July 25th

Family keeps up Jerusalem's cannon ritual for 120 years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Sanjiv Buttoo - July 24, 2012 - 12:00am The ancient tradition of firing cannons to signify the end of the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan is thought to have taken place in the Arab world for hundreds of years. It is believed to have started in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, but long ago the practice was also adopted just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Wherever cannons are used, Muslims do not break their dawn until dusk fast until they hear its booming sound. The call to prayer follows and then it is time for the iftar meal. » Read more

Levy Commission: Concerned By ‘Misuse’ Of Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week by Stewart Ain - (Opinion) July 24, 2012 - 12:00am The Levy Commission report that earlier this month found Israelis have the legal right to settle in the West Bank is being twisted and distorted by those here who are on both sides of the issue, according to its authors. » Read more

Romney slams Obama for 'lecturing Israel's leaders' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post July 24, 2012 - 12:00am Leading into his major trip to the UK, Israel and Poland to highlight his foreign policy competence and positions, US Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday lashed out at US President Barack Obama for "lecturing Israel's leaders." » Read more

Ramallah violence 'unjustified,' inquiry concludes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 24, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- A committee to probe violence against protesters in Ramallah last month has concluded that attacks on civilians, including journalists, were unjustified, an official said Tuesday. Wasel Abu Yousif told Ma'an that President Mahmoud Abbas has received the report from the committee, which was formed by Munib al-Musri and included Abu Yousif, a PLO leader, and Ahmad Harb of the Independent Commission for Human Rights. » Read more

Palestinian-American among theater shooting victims ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 24, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A young Palestinian-American woman is among the dead after a gunman opened fire in a US theater last Friday, killing 12 people and injuring 70, her family confirmed on Tuesday. Jessica Ghawi, 24, was an aspiring journalist who had moved to Aurora, Colorado to pursue a broadcast career, according to her brother Jordan, 26, who lives in Texas. Jordan told Ma'an that Ghawi was a Palestinian-American. "My father is a Christian Arab from Palestine," he said Tuesday. » Read more

There May Never Be Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Project Magazine by Tom Philips - (Opinion) July 18, 2012 - 12:00am For the last six years I have served as a British ambassador in the Middle East, first to Israel and then to Saudi Arabia. I leave the region with particular sadness that in this period the chances of a solution to the long-running conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians—on which, ultimately, turns the issue of Israel’s acceptance in the region—have grown bleaker. These are my ten rules for why this is the case. Rule 1: “The worst thing will always happen at the worst possible time” Examples are legion. A few follow. » Read more

Over 100 Gaza families flee Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 25, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- More than 100 Palestinian families have fled Syria due to the deterioration in safety and security resulting from the uprising against President Bashar Assad, an official said Tuesday. Hamza Abu Shanab of the Gaza-based Palestinian Coalition for the Syrian Revolution told Ma'an that 105 families originally from the Gaza Strip have returned safely through Egypt's Rafah crossing in recent days. The families had business ties in Syria or were students studying at Syrian universities, Abu Shanab said. » Read more

Attempted bombing against Israeli soldiers near Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday set off a bomb targeting several Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, an army source said. "Earlier this morning an explosive device was detonated against IDF soldiers who were performing routine activity adjacent to the security fence," the source told Xinhua Wednesday. The powerful blast, which Israel Radio said took place near the Kerem Shalom crossing point, did not cause any casualty or damage. » Read more

Israel Stands to Gain From Assad's Ouster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'ariv by Eli Avidar - (Opinion) July 24, 2012 - 12:00am Ever since the demonstrations began in Syria in January 2011, the world has waited for a tie-breaking development in the struggle between the regime and the rebels. » Read more

Under Israeli blockade of Gaza, books are a rare, cherished commodity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ruqaya Izzidien - July 24, 2012 - 12:00am The Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has been blamed for a multitude of problems facing the population there: malnutrition, unemployment, limited access to electricity and potable water. » Read more