April 18th

US-Israel relations: An Interview with Gil Hoffman
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Interview) April 18, 2011 - 12:00am


Gil Hoffman is the chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post. I met him in Cincinnati, where he spoke on recent developments in the Middle East. What follows is a synopsis of our interview together (4/5/2011). Q: Netanyahu, Abbas, and Obama all agree in theory on the need for peace through a two-state solution. Why is there currently no progress on this issue?


Israeli boy Daniel Viflic dies after rocket hits bus
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
April 18, 2011 - 12:00am


Daniel Viflic, 16, was on a school bus in southern Israel on 7 April when it was hit by an anti-tank missile fired from the Gaza Strip. The driver was slightly hurt in the attack, which happened just after the other children had been dropped off. Nineteen Palestinians died in the ensuing wave of Israeli air strikes and Palestinian counter-attacks. It was the most serious violence since Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. About 1,400 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, and 13 Israelis, including 10 soldiers, were killed.


‘Irvine 11’ plead not guilty in Oren incident
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Marcy Oster - April 17, 2011 - 12:00am


Eleven Muslim students arrested for disrupting a speech by Israeli U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren at the University of California, Irvine pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges. The students were arraigned April 15 in Orange County Superior Court on charges of conspiracy to disturb a meeting and misdemeanor disturbance of a meeting.


Hamas's ability to control radical groups in question
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hugh Naylor - April 18, 2011 - 12:00am


The murder of an Italian activist in Gaza last week has raised questions about the capability of Hamas to control radical groups, some with suspected links to al Qa'eda, operating in the Palestinian territory. Vittorio Arrigoni, 36, part of the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, was found dead in an empty apartment building in Gaza City. An al Qa'eda-inspired group calling itself Tawhid and Jihad released a video of his kidnapping on Thursday and is widely believed to have carried out the murder.


Washington Committed to Middle East Peace Process- US Officials
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Mina Al-Oraibi - (Opinion) November 16, 2009 - 1:00am


Many questions are being asked whether it is possible to resume peace negotiations in the Middle East that can achieve real and concrete results after the peace process has been faltering over the past few months. A total of 10 months have passed since US President Barack Obama announced his determination to bring peace to the Middle East on his first day in the White House. However, there have been no indications that such a peace would be reached.


America’s Partnership with the Arab People
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) April 15, 2011 - 12:00am


The Barack Obama Administration has drafted the features of its new strategic policy resulting from the “Arab Spring” with an effaceable pencil, as it is still at the stage of reacting and responding to events. There is not yet what would be called a “blueprint” for a strategic framework for broad American policy towards the Middle East, since ‘using permanent ink’ would tie down the hands of President Barack Obama at a time when he needs flexibility for electoral reasons.


The Goldstone reversal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Aryeh Neier - (Opinion) April 18, 2011 - 12:00am


Justice Richard Goldstone was condemned by many apologists for Israel’s human rights record for his conclusion that Israel intentionally targeted Palestinian civilians as a matter of policy during the 2008-9 Gaza war. Goldstone’s United Nations-backed report accused both Israelis and Palestinians of war crimes, and called on both sides to investigate, prosecute and punish their own personnel.


Goldstone, the person and the process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) April 16, 2011 - 12:00am


Controversy is good, if it helps to promote truth and justice, and this is what we have now in relation to the 2010 “Goldstone Report” about the conduct of Israel and Hamas during the 2008-09 Gaza war. It continues to generate fresh controversy in light of recent statements by the four members of the original fact-finding commission established by the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC).


How Israel is becoming a settler state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Uri Avnery - (Opinion) April 17, 2011 - 12:00am


THE OTHER day, the almighty General Security Service (Shabak, formerly Shin Bet) needed a new boss. It is a hugely important job, because no minister ever dares to contradict the advice of the Shabak chief in Cabinet meetings. There was an obvious candidate, known only as J. But at the last moment, the settlers' lobby was mobilized. As director of the "Jewish department" J. had put some Jewish terrorists in prison. So his candidature was rejected and Yoram Cohen, a kippah-wearing darling of the settlers was appointed instead.


April 15th

The Washington Post asks if the “Arab Spring” will bring about a broad-based peace agreement with Israel. An Italian activist is murdered by extremists in Gaza. Hamas arrests suspects and most Palestinian groups denounce the killing. Aaron David Miller says it would be a “dumb idea” for Palestinians to seek statehood at the UN. David Makovsky says the US has unwisely relegated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the sidelines. The Senate passes a resolution asking the UN to rescind the Goldstone Report. The EU opens its market to Palestinian exports. Turkey tells Israel it’s not responsible for Gaza flotillas. PM Netanyahu will address Congress next month. The Israeli official in charge of negotiating the release of a captured soldier is resigning. Israeli settlers wound a Palestinian in the West Bank. Palestinians inaugurate the first West Bank international soccer stadium. Ha’aretz says FM Lieberman must resign now. Carlo Strenger says that Hamas’ ideology is dooming it to irrelevance. The UK will send an observer to the next Israeli Jerusalem “zoning committee” meeting. Palestinians seek US support for statehood. Former PM Olmert condemns Goldstone’s reconsideration as “too little, too late.” Tensions have not affected Israeli-Turkish trade. A California university withdraws backing from a conference on Palestinian rights. George Hishmeh notes that more Americans than ever think the US isn’t doing enough to solve the conflict. Omar Rahman says Israel should accept the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative, and Yossi Alpher agrees but with “minor interpretations.” Interfaith leaders urge Pres. Obama to lay out the key principles for Middle East peace.

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