July 29th

Ayalon vs. Goldberg, on Twitter ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Tablet Magazine by Marc Tracy - (Opinion) July 28, 2011 - 12:00am In one corner, in gray suit, we have former ambassador to the United States and current Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon, purveyor of a recent viral YouTube video (nearly 200,000 hits) that, shall we say, elides much of the complexity surrounding Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. In the opposing corner, in khaki slacks, we have contributing editor Jeff Goldberg, who noted (via the Forward) that the video is an almost word-for-word copy of a video made by a settlers’ organization, and concluded, “The Israeli Foreign Ministry Is Now Part of the Settlement Movement.” » Read more

To jazz soundtrack, Israeli official insists settlements are legal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Dan Murphy - (Opinion) July 28, 2011 - 12:00am Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister from the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu Party, has kicked up an Internet storm with a slickly produced video that argues Israel is within its rights to hold on to the West Bank in perpetuity. Accompanied by a bouncy jazz soundtrack, Mr. Ayalon – a former ambassador to the US – stands in front of a simple white background while he makes his case in avuncular tones, illustrated by cartoons behind him. For instance, a sheesha-smoking character in a fez is run over by a tank to illustrate the Ottoman Turkish defeat in World War I. » Read more

The Palestinians’ treacherous path to the UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Alon Ben-meir - (Opinion) July 29, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinians’ plans to seek UN recognition are a bad omen for both themselves and Israel. Instead, US President Barack Obama should seek a UN resolution that reflects his own conviction of a two-state solution. » Read more

Israel's Foreign Ministry Borrows From the Settlers for Its Propaganda ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Gal Beckerman - (Opinion) July 27, 2011 - 12:00am Israel’s deputy foreign minister and Twitter warrior, Danny Ayalon, recently released a video over YouTube that is doing quite well — posted on July 11, it now has nearly 180,000 hits. In it, Ayalon tries to explain why he thinks the West Bank should not be referred to as “occupied” and that settlements are not in effect settlements. » Read more

An invitation to Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Star by Harry Sterling - July 28, 2011 - 12:00am Will Foreign Minister John Baird visit Palestine at the very moment Palestinian authorities seek a controversial vote at the United Nations recognizing Palestine as an independent state? That is what many are wondering following a meeting July 26 in Ottawa between Baird and Palestinian representative Hanan Ashrawi. Ashrawi is no ordinary envoy. She is a big hitter within the PLO, a Christian legislator, the first woman elected to the Palestine National Council, and highly respected as a moderate and pragmatic negotiator by the Americans. » Read more

The ex-spy who stepped into the cold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Hussein Ibish, Michael Weiss - (Opinion) July 29, 2011 - 12:00am In 2007, an organization called Conflicts Forum, which at the time was being funded by the European Union, issued a report intended to promote a “positive assertion of Islamist values and thinking” in the West. It laid out a public relations campaign for rebranding “resistance movements” in the eyes of Westerners in terms of “social justice,” specifically promoting “Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s values, philosophy and wider political and social programmes.” » Read more

Palestinian 'ghosts' keep the Israeli economy moving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Mona Issa - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am "We built Israel," says Abbas, a young migrant worker from Salem. A decade ago, he began travelling illegally from the northern West Bank to Tel Aviv to work in construction. "We have no jobs, so the only option is to work in Israel." » Read more

Rattling the Cage: The Breivik effect in Israel and abroad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) July 28, 2011 - 12:00am Jews that support multiculturalism today are as much of a threat to Israel and Zionism (Israeli nationalism) as they are to us. So let us fight together with Israel, with our Zionist brothers against all anti-Zionists, against all cultural Marxists/multi-culturalists. » Read more

Army seeking major intelligence collection boost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am The IDF plans to dramatically boost its intelligence collection capabilities with a new multi-year plan aimed at upgrading its technological capabilities and the procurement of new systems. The plan is an integral part of Halamish – the new IDF multi-year plan that is currently under review and expected to go into effect in the beginning of 2012. » Read more

Peres holds secret talks with Palestinians in bid to restart negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am President Shimon Peres has been holding intensive talks with Ramallah in an effort to resume negotiations and head off a unilateral Palestinian statehood bid at the UN in September. The meetings are being held in complete coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more