June 1st

Gaza: From blockade to bloodshed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian (Editorial) June 1, 2010 - 12:00am If an armed group of Somali pirates had yesterday boarded six vessels on the high seas, killing at least 10 passengers and injuring many more, a Nato taskforce would today be heading for the Somali coast. What happened yesterday in international waters off the coast of Gaza was the work of Israeli commandos, not pirates, and no Nato warships will in fact be heading for Israel. Perhaps they should be. » Read more

Zero housing starts in W. Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am For the first time in more than two decades, and possibly in the history of the settlement movement, a three-month period has passed without any new settler construction in Judea and Samaria, according to numbers released on Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The report, which shows zero settler housing starts in the first quarter of 2010, is part of a larger report on construction in Israel that is released by the CBS four times a year, including at the end of May. » Read more

Straight into the trap ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am The Israel Defense Forces had little trouble explaining the naval commando raid yesterday to the Israeli public. The troops slid from helicopters into a violent crowd, which attacked them with sticks. It's no wonder the troops opened fire in self-defense. » Read more

Top ministers fume after Gaza flotilla operation goes ahead without their approval ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am Senior ministers have been sharply critical of the fact that the decision to seize control of the flotilla to Gaza was made after two meetings of the forum of seven senior ministers but without official deliberation by the inner cabinet, the body that has the authority to approve military actions of this scale. » Read more

Palestinians: Three killed in IDF strike on Gaza rocket-launching cell ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Anshel Pfeffer - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am The Israel Air Force on Tuesday attacked a group of Palestinian militants at a rocket-launching site in the Gaza Strip. Three people were killed in the attack, according to Palestinian officials. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed striking Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip. The army said it identified a secondary explosion in the attack. Palestinians said a senior member of the Palestinians Resistance Committees and a woman were killed in the attack. The third fatality has not yet been identified. » Read more

Mossad chief: Israel gradually becoming burden on U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am Mossad Chief Meir Dagan said on Tuesday that Israel is progressively becoming a burden on the United States. "Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden," said Dagan, speaking before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Dagan said that the U.S. government has recently examined the possibility of coercing a settlement on Israel and the Palestinians, but retreated from the idea after realizing it would not lead to a peace agreement. » Read more

Dr. Asali Named to US Presidential Delegation to the Palestine Investment Conference ATFP World Press Roundup Article from June 1, 2010 - 12:00am President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Bethlehem to attend the Palestine Investment Conference from June 2-4, 2010. The Honorable George Mitchell, Special Envoy for Middle East Peace will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable Neal Wolin, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Mr. Daniel Rubinstein, American Consul General in Jerusalem Mr. Alonzo Fulgham, USAID Chief Operating Officer » Read more

Turkey calls for punishment of Israel for killings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller, Ibon Villelabeitia - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am Turkey called on Tuesday for Israel to be punished for storming a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza in an attack that left nine dead and Israel increasingly isolated in the face of international outrage. Israel detained or deported hundreds of activists who were aboard a flotilla of ships seized en route to the Palestinian enclave which has been under Israeli blockade since 2006. » Read more

PLO calls for isolation of Israel, investigation of attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 1, 2010 - 12:00am Ramallah - Ma'an - The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah set out a six-point plan in the wake of Israel's attack on the Freedom Flotilla ships Monday morning, involving calls to isolate Israel and investigate the death of at least 10 activists at top levels. Member at the Fatah Central Committee Mohammed Dahlan said an emergency meeting in Ramallah saw leaders from the PA and the PLO agree to a plan in the face of the military operation, noting that officials "know well how dangerous the situation is," and are prepared to act accordingly. » Read more

Israel's deadly Gaza flotilla raid sparks diplomatic crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - June 1, 2010 - 12:00am An Israeli naval raid on a flotilla bent on breaking its blockade of the Gaza Strip with a cargo of humanitarian supplies is sparking an international diplomatic crisis for the Jewish state after at least 10 activists were killed and dozens wounded in clashes with soldiers. The Gaza flotilla raid prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a visit to the White House, while Israeli diplomats were summoned to foreign ministries across Europe. » Read more