July 16th

Editorial: Brazen testimony ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) July 16, 2009 - 12:00am The world saw for itself how — for 22 days — the densely populated Gaza ghetto was bombarded by Israeli forces killing 1,400 Palestinians and injuring thousands more. But the Israelis have always claimed that the stark images flashed around the world were Palestinian propaganda and did not represent what was really happening. On Wednesday, however, came a report drawing on testimony from some of the soldiers who took part in the Gaza operation — and it proves that the Israeli government statements are lies. » Read more

Yet more proof ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times July 16, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli soldiers have given testimony that in some cases the Israeli army made use of Palestinian human shields in its war on Gaza in January. The accounts, from an Israeli human rights group, provide yet more proof, if more is needed, that Israel stood in grave contravention of the laws regulating combat behaviour and should be charged with war crimes. » Read more

Obama must make a move ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am Some key European governments, unlike the Obama administration, have now come up with some tangible steps to start the ball rolling toward a peace settlement between an anxious Palestinian National Authority and a right-wing Israeli government which seems to be reluctant to reach a two-state solution. » Read more

Disagreements inside the Same Family ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am I don’t believe it would be an exaggeration to say that the meeting held between President Barak Obama and 15 of the most prominent leaders of the Jewish community in the United States on Monday will constitute a pivotal point that might restrain the momentum of the new president’s administration towards achieving a balanced settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. » Read more

July 15th

Interview with Bassem Khoury ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress (Interview) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Q: Mr Khoury, as Minister of National Economy, you obviously have your work cut out for you. Where will you start? A: My first priority has been to draft a 100 day plan for the Ministry. I presented this plan to the Prime Minister on 2 June. The plan has been approved and work has already begun. Q: What are the main priorities set out in the plan? » Read more

Welcome to the Middle East, 2030 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Paul Eedle - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am What if Barack Obama can make peace between the Arabs and Israel? It's easy to see how he might fail. But what if he succeeds and really does create a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims"? Here is a first draft of history for the next 20 years. The events are fantasy, of course, but the logic is based on four big trends: » Read more

Arabs must aid US efforts in peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am Israel, and some American Jews, have been crying foul. Both are claiming that the United States has been leaning too hard on Israel in the peace process, while giving the Palestinians a free pass on their obligations. To counter perceptions of a bias towards the Palestinians, Barack Obama met privately on Monday with 15 American-Jewish leaders at the White House. While he reassured the attendees of the US’s continued support for Israel, the meeting included a pointed message. » Read more

A disaster for Jews and Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Antony Lerman - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am Israel's current disastrous policy direction and the responsibility for it shared by American Jewish leaders are exemplified in the recent appointment of Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet dissident and western human rights icon, as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (Jafi), the quasi-governmental, $640m-a-year body that promotes Zionism and encourages Jewish migration to Israel. » Read more

IMF: Palestinian economy showing signs of growth ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 15, 2009 - 12:00am The West Bank economy could post its strongest performance in years in 2009, but only if Israel broadens recent efforts to ease restrictions on Palestinian trade and movement, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday, offering a rare upbeat assessment after years of downturn. » Read more

Obama still worries some Jewish leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hilary Leila Krieger - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am Several Jewish officials said Tuesday that US President Barack Obama's efforts to reassure them on US policy towards Israel had not assuaged their concerns. Though they welcomed Monday's intimate face-to-face discussion at the White House and were pleased that Obama acknowledged that some in the community were worried, they said it was insufficient to dispel their doubts about his approach towards Israel. » Read more