis and Palestinians have now entered into proximity talks, more than 16 years after having started direct negotiations. To make matters worse, nobody – including the actual participants – gives the latest round of talks the slightest chance of success. In fact, many fear that failure will only bolster critics of the peace process by further displaying the ineffectiveness of its methods. So why are they entering negotiations to begin with?

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US to fund installation of Israeli rocket defence system
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

Barack Obama is to ask the US Congress for an extra $200m in military aid to help Israel get a short-range rocket defence system in place. The system is designed to shoot down mortars and rockets from Gaza or Southern Lebanon with guided missiles. The system, called Iron Dome, has gone through testing and installation will start later this year. According to US State Department figures, direct military aid to Israel was $2.55bn in 2009. This is set to increase to $3.15bn in 2018. Easing tensions

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Human Rights Watch say destruction in Gaza 'unlawful'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

The Israeli army unlawfully destroyed civilian property in its 22-day offensive in Gaza in 2008 and 2009, a report by Human Rights Watch says. Israeli forces destroyed buildings that had "no military significance", a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, the report said. The New-York based group have documented 12 cases that they say must be investigated. The IDF denies the charges and says it has investigated the incursion already.

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Desperately smearing Goldstone
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Larry Derfner - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am

Inside the Israeli echo chamber, it’s now “case closed” on the war in Gaza. The country’s biggest newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, has “exposed” Judge Richard Goldstone as an apartheid-era hanging judge. This proves he’s a huge hypocrite whose word means nothing, which proves his report on the war in Gaza means nothing, which proves Operation Cast Lead was every bit the shining example of restraint and purity of arms Israel says it was.

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