May 23rd

Palestinians can take the initiative after Israel balks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) May 22, 2011 - 12:00am


If the White House was trying to fire a warning shot at the United States' "unshakeable" ally in the Middle East, it hit its target. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, at the weekend responded defensively to President Barack Obama's suggestion that peace with the Palestinians depended on a return to pre-1967 borders. "Israel is prepared to make generous compromises for peace," Mr Netanyahu said in Washington, but "it cannot go back to the 1967 lines. These lines are indefensible".


UC Debates Free Speech Vs. Federal Protection
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Rex Weiner - May 18, 2011 - 12:00am


Shlomo Dubnov, an associate professor at University of California, San Diego, had an unusually busy schedule the first week of May.


Palestinians plan fresh protests to mark war anniversary
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - May 22, 2011 - 12:00am


Palestinian refugees are planning a fresh round of marches on Israel next month, amid signs that grassroots protests could gain momentum from deep disillusion over the prospects for peace talks and the impact of the Arab Spring. A committee behind demonstrations last weekend, in which 14 people were killed on the Lebanese and Syrian borders, have called for further protests on 5 June to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Six Day War, during which Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.


US 'would repeat Bin Laden raid'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News
(Interview) May 21, 2011 - 12:00am


Here is the full transcript of the BBC's interview with President Barack Obama. Andrew Marr: could I start by going back to that extraordinary moment a fortnight ago when you know that you had got Bin Laden. This was not simply presumably another difficult decision. As an American, never mind as president, there was something personal about it.


Israel approves 294 new W. Bank homes in Betar Illit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
May 22, 2011 - 12:00am


The Defense Ministry has approved the construction of 294 new homes in Betar Illit, the second largest West Bank Jewish city, located near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. Although the approval was granted at the end of April, it was first publicized in the last few days – including by Peace Now on Sunday – as part of an overall report on settlement activity. News of the Betar Illit units came as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon traveled to another settlement bloc, Ma’aleh Adumim, and called for more building there, particularly in an area known as E-1.


When peace met partisanship
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by David Halperin, Peter Joseph - (Opinion) May 22, 2011 - 12:00am


The criticism of President Obama’s speech this week, in particular the reaction to the statement that “the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps,” underscores the lamentable, polarized discourse in our nation – and in the Jewish community – when it comes to Israel and the pursuit of a lasting two-state solution.


Let’s sit and do nothing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) May 23, 2011 - 12:00am


Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished Congress members. Again we meet, while the world remains the same. Israel faces threats of extermination; we are being persecuted and are getting no rest. As your ally, I came here to draw encouragement for the “sit and do nothing” policy I’ve been leading with great skill.


The Israeli reality that Obama doesn't understand
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Merav Michaeli - (Opinion) May 23, 2011 - 12:00am


"President Obama doesn't understand the reality," according to "associates" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke after the meeting between the two leaders. And when that is the headline of the daily Yisrael Hayom, it is clearly Netanyahu's headline: "President Obama doesn't understand the reality."


Netanyahu caught unprepared by Obama's stern message
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Adam Gonn - May 22, 2011 - 12:00am


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried on Sunday to smooth over speculation of a personal falling out with United States President Barack Obama. It was during a televised meeting between the two at the White House on Friday that Netanyahu, in unusually blunt words, criticized Obama for his Middle East policy speech delivered the previous day.


Obama's speeches lay basis for peace process: PLO official
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 23, 2011 - 12:00am


U.S. President Barack Obama's recent speeches have laid the basis for starting a serious peace process between the Palestinians and Israel, an official of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Monday. Yasser Abed Rabbo of the PLO added that it is possible for the Palestinians to resume negotiations with Israel in line with Obama 's vision that the borders between Israel and the future Palestinian state should be the pre-1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps. However, Abed Rabbo stressed that Israel must accept Obama's calls first.



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