April 20th

Four Arab lawyers suspected of passing messages for Islamic Jihad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Four Arab lawyers working in Jerusalem have been arrested in recent weeks for allegedly passing information from prisoners from Islamic Jihad jailed in Israel to the group's officials in Gaza, according to details that emerged Wednesday after a gag order was lifted. Among the four is Suhir Ayoub, a 42-year-old female lawyer from Acre in northern Israel. » Read more

PA official: Settler shoots Palestinian near Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A Palestinian man was moderately injured Tuesday after settlers opened fire south of Nablus, officials said. Ghassan Doughlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlements in the West Bank, told Ma'an that a group of settlers from the illegal Brakha settlement, near Burin village in the northern West Bank, fired at civilians and tried to break into a house. Other villagers intervened but one Palestinian was shot in the hand and stomach, the official said. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, Doughlas said. » Read more

Netanyahu owes speech to Israelis, not Americans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Uri Avnery - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Here is a sensational news item: Next month, the prime minister will deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress. In all probability, this will be a polished, excellent address, one crafted in Benjamin Netanyahu's characteristic style and language. » Read more

Fatah: Door remains open for Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The head of Fatah’s unity delegation said Tuesday that the party would "keep the door open" for Hamas to sign a unity deal, despite the expected announcement of a newly appointed Palestinian Authority cabinet next week. Speaking with Ma'an the day after President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters that a new PA cabinet would be formed, Azzam Al-Ahmad said the move would come on Abbas' return from Paris at the end of the week. » Read more

Itamar murders don’t justify stripping Palestinians' rights ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Israeli settlement enterprise does not need the murder of Jewish families in order to strip Palestinian families of their land and endanger the future of both peoples. But when such a murder "falls into its hands," the settlement enterprise knows how to make the most out of it, by building new neighborhoods and outposts, blaming Palestinian nature and education, and dropping biblical terms like "bitter enemies" and "Amalek." » Read more

Abbas: We will head to the UN in September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Tuesday his intention to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state by September, saying he believed he would have the backing of the US administration. In an interview with the daily newspaper Al-Ayyam, the second in as many days, the president said he would shortly ask his American counterpart, "if he is capable of honoring his promise [for a Palestinian state in September] or not." » Read more

Palestinians counting on Obama for state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinians are signaling they are still planning to go ahead with efforts to declare an independent state with the backing of the United Nations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said during a visit in Tunisia that the Palestinian Authority is ready to establish a state. "We are counting on the words of US President Barack Obama who said his vision is to see a Palestinian state this coming September according to a deadline set by the Quartet." » Read more

Palestinian president rejects new uprising against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The 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 United Nations endorsement of Palestinian independence in the absence of a deal. » Read more

Activist sets sail to protect Gaza fishermen from IDF ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A small boat with foreign and Gazan passengers sailed from Gaza Wednesday purporting to be "accompanying Palestinian fishermen to ensure the navy does not attack or abuse them." The vessel, Oliva, was organized by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) organization of which Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, who was killed in Gaza earlier this month, was a member. One ISM member on the ship told Israeli media that passengers intended to record any potential IDF "attacks" on fishermen in the Mediterranean, as well as any "human rights violations." » Read more

Hamas Bides Its Time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Danny Rubenstein - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE PALESTINIAN Authority has been engaging in a media campaign of unprecedented scope. The campaign slogan is: “End the Schism” and organized demonstrations, sit-in strikes, conferences by public institutions, dozens (if not hundreds) of newspaper articles, posters and protest marches have all been thrown into the fray. » Read more