June 30th

Zionists, relax, Israel is not on the brink of destruction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am One of the best-known Yiddish expressions is ‘Gevalt, Yiddelech, Gevalt!', a phrase best translated as ‘catastrophe, Jews, catastrophe!’. I would suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition officially be named the Gevalt! Government. Listening to the utterances of our ministers, you would come to the conclusion that the State of Israel is about to be erased and the Jewish people are in danger of immediate extinction. » Read more

Gaza flotilla organizers: 2nd ship sabotaged ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Karin Laub - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am Organizers of a Gaza-bound flotilla say Israel has sabotaged a second ship. An activist told Israel's Army Radio that the engine of an Irish ship was damaged. Earlier this week, activists said Israel damaged the propeller of a Swedish ship in the Greek port of Piraeus. Israel has not commented on the allegations. About 10 ships are due to set sail this week from Greece. It's unclear if the damaged boats will delay things. Israel imposed a naval blockade after Hamas militants overran the Palestinian territory in 2007. It says it will not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza. » Read more

Flotilla to sail 'very soon' despite snags ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Mya Guarnieri - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Organizers of a US boat participating in the Gaza-bound flotilla said Thursday afternoon that they hoped to sail "very very soon," with some expecting an immanent departure. Speaking to reporters and passengers alongside the ship, organizer Anne Wright said "we will sail to challenge the naval blockade of Gaza ,we have ten ships, we have passengers aged 22-87 ... we have carpenters, retirees, acupuncturists; these are the people that the state of Israel fears." » Read more

Israel has become a society of force and violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Are we listening to ourselves? Are we still aware of the awful noise coming from here? Have we noticed how the discourse is becoming more and more violent and how the language of force has just about become Israel's only official language? A group of international activists is slated to sail a flotilla to the shores of the Gaza Strip. Many of them are social activists and fighters for peace and justice, veterans of the struggle against apartheid, colonialism, imperialism, pointless wars and injustice. Just stating that is difficult here, since they have already been described as thugs. » Read more

New neighborhood in Bil'in after wall moved ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Bilin residents are due to start the construction of a new neighborhood on land returned to them following the re-routing of Israel's separation barrier. Villagers will start building "Bilin West" on Friday as part of the weekly demonstration against the wall, a statement from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said Thursday. The Popular Committee announced a new strategy of building community and public buildings on lands that were returned as a way to assert their possession of them. » Read more

The Palestinian third way ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Daoud Kuttab - (Analysis) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian leadership is more committed than ever to obtaining statehood through the United Nations General Assembly. But despite this commitment, there is a worry that success in New York might not necessarily mean success in Nablus or Hebron. There are many reasons the UN route is the correct strategy for Palestinians today. Under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority has convincingly addressed Israel’s security concerns. Israeli and US military officials are on the record as praising the success of the Palestinian security in dealing with anti-Israel violence. » Read more

Palestinian President Abbas inclined to put off unity talks with Hamas until after UN vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Two Palestinian officials say President Mahmoud Abbas is inclined to put off talks on a unity government with rival Hamas until after a U.N. vote this fall on Palestinian statehood. The officials say Abbas fears running into difficulties with the West over an alliance with the Islamic militant group. This suggests he may have underestimated international opposition when he reconciled with Hamas in May. » Read more

June 29th

A Palestinian View: We also have feelings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons (Interview) June 27, 2011 - 12:00am An interview with Qadura Fares bitterlemons: Can you please describe the state of Palestinian prisoners today? Fares: Right now, there are 5,500 prisoners distributed throughout 22 prisons and detention centers. Most of these prisons are located in Israel. One hundred and forty prisoners have been in jail more than 20 years. Forty prisoners have been in jail more than 25 years. Four have spent more than 30 years in jail. » Read more

An Israeli View: Doing everything possible? I don't believe them ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) June 27, 2011 - 12:00am In September 2005, I received a phone call from one of my wife's cousins. Her brother Sasson Nuriel was missing and they thought he might have been kidnapped in Ramallah. Sasson worked with many Palestinians, buying and selling factory equipment. As a first generation Iraqi Jew born in Israel, he spoke fluent Arabic and had many Palestinian friends. » Read more

Perpetual self-sabotage ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Aaron Menenberg - (Opinion) June 28, 2011 - 12:00am The only way France and Britain will vote with the US is if negotiations get under way with at least the appearance of promise – and that was Obama’s strategy with his speech. » Read more