July 1st

Haniyeh: Reconciliation is progressing despite delays ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 1, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Thursday that progress is being made to implement the Palestinian reconciliation agreement "even if it is slow." Hamas and Fatah signed a unity agreement on May 4, ending years of hostility. However, a meeting in Cairo to finalize the formation of a unity government was postponed. Officials from both parties have said talks stalled over a leadership row. Hamas rejected Fatah's nomination of Salam Fayyad for the post of Prime Minister in the new government. » Read more

Abbas adviser: Palestinians ready to replace UN bid with talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 1, 2011 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Presidential adviser Nimir Hammad said Thursday that Palestinian leaders would delay the September bid for UN recognition of a Palestinian state, if Israel agrees to negotiations based on a French peace initiative. In an exclusive interview with Ma’an, the political adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas said the leadership are preparing the text for the declaration that will presented to the UN in September, should talks not go ahead. » Read more

A warning from a good friend ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) July 1, 2011 - 12:00am An unexpected voice joined the critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's standstill policy this week: Ron Lauder. The president of the World Jewish Congress has been a close friend, confidant and clear supporter of Netanyahu throughout his political career. Speaking in Jerusalem, he warned that the political standstill on the Palestinian front is dangerous for Israel. Lauder called on Netanyahu to launch a diplomatic initiative, even if this would mean "political suicide." » Read more

June 30th

With September looming, unity can't wait ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gary Ackerman - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am While many differences exist among Jewish parliamentarians, the concept of ahavat Yisrael – literally, “love of Israel” – is common to us all. It is for this reason that 55 Jewish parliamentarians from 22 countries have assembled in Jerusalem under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress. Ahavat Yisrael means not just love of the state, the country and the land, but a joint concern and affection that Jews have always shown for one another across the globe. » Read more

What does Abbas really want? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am Mahmoud Abbas inspired great hope that peace was finally possible when he succeeded Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority. Because the gap between those expectations and his performance keeps growing, along with his penchant for finding excuses instead of opportunities, he is arguably an even bigger disappointment than the unrepentant old terrorist. Few expected Arafat would ever make a real peace, but not so Abbas, who earned respect as the only PLO leader to stand up to Arafat and oppose violence as a negotiating tool. » Read more

Bread and entertainment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Nahum Barnea - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Rabbi Dov Lior should have been interrogated in connection with affairs that are much graver than the praise he lavished on a book of incitement based on Jewish Law verses: Acts carried out by the Jewish terror underground; the Rabin murder; the Goldstein massacre – all these crimes, and others, came from a milieu where Rabbi Lior was, and still is, the spiritual authority. » Read more

Friends of Israel to PM: Accept Obama terms, restart talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Shefler - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Members of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians gathered at the King David Hotel on Tuesday for a candid conversation closed to journalists dealing with the considerable challenges facing Israel in the international arena. During the event, speakers pledged support for Israel, vociferously defending it against its critics, but in between the words of praise some genuine concern could also heard. » Read more

Hysteria, ‘hasbara’ and the flotilla ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am I just love Israel’s “hasbara” campaign against Freedom Flotilla 2. I mean, butter wouldn’t melt in these people’s mouths. “There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” says Ehud Barak. Gazans are “importing televisions and plasma screens, and exporting agricultural products to the entire Arab world,” says IDF chief Benny Gantz. Yes, Gaza is economically on the mend – but not because of Israel’s good intentions; rather, despite its bad intentions. » Read more

Report: Jordan to oppose PA statehood bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roee Nahmias - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am A senior Jordanian official says the Hashemite kingdom will vote against a Palestinian statehood bid scheduled to be put before the UN General Assembly in September. "Jordan's top national interests will be in danger if the Palestinian Authority declares statehood unilaterally – especially in everything related to the issue of refugees, water, Jerusalem, and the borders," the UAE-based al-Bayan quoted a Jordanian state official as saying. » Read more

This time, Israel can pass the test of the Gaza flotilla ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) June 27, 2011 - 12:00am Friends of Israel, countries and individuals that sincerely wish Israelis well, should send a message this week: Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Barak, for your sake, for Israel's sake, let the flotilla sail to Gaza. Do the right thing this time. Let it go. Many other challenges are vying for your attention. You have yet to forge a coherent policy regarding the September Palestinian UN initiative. Five years to the week that Hamas captured Gilad Shalit in Israel and brought him to Gaza, the terms of a possible exchange deal deserve close attention. » Read more