Colonisation, occupation - core problems ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians, Arabs and foreign regional players have to admit that all strategies adopted so far have failed to resolve the Palestinian/Arab-Israeli conflict. Armed struggle, the 1988 Palestinian declaration of independence and negotiations have not brought the Palestinian people nearer to liberation. » Read more

PNA lifts immunity for ministers over corruption inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 7, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) lifted immunity for several ministers in a rare move aimed at investigating charges of corruption, a Palestinian official said Thursday. The PNA commission against corruption presented the names of some ministers to President Mahmoud Abbas who accepted to withdraw their immunity, said Rafiq Al-Natsha, the head of the commission. » Read more

Israel deploys airport police to screen activists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Amy Teibel - July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Israel deployed hundreds of extra police at its already heavily guarded international airport Thursday and asked European airlines to bar potential troublemakers from Tel Aviv-bound flights in anticipation of the arrival of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists. In Paris, eight activists were blocked from boarding a Malev Airlines flight Thursday. One of those turned away, Philippe Arnaud, said Malev showed him a list provided by Israeli authorities of nearly 400 people being barred from Israel. German carriers Lufthansa and Air Berlin said they also received lists. » Read more

A Way To Embrace Palestinian Statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Leonard Fein - (Opinion) July 6, 2011 - 12:00am Few issues have so discombobulated the American Jewish community — to say nothing of the Israeli government — as the prospect of a United Nations vote on recognition of Palestine. Students of the matter debate whether such a vote would have any practical significance, but most Jews, as well as most Jewish organizations, have viewed the idea itself as subversive. And indeed, the Obama administration has pledged to veto the matter if it comes before the U.N. Security Council. » Read more

Gaza flotilla: 'Solidarity more important than aid' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ruqaya Izzidien - (Opinion) July 6, 2011 - 12:00am Support for the aid flotilla is universal in Gaza, partly because of the aid it aims to deliver, but more popularly because of the symbolism it holds. Khalil Shaheen, head of economic and social rights at the Palestinian centre for Human Rights, believes the most important message carried by the Gaza aid flotilla, which is attempting to leave Athens, is solidarity. » Read more

Ashton: Quartet meeting aim to set framework for talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post July 7, 2011 - 12:00am European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday said that the goal at a Quartet meeting in Washington scheduled for Monday will be "to try and adopt a statement that will help the Israelis and Palestinians to bridge the gap, and allow for a return to the negotiating table." The Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- are scheduled to meet on July 11, a senior UN diplomat said last week. » Read more

UNRWA: Name has not changed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 7, 2011 - 12:00am An UNRWA spokesperson said Thursday that the Palestinian refugee agency has not changed its name, after reports of a new title sparked protests in Gaza on Tuesday. Adnan Abu Hasnah said the only change was a logo update which actually added the term UNRWA, in English and Arabic, to the image. The organization's 60th anniversary, Hasnah said, and attracting donors and other partners was behind the update. But the no word in the title had been changed, he said. » Read more

PA report: Israeli settler attacks on the rise ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 7, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli settler violence towards Palestinians increased "dramatically" in June, according to a Palestinian Authority report released Wednesday. The report documented 139 attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank by the Israeli army and settlers as reported to the government during the month, including demolition of 95 buildings and over 3600 olive trees and vines. The release highlighted a fire in the village of Madama on Tuesday, and in Aqraba village on Monday, both in the northern Nablus district, which it attributed to Israeli settlers. » Read more

Washington Watch: Ships of fools ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) July 6, 2011 - 12:00am There’s more to the story of this year’s would-be Gaza flotilla than friends of Hamas going for another Mediterranean cruise just to poke their fingers in Israel’s eye. As this is being written, the ships remain bottled up in Greek harbors, stopped not by Israeli commandos rappelling from helicopters, but by something even more intimidating: squads of Jewish lawyers and diplomats. Israel also had help from international leaders who didn’t want to appear to be backing an international terrorist organization. » Read more

Erekat in Washington: UN bid continues despite pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 7, 2011 - 12:00am PLO official Saeb Erekat said Wednesday that Palestinians would continue the bid for the UN to recognize an independent Palestinian state, after meeting US officials in Washington DC. The former chief negotiator said the US had demanded they withdraw their appeal, Israeli news site Ynet reported. But in a press conference Erekat stressed that the resolution, planned for September, does not contradict renewing currently stalled peace negotiations with Israel. » Read more