Israeli leaders in hysterics ahead of September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) August 12, 2011 - 12:00am As the UN vote on Palestinian statehood within the June 4, 1967 borders approaches, Israel's government is showing increasing symptoms of hysteria. » Read more

Israel protests show nation's beating heart ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Amos Oz - (Editorial) August 9, 2011 - 12:00am Israel has never been an egalitarian state. But in its heyday, it was more egalitarian than most states in the world. The poverty wasn't acute and the wealth wasn't ostentatious, and social responsibility toward the poor and needy was shown not only on the economic level but on the emotional level too. » Read more

In Prison, and Denied Education ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mohammed Omer - August 11, 2011 - 12:00am In the early morning hours, Fatima Abu Jayyab, mother of Palestinian prisoner Eyad Khalid Abu Jayyab, gets ready for morning prayers. For the past nine years, every Monday morning this 57-year-old mother has stood outside the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) office in Gaza City with a poster displaying her son. The Israeli authorities have prevented her from seeing him for the last five years. Israeli authorities imprisoned Eyad Khalid Abu Jayyab for what Fatima calls affiliation to a political party. "I think of him every moment," she told IPS. » Read more

Abbas: We want settlements-free state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews August 12, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with US lawmakers visiting the West Bank and Gaza Strip and urged them to lend their support to the formation of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, the PA's WAFA news agency reported on Friday. Abbas reportedly stressed that the future state must be "empty of settlements." The US delegation was led by Senator Steny Hoyer (D), who is the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives. They toured the area on Thursday. » Read more

Ashton: E. J'lem construction threatens two-states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh, Herb Keinon, Melanie Lidman - August 12, 2011 - 12:00am Interior Minister Eli Yishai’s decision late Wednesday night to approve construction of 1,600 apartments in the northeast Jerusalem haredi neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo infuriated the Palestinians and brought sharp condemnations from overseas. At the beginning of next week, the Interior Ministry is expecting to give the final approval to two additional projects in east Jerusalem – 2,000 housing units in Givat Hamatos and 625 units in Pisgat Ze’ev, Yishai’s spokesman Roei Lachmanovich said. » Read more

Palestinians attack East Jerusalem settlement approval ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Matthew Kalman - August 12, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has accused Israel of "a total disregard for Palestinian rights" after its Interior Ministry announced the approval for the construction of more than 4,000 housing units in East Jerusalem. The Interior Minister Eli Yishai said he had authorised the building of 625 homes in Pisgat Zeev, 1,600 in Ramat Shlomo, and 2,000 in Givat Hamatos. The Israeli government says the project had been given the green light to help solve a severe housing shortage. » Read more

UN calls on Israel not to build new settlements in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by DPA - August 11, 2011 - 12:00am The United Nations called Thursday for Israel not to build new settlements, saying such plans would amount to a "provocative action" to the peace process with the Palestinians. Robert Serry, UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said the plan was strongly opposed by the international community when it was announced last year. "If confirmed, this provocative action undermines ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the parties back to negotiations," Serry said. » Read more

UN calls on Israel not to build new settlements in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by DPA - August 11, 2011 - 12:00am The United Nations called Thursday for Israel not to build new settlements, saying such plans would amount to a "provocative action" to the peace process with the Palestinians. Robert Serry, UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said the plan was strongly opposed by the international community when it was announced last year. "If confirmed, this provocative action undermines ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the parties back to negotiations," Serry said. » Read more

Likely freeze in Israel's defense budget is a victory for protesters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - August 12, 2011 - 12:00am Leaders of the tent protests could chalk up another victory in addition to the establishment of the Trajtenberg Committee: a freeze of the defense budget. In recent months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have both said repeatedly that the upheavals in the Arab world necessitate an increase in the Israel Defense Forces' budget. But the protests have changed their minds. » Read more

Israel prepares for Palestinian statehood rallies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Daniella Cheslow - August 11, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces are importing horses, water cannons, tear-gas launchers and a nauseating noise machine to control crowds if they become violent at Palestinian protests planned next month to support their bid for U.N. endorsement of statehood. Israel hopes the measures will avoid casualties among demonstrators. » Read more