September 17th

Rattling the Cage: A wake-up call from Judge Goldstone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) September 16, 2009 - 12:00am Maybe this will do it. Maybe the Goldstone report on Operation Cast Lead will be the thing that finally puts the fear of God into Israeli society, that shocks this country into deciding once and for all that the occupation must come to an end - for our sake if no one else's. » Read more

Fayyad praises local comedy-soap "Homeland on a Thread" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 15, 2009 - 12:00am Ramallah – Ma’an – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad received the actors of the comedy series Homeland on a Thread (Watan Ala Watar) in his office on Tuesday, and praised what he called a "meaningful television achievement." The Ramadan soap opera, played every night of the holy month of fasting, is broadcast on Palestine TV and has made a splash in the Palestinian and international arenas. The satirical comedy pokes fun at all levels of government, and holds no punches when it comes to the Israeli occupation or Palestinian customs. » Read more

No Deal, but Middle East Envoy Sets Further Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 16, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The Obama administration’s special representative to the Middle East, George J. Mitchell, was set to leave Israel on Wednesday without agreement on a settlement freeze. But he was expected to return Friday to press his efforts to pave the way for resumed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Over the past two days, Mr. Mitchell has held two private meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. Officials here indicated that he had not persuaded the two sides to restart the stalled talks. » Read more

Israel Rejects Call for Gaza Inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 16, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israeli officials on Wednesday bluntly dismissed one of the main recommendations of the United Nations fact-finding mission’s report on the three-week war in Gaza last winter: a call for the Israeli government to begin an independent investigation of “serious violations” of international humanitarian and human rights law, including evidence of war crimes, during the military campaign. » Read more

Justice in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Richard Goldstone - (Opinion) September 17, 2009 - 12:00am I ACCEPTED with hesitation my United Nations mandate to investigate alleged violations of the laws of war and international human rights during Israel’s three-week war in Gaza last winter. The issue is deeply charged and politically loaded. I accepted because the mandate of the mission was to look at all parties: Israel; Hamas, which controls Gaza; and other armed Palestinian groups. I accepted because my fellow commissioners are professionals committed to an objective, fact-based investigation. » Read more

September 16th

Goldstone's daughter: My father's participation softened UN Gaza report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz September 16, 2009 - 12:00am Had Richard Goldstone not served as the head of the UN inquiry into the Gaza war, the accusations against Israel would have been harsher, Goldstone's daughter, Nicole, said in an interview conducted in Hebrew with Army Radio on Wednesday. "My father took on this job because he thought he is doing the best thing for peace, for everyone, and also for Israel," Nicole Goldstone told Army Radio. She added that her father wrestled with the decision to take on the task. "It wasn't easy [for him]," Nicole Goldstone said. "My father did not expect to see and hear what he saw and heard." » Read more

Israeli forces target family of anti-wall protest organizer in Bil'in ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 16, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli soldiers backed by six armored vehicles broke into the home of Abdallh Abu Rahmah, coordinator of the Bil'in Popular Committee's Anti Wall protests staged each Friday. The troops ransacked the home, questioned the family and delivered an arrest warrant. » Read more

Former Deputy PM Ash-Sha'er to be released from Israeli prison ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 16, 2009 - 12:00am The Israeli army is expected to release Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Naser Ash-Sha’er, an Israeli High Court decided Wednesday. Ash-Sha’er has been in administrative detention for two consecutive three month periods and was held without charge in the Magido and Negev prison facilities. A court decision said the period of detention would not be renewed, and the lawmaker, popular with both Fatah and Hamas, is expected to be released in the coming days. » Read more

Israeli settlements: Where, when, and why they're built ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - September 6, 2009 - 12:00am Amid rising anticipation of a US-Israeli agreement on a settlement freeze, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy George Mitchell said they would meet again Wednesday after an inconclusive visit Tuesday in Jerusalem. » Read more

How to get Mideast peace talks out of 'dark corner' of Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - September 15, 2009 - 12:00am A group representing prominent Israelis and Palestinians, including former negotiators, released a "cookbook" for peace on Tuesday designed to help decisionmakers reach a two-state solution to the conflict. The release of the Geneva Accord and Annexes coincided with the visit of US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who met Tuesday with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He is just the kind of diplomatic "chef" that the group, known as the Geneva Initiative, is targeting. » Read more