June 13th

Palestinian PM supports Israel's Stanley Fischer for IMF top job
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer has a new and unexpected supporter in his bid to head the International Monetary Fund: the Palestinian prime minister. Salam Fayyad says Stanley Fischer would make a "great managing director" for the world financial body and is a "superb human being." The Palestinian Authority does not participate in the selection process, but Fayyad said if he had a vote, he would cast it for Fischer.


Israel, White House send signals on new peace talks plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yahoo News
by Laura Rozen - June 10, 2011 - 12:00am


In a call with Jewish leaders today, new White House Middle East adviser Steve Simon laid out the state of play in the current U.S. effort to re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks along the principles President Obama laid out in a series of speeches last month. According to notes from the call provided to The Envoy, the United States has received a mostly positive response to the U.S. proposal from the Palestinians and the Europeans, but is still waiting to see whether Israel will accept the framework for negotiations.


Israel, White House send signals on new peace talks plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yahoo News
by Laura Rozen - June 10, 2011 - 12:00am


In a call with Jewish leaders today, new White House Middle East adviser Steve Simon laid out the state of play in the current U.S. effort to re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks along the principles President Obama laid out in a series of speeches last month. According to notes from the call provided to The Envoy, the United States has received a mostly positive response to the U.S. proposal from the Palestinians and the Europeans, but is still waiting to see whether Israel will accept the framework for negotiations.


Is the Palestinian Authority doing enough to stop honor killings?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


On May 7, the remains of a woman's body were found in a well, three kilometers from the village of Surif, northwest of Hebron. A quick examination by Palestinian police found that the victim was Ayah Barad'iyya, a 21-year-old English major at Hebron University. Her parents had complained to the police about her disappearance 13 months earlier.


Berlusconi receives Netanyahu, rejects unilateral solutions in Middle East peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Monday that Middle East peace can only be reached through negotiations, keeping to Italy’s position rejecting any unilateral actions such as recognition of a Palestinian state by the U.N. General Assembly. Berlusconi spoke at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Italy to rally opposition to Palestinian plans to have the General Assembly recognize a Palestinian state in September.


Alleged 'spy' in Egypt is US citizen, IDF paratrooper
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Katz - June 13, 2011 - 12:00am


Ilan Grapel, the alleged Mossad agent arrested on Sunday in Egypt, is an American citizen who served in the IDF Paratrooper’s Brigade during the Second Lebanon War and interned last summer at the Israeli Supreme Court. Grapel, originally from New York, moved to Israel after graduating from John Hopkins University in the US and enlisted in the IDF.


Hamas Rejects Fatah’s Choice for Prime Minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group on Sunday rejected the rival Fatah movement's nominee for prime minister, complicating plans to unify the dueling governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and jeopardizing international aid for the Palestinians.


A Year After Mavi Marmara, Life in Gaza Eases
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Omar Ghraieb, David Rosenberg - June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


If you want to get a sense of how much has changed during the past year in the lives of ordinary people living the Gaza Strip, look no further than chicken.


Hamas Rejects Fatah’s Choice for Prime Minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 12, 2011 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group on Sunday rejected the rival Fatah movement's nominee for prime minister, complicating plans to unify the dueling governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and jeopardizing international aid for the Palestinians.


June 10th

NEWS: Amr Moussa reiterates that the Arab League is committed to Palestinian statehood. Gaza hospitals reportedly face a critical shortage of supplies. An Israeli lawsuit against Al Jazeera is dismissed. Given nternational opposition, Palestinian leaders are split on a UN statehood bid in September, and reports claim PM Fayyad is the foremost critic of the idea. Hamas says it will not accept that Fayyad continues in office. Ha’aretz outlines Israel’s strategy for combating Palestinian diplomatic plans to approach the UN. The BBC looks at the deadly incidents at the Golan Heights border. One of Hamas’ founders dies. COMMENTARY: Carlo Strenger says Israeli right-wingers are living in a colonial past. Alex Fishman says Israel needs to move quickly to develop nonlethal means to deal with unarmed protesters. The Gulf News says of 1967 borders are key to peace. Aijaz Zaka Syed says there needs to be an Arab lobby in the United States. Henry Siegman says Pres. Obama is wrong and that the UN could create a Palestinian state if the US supported that. Ha’aretz says it’s unclear whether or not unfolding events will lead to another intifada. The Economist says PM Netanyahu is trying to divert the attention of Israelis from diplomatic dangers ahead. The Forward looks at the language used by Netanyahu and Obama in recent weeks. A Palestinian teenager outlines the difficulties of living without citizenship. R.M. Schneiderman examines new claims that Henry Kissinger encouraged Egypt to attack Israel in 1973.

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