April 12th

U.S. postpones Quartet meet on Israel-Palestinian peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press April 12, 2011 - 12:00am The United States blocked an initiative by Britain, France and Germany to restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks by proposing the outlines of a final settlement to their long conflict, United Nations diplomats and a U.S. official said Monday. The three European countries wanted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union to propose a settlement text at a meeting of the Quartet of Mideast mediators - the U.S., UN, EU and Russia - tentatively scheduled to take place Friday in Berlin on the sidelines of a NATO ministerial meeting, the diplomats said. » Read more

Poll: 51% in US oppose unilateral creation of Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 12, 2011 - 12:00am A new survey released Monday by the Israel Project, revealed support for Israel among the American public is strong. The national survey, which included 800 registered voters from both major parties, and stated a margin of error of 3.46%. According to the data, 51% of US voters oppose the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state without a signed peace treaty with Israel; and 54% believe that without a peace agreement, the United States should not recognize a Palestinian state. » Read more

Even Bibi is getting caught up in Biebermania ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yael Gaton, Barak Ravid - April 12, 2011 - 12:00am The throngs of tween girls who mobbed Justin Beiber upon his arrival in Israel on Monday aren't alone. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently has a hankering for the Canadian pop idol as well. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will host Bieber at his office on Wednesday evening. Netanyahu's office said the young singer and his manager were the ones who had asked for the meeting and the prime minister consented. » Read more

Live from the bathroom – Lieberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews April 12, 2011 - 12:00am Avidgor Lieberman is known as an outspoken politician who generally shuns the prevalent politically correct culture, but on Monday Israel’s foreign minister reached new heights, or is it lows, in his conduct vis-à-vis the media – by flushing the toilet during a radio interview. » Read more

Settler council: Netanyahu's West Bank pullout plan radiates panic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - April 12, 2011 - 12:00am The Yesha Council of Settlers reacted angrily Tuesday to a Haaretz report detailing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for a West Bank withdrawal as part of a diplomatic initiative to counter an impending unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood. Netanyahu is weighing a withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces troops from the West Bank and a series of other measures to block the "diplomatic tsunami" that may follow international recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders at the United Nations General Assembly in September. » Read more

Encountering Peace: The bombs bursting in air ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) April 11, 2011 - 12:00am Yes, it’s difficult to think about peace when missiles are flying from Gaza into Israel, and when innocent civilians on both sides are regularly forced to take cover. Yes, it’s true that Hamas and its proxies in Gaza intentionally shoot at Israeli civilians, but it’s also true that many innocent civilians inside Gaza end up paying with their lives – killed by Israeli bombs. Go and explain to their families that their deaths were not intentional. » Read more

Palestinian Road Warriors Give Jerusalem Streets New Names ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Miller - April 11, 2011 - 12:00am A group of Palestinian activists erected nine street signs in Jerusalem’s Jabel Mukabber neighborhood last Saturday, assigning the anonymous thoroughfares road names in Arabic and English. One was named Farouk Street, a popular nick name for Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the Muslim general who conquered Jerusalem in 637 A.D. » Read more

Palestinian leadership questions Israeli PM's pullout plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 12, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian leadership on Tuesday questioned the possibility of further Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank. Reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering withdrawing troops from the West Bank "were no more than plays," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee. "Don't believe what the Israeli media said... these are trial balloons and plays by the Israeli governments to avoid their international obligations," Abed Rabbo told Voice of Palestine radio. » Read more

Hamas denies report of Syria sponsoring inter-Palestinian dialogue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 12, 2011 - 12:00am Damascus-based Palestinian Hamas ' politburo member Izzat al-Rishq said here on Tuesday that reports about Egypt's proposal for Syria to sponsor inter-Palestinian dialogue are not true. Al-Rishq told Xinhua via the phone that Egypt remains the official custodian of the reconciliation talks between the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah organizations. London-based Arab daily al-Hayat reported earlier the day that Egypt has suggested Syria to sponsor the reconciliation rounds between Fatah and Hamas. » Read more

Gaza farmers suffer severe loss due to crossing shut down ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 12, 2011 - 12:00am The closure of the only commercial crossing point in the Gaza Strip may cause severe losses to Gaza farmers, a farming society warned Tuesday. The Society of Palestinian Flower and Strawberry Farmers said that more than two million flowers are reserved in refrigerators and cannot be delivered to the European markets because Kerem Shaloom crossing has been closed since Wednesday by Israel authorities due to security concerns. "The flowers and those still not harvested would shrivel," the society warned in a statement. » Read more