July 22nd

J Street poll: Obama's Jewish support tops Republicans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hilary Leila Krieger - July 21, 2011 - 12:00am WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama handily defeats his current Republican presidential opponents among Jewish voters, according to a poll put out by J Street Thursday. At the same time, the majority of American Jews disapproves of his handling of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the poll found. Obama currently enjoys 63 percent of the American Jewish vote, compared to 24% for Mitt Romney and 67% when facing-off against Michele Bachmann, who received 19% support,according to the poll. » Read more

The blunders of Palestinian leader Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Jackson Diehl - (Opinion) July 21, 2011 - 12:00am Back in May, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas adopted a new and radically different political strategy. Turning his back on the United States and peace talks with Israel, he signed a ”reconciliation” agreement with the Hamas movement and announced his intention to appeal to the United Nations in September for recognition of Palestinian statehood. September is still six weeks away, but already it’s becoming clear that Abbas committed a monumental blunder, one that will leave his movement at a dead end — and possibly lead to an eruption of violence in the West Bank and Gaza. » Read more

Palestinians face a dangerous U.N. clash on statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) July 21, 2011 - 12:00am A potentially dangerous confrontation looms in September over the question of Palestinian statehood, one that threatens significant negative consequences for all parties. It is in the interests of all constructive actors to find a compromise that avoids such a confrontation. » Read more

Palestinians face a dangerous U.N. clash on statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) July 21, 2011 - 12:00am A potentially dangerous confrontation looms in September over the question of Palestinian statehood, one that threatens significant negative consequences for all parties. It is in the interests of all constructive actors to find a compromise that avoids such a confrontation. » Read more

July 21st

AG to Netanyahu: Apologize to Turkey or face indictments for IDF troops ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - July 21, 2011 - 12:00am Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should apologize for the deadly takeover of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship last year, in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed, sources in Jerusalem said Thursday. According to the sources, Weinstein believes the UN investigation into the 2010 flotilla incident might prompt lawsuits against IDF soldiers. Therefore, he recommends reaching an understanding with Turkey, even if that means issuing an apology. The Justice Department declined to comment on these details. » Read more

New Gaza mall opens despite Israeli blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Fares Akram - July 20, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of people entered the Al- Andalusya mall in Gaza City after the automatic sliding door opened, looking up at the ceiling where cool air came from and then down at their feet trying carefully to stand on the escalator. The people fanned out across the supermarket and the clothes store in the first and second floors of the shopping center. The third story is designated to have a restaurant, cafe shop, children cinema and a video games corner, but it is not yet ready. » Read more

Israel urged to stop faking foreign passports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Eichner - July 21, 2011 - 12:00am Various countries have sent secret messages to Israel informing Jerusalem that they are aware that Mossad agents are using their passports in overseas operations, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday. The countries, all friends of Israel, demanded to halt all use of such passports in messages to Israeli embassies and as part of the consular discourse. The protest had caused considerable embarrassment to Israel in several cases. In other cases, Israel could not respond to the claims as they did not include names and details of the alleged Mossad agents. » Read more

Israel deals with Gaza-bound flotilla with lessons learnt: analysts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - July 21, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli naval commandos boarded the only ship participating in the second Gaza flotilla Tuesday without any violent resistance from the passengers and crew. The takeover was in stark contrast to last year's events when nine pro-Palestinian activists, mainly Turkish, in the "Mavi Marmara" ship were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers as Israel intercepted the first flotilla. The death of the Turkish participants led to the deepening of an already deteriorated relationship between Israel and Turkey. » Read more

Israelis pay price of persecuting Palestinians with soaring cost of living ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - July 21, 2011 - 12:00am Danny Tavory regularly shows up at Tel Aviv's biggest marketplace just before it closes for the night, when vendors sell fruit, vegetables and other products at large discounts or give them away. Mr Tavory, 21, a university mathematics student, says he can barely afford to buy food as most of his monthly income of 2,500 shekels (Dh2,670) from giving private lessons and counselling troubled youth goes toward his rent. » Read more

Israeli lawmakers kill bill to probe dovish groups ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 20, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's parliament has voted down a bill that would have established an inquiry commission to investigate foreign funding of dovish activist groups. The vote followed approval this week of a bill targeting Israelis who promote boycotts against Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Dovish lawmakers denounced both laws as antidemocratic attempts to stifle free expression. Laws of the type defeated Wednesday show growing polarization in Israeli society. » Read more