August 30th

Requiem for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am Nachum Barnea is considered to be one of Israel’s most influential journalists, independent in his judgment, fair and balanced in his reporting and analysis. A few days ago he wrote an outspoken column in which he comes to the conclusion that the settlement project has reached its goal: the situation on the ground is irreversible, and the two-state solution is no longer possible. » Read more

Behold, Rachel, behold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am The spring of 2003 was an atrocious spring. An intifada was raging in the streets of Israel; explosives were going off next to the Gaza-Egyptian border, along the Philadelphi Route, and in Rafah, bulldozers mowed down hundreds of Palestinian homes, many of them belonging to innocent people. A few months earlier, a young American woman had arrived in Rafah from Olympia, Washington. » Read more

Israeli settlers have only themselves to blame for Migron outpost ruling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am No one was surprised by the High Court of Justice ruling ordering all residents of the settlement outpost of Migron to be out by next Tuesday - except, of course, for the settlers themselves. Television news shows reported that "shock" reigned in the illegal outpost last night. Its residents claimed the court had "raped" them. Once again, the robbed Cossacks are crying foul, a moment before they relocate to the shiny new settlement that the state built for them nearby at a cost of NIS 30 million. » Read more

Iran, Israel and the birth of new alliances ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Mahdi Abdul Hadi - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am The Non-Aligned Movement of 120 nations are at a crossroads in their 16th Summit in Tehran this week where the longer term impacts of the Second Arab Awakening (the Arab Spring) are likely to reveal themselves. The NAM was established in Ban Dong in 1955 by Nasser (Egypt), Nihro (India), and Sukarno (Indonesia), and joined later by Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia in 1961 to create an alternative political narrative to those offered by Western capitalist nations and Soviet-style socialism during the Cold War. » Read more

Two years after her father wished him dead, Abbas hosts Ovadia Yosef’s daughter ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Philip Podolsky - August 30, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas received on Monday in Ramallah a group of Israeli rabbis including Adina Bar-Shalom, the eldest daughter of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, in a rare meeting at a time when negotiations between Israel and the PA are at a virtual standstill. » Read more

University of Cali rejects anti-Semitism resolution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am The California State Assembly approved a resolution calling on colleges and universities in the state to combat anti-Semitism on Wednesday, however the University of California says it will not support the resolution. » Read more

IDF razes Palestinian infrastructure in West Bank communities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - August 30, 2012 - 12:00am Israel yesterday destroyed five cisterns and several tents, sheepfolds and storage sites in four Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During the process, the contents of several feed sacks were spilled and damaged. Altogether, according to UN data, Israel razed some 400 Palestinian structures in the West Bank's Area C between the start of the year and mid-August, including 120 houses; more than 600 Palestinians were hurt by these demolitions. Area C is the part of the West Bank that the Oslo Accords assigned to full Israeli control. » Read more

Hamas office in Damascus 'still open' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 30, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas' politburo in Damascus is still open and has not moved to Cairo, the party's representative in Yemen said Wednesday. "The movement's office in Syria did not move to Cairo, it was not closed and Hamas leaders are still in it but because of the current circumstances in Syria, we left and we’ll be back when the situation becomes stable," Abdul Muti Zaqqut told Ma'an. » Read more

Paralympic Games: For Gaza's athletes, just getting to the practice track is a challenge ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ruqaya Izzidien - August 30, 2012 - 12:00am While most Paralympics national teams are on a strict training schedule as the Olympics companion event approaches, focused entirely on improving their performance and winning a coveted gold medal, the Palestinian Gaza team is a bit different. » Read more

Abbas not to hold bilateral talks with Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 30, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not hold bilateral talks with Iran during his stay in Tehran, a Palestinian official said Thursday. Abbas arrived in Iran Wednesday for the Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM) summit, said Majdi al-Khalidi, his diplomatic adviser. » Read more