April 21st

Rattling the Cage: Kids are innocent, settlements aren’t ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am When settlers are suspected of murdering Palestinians, do the IDF, Shin Bet and police trash their settlements and beat up their neighbors until someone confesses, which is what just happened in the village next to Itamar? » Read more

Abbas seeks 'advice' from France on declaring Palestinian statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Danna Harman - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will travel to Paris on Thursday seeking support for the expected declaration of statehood this September. "We are friends, so he can be sincere with us and to talk to us openly," Abbas said to the AFP last week, talking about French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who he is expected to meet in the afternoon. Abbas said he was planning to ask Sarkozy for “advice,” on the best approach to seeking recognition for an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

JNF Challenged on Discrimination ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Josh Nathan-Kazis - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A challenge to the tax-exempt status of Jewish National Fund’s American arm introduces a new wrinkle into an ongoing debate over how the Internal Revenue Service should treat charities whose foreign operations run counter to public policy of the United States. A coalition of anti-Zionist groups has claimed in its challenge that JNF ethnically discriminates by refusing to sell or lease its land in Israel to non-Jews. » Read more

One last chance for Israel to reaffirm its right to exist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Just like the Palestinians, we never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Time after time, we reject the complex diplomatic proposal that has been placed on the table. Time after time, the next proposal is more difficult than its predecessor. Although time is against us, we recklessly refuse to realize this. We refuse today what we will ask for tomorrow and what will cause us regret the day after tomorrow. » Read more

Palestinian PM supports non violence in struggle against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday voiced his support for non-violent resistance against Israel. "The great power of our non-violence program gets us closer to the moment of freedom," Fayyad said during a conference to promote peaceful struggle in the West Bank village of Bilin. He reiterated that the non-violent struggle has become part of the Palestinian National Authority's plans to establish an independent state alongside Israel. » Read more

As the Palestinians Pursue Statehood, Israel Won’t Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Analysis) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am This is a bit complicated, but it’s very important, so try and keep up. We’ll take questions afterward. » Read more

EU role vital to resume Palestinian-Israeli talks: Jordan's king ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday said Romania and the EU play a fundamental role in supporting efforts to attain lasting peace and security in the Middle East, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The Jordanian leader underlined the need for intensified efforts to help the Palestinians and the Israelis resume peace talks that address all final status issues leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state that lives in peace and security along with Israel. » Read more

Palestinian leader: There will be no new uprising ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Bouazza Ben Bouazza - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian president said Wednesday he is opposed to another armed uprising against Israel, even if faltering peace efforts fail later this year. Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Tunisia that he remains committed to the U.S.-backed target of reaching a negotiated peace agreement with Israel by September. But with talks stalled for months, he repeated his plan to unilaterally seek U.N. endorsement of Palestinian independence in the absence of a deal. » Read more

Clinton: Resumption of negotiations an 'urgent need' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 21, 2011 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Israel and the Palestinians to resume the peace talks immediately, Israeli Radio reported Thursday morning. In a television interview, Clinton said that the US administration did not support a unilateral Palestinian step to ask the UN for recognition. Her statement followed assertions by President Mahmoud Abbas indicating he believed the US would back him in the move for recognition. » Read more

Tanks enter Gaza City industrial zone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Several Israeli tanks penetrated Gaza's border on Thursday morning, entering the Gaza City industrial zone where they demolished an unknown number of factories, all which had been closed since 2005. The industrial zone, near the now-closed Karni crossing, is less than a kilometer away from the border, and was set up near the crossing to facilitate exports. » Read more