Another Look at Palestinian Culture
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Ziad Asali - (Blog) August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


Given the current conversation about issue of Palestinian culture and its relationship to politics and economics, I feel it's appropriate for me to add my own Palestinian-American perspective.


NEWS: Israel and Iran are engaged in a shadowy war of covert operations. Residents in one of Israel's southernmost communities were not far from the attack on Egyptian forces in Sinai, as militant forces are gaining strength there and Egypt moves to suppress them. Egypt asks Hamas to hand over three Hamas militants suspected of involvement in the attack. Officials say Egyptian-Israeli security cooperation is at a high point following the attack. Palestinians say Swiss experts have been invited to examine the body of the late Pres. Arafat to look for signs of poisoning, but the lab says it will only do that if it is guaranteed its findings won't be used for "political purposes." Shots are fired at the office of PM Fayyad in Ramallah. Fayyad condemns Israeli plans to evict 12 Palestinian shepherd communities to make way for military fire zones. The EU says it expects Israel to cancel all demolition orders in "Area C." Hamas objects to the idea of holding Palestinian elections before national reconciliation. Washington is reportedly continuing to pressure Palestinians to delay any renewed effort at greater UN recognition until after the upcoming US presidential election. COMMENTARY: Louis Frankentaler says torture need not be an integral part of Israel's occupation. Khaled Diab says Arab and Israeli women face common challenges. Sari Bashi says occupation, not culture, is holding back the Palestinian economy. Adel Al Toraifi says it's vital for Egypt's national interests that the country move quickly to restore order in Sinai. George Hishmeh says Israel is rapidly losing international support, especially in Europe. Gerard Horton says Palestinian children in Israeli detention must be treated justly. Abdallah Iskandar says the attack on Egyptian forces in Sinai is helping Israel clamp down on Palestinians.

Sinai Attacks Help Israel Clamp Down on Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Abdullah Iskandar - (Opinion) August 8, 2012 - 12:00am


The bodies of those involved in the attack against an Egyptian police station in the Sinai were handed over to Egyptian authorities by Israel. Yet, until their identity is revealed, speculation regarding the nature and goals of the attack will abound.


Imprisoned Palestinian Children Must Be Treated Justly
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Gerard Horton - (Opinion) August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


"UK ready to take on Israel over fate of children clapped in irons," read the headline in a leading UK newspaper the morning after the latest report on the treatment of Palestinian children held in military detention was released in London in June. The Foreign Office-funded report -- Children in Military Custody -- was written by a delegation of UK lawyers that included a former Attorney General and a judge of the Court of Appeal, following their visit to Israel and the West Bank last September.


Israel is losing crucial support
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) August 8, 2012 - 12:00am


The level of understanding in the international community is changing and both Romney and Netanyahu had better wake up and smell the coffee.


Neglecting Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Adel Al Toraifi - (Opinion) August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


History shows us that disorder in Sinai spells trouble.


Occupation, Not 'Culture,' Holds Back Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Sari Bashi - (Opinion) August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


As a Jew of Iraqi descent living in Israel, I was taught to take prideful note of the role that my ethnic group played in building the country. ”You see that bridge?” my uncle would ask me as we watched footage of a Tel Aviv sports event. “An Iraqi Jew built it.” And when the TV switched to a commercial for an appliance company, my uncle, who left Baghdad in 1943 at the age of 16, would say: “The owner of that company is Iraqi. Do you see how he built it from nothing?”


Nearly sisters: Arab and Israeli women's common challenges
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Khaled Diab - (Opinion) August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


A photo of a presumed Israeli soldier exercising her right to bare arms – and legs and midriff – with a machine gun slung casually over her shoulder has gone viral.


Torture under occupation: Destiny or a surmountable obstacle?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Louis Frankentaler - (Opinion) August 6, 2012 - 12:00am


It remains clear to even the most forgiving observer of Israeli behavior that the occupation involves the routine violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law including torture and ill treatment.


U.S. pushing Palestinians to delay U.N. bid until after elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
August 9, 2012 - 12:00am


Washington is pressing the Palestinian leadership to delay a fresh bid to seek upgraded U.N. status until after the U.S. elections, a senior Palestinian official said Wednesday. “There are pressures from the United States and some Arab parties to delay the voting until after the United States presidential elections, due in November,” Palestinian Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Saleh Raafat told Voice of Palestine radio.



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