May 8th

EU: Israel must allow medical, family visits to hunger-strikers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 8, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The European Union offices in the Palestinian territory on Tuesday expressed concern about the deteriorating health condition of Palestinian prisoners on hunger-strike for over two months. Israel's Supreme Court on Monday rejected the appeals of administrative detainees Bilal Diab, 27, from Jenin, and Thaer Halahla, 33, from Hebron -- who have refused food since Feb. 29. » Read more

Israel raids office of Palestinian anti-settlement organization ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 8, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday seized computers and cameras from the office of a Palestinian organization that organizes public activities against Jewish settlement activities, Palestinian witnesses said. The soldiers smashed the doors of the Public Campaign against Settlements and Wall's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, seized the equipment and left. The incident took place before the workday started. » Read more

Israeli Supreme Court orders outpost demolished ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 7, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's Supreme Court has set a new deadline for the demolition of an unauthorized Jewish outpost in the West Bank. The court on Monday ruled that the Ulpana outpost must be dismantled by July 1. A May 1 deadline for its removal was postponed so that the court could hear an appeal by the government, which asked for a 90-day delay. About 30 Jewish families live in Ulpana. The court has ruled that the outpost was illegally built on private Palestinian land. » Read more

Top Palestinian negotiator suffers heart attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 8, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — A senior medical official says a top Palestinian peace negotiator has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. Dr. Ahmed Bitwai, head of Ramallah hospital in the West Bank, says Saeb Erekat had a "sharp" attack early on Tuesday and was taken to the hospital for a heart catheterization. He says the 57-year-old Erekat will remain in hospital for three days for supervision. Erekat has been a leading negotiator with Israel in talks over Palestinian independence during the past two decades. » Read more

Israeli Court Rejects the Release of Hunger Strikers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - May 7, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals for the release of two Palestinian prisoners who have been on a » Read more

Palestinians not optimistic about peace with new Israeli unity cabinet ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 8, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official on Tuesday said he has no big hope in reviving stalled peace talks with Israel after the latter's parties agreed to form a unity government. Considering the deal an Israeli internal affair, Nabil Shaath of the Palestinian mainstream Fatah party said this agreement " will bring nothing new to the Palestinian-Israeli relations as long as Benjamin Netanyahu's policies remain in place." » Read more

Palestinians don’t have high hopes for Mofaz ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz's decision to join Benjamin Netanyahu's government caught many in the Palestinian Authority by surprise but did not raise hope that the political change will lead to a resumption of peace talks. » Read more

Netanyahu, stunning Israel by forging unity bloc, defends move as pro-stability ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 8, 2012 - 12:00am The newly formed unity government was created to advance the main issues facing Israel today, including a "responsible peace process," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with Kadima head Shaul Mofaz on Tuesday, while the leader of Israel's Labor Party Shelly Yacimovich - thought likely to be become leader of the opposition - slammed the pair's pronouncements in her own press conference later on Tuesday. » Read more

Leader of Israel Centrist Party Kadima Agrees to Join Netanyahu’s Coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of the opposition Kadima Party struck a deal early Tuesday morning to form a unity government, a surprise move that staves off early elections and creates a new coalition with a huge legislative majority. » Read more

May 7th

Israel's Civil Administration orders Palestinians to uproot 1,000 young olive trees in nature reserve ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zafrir Rinat - (Opinion) May 1, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's Civil Administration in the West Bank has ordered Palestinian villagers to uproot more than 1,000 olive trees because they were planted in a nature reserve. Residents of Deir Istiya said they would fight the order in court, arguing that it violates their right to work privately owned land within the Nahal Kana reserve. » Read more