Abbas warns of disaster if hunger-striker dies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ali Sawafta - May 9, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Tuesday that the death of any one of the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israel would be a "disaster" and could trigger a backlash that might slip out of control. "It is very dangerous," Abbas told Reuters on a day when the Red Cross urged Israel to transfer to hospital six detainees who it said were close to death after not eating for two months. » Read more

Second Palestinian on hunger strike hospitalized ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 9, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A spokeswoman for Israel's prison service says a Palestinian prisoner refusing to eat food for the past 71 days has been transferred to a civilian hospital. Sivan Weizman says Thaer Halahleh was hospitalized early Tuesday after he refused to drink water. Halahleh is the second hunger striker to be transferred. Bilal Diab, also on a 71-day hunger strike, was hospitalized last week. » Read more

How Netanyahu's 'unity' government may affect Palestinians, Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am A stunning overhaul in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could produce progress on the peace process with the Palestinians but also enhance Israeli threats to attack Iran’s nuclear program. » Read more

First rifts emerge in new Israeli coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - May 9, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The first rifts in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expanded coalition emerged just a day after the Israeli leader brought the main opposition party into his government, with religious and secular parties exchanging threats Wednesday over draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. » Read more

New Israel Partner Offers Moderate Voice on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Less than two weeks ago, Yuval Diskin, the recently retired chief of Israel’s internal security agency, carried out a blistering verbal assault on Prime Minister » Read more

Master Tactician in Israel Adds Power in a Coalition Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Striking a secret deal with the leader of the opposition in the small morning hours, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel significantly expanded his power on Tuesday, creating the largest and broadest c » Read more