Navy announces new flag officer assignments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Navy Times by Jacqueline Klimas - June 8, 2012 - 12:00am Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Friday that the President Obama has made the following nominations: • Rear Adm. Paul Bushong, who has been nominated for promotion to vice admiral, will be U.S. security coordinator, Israel-Palestinian Authority. He is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Marianas/U.S. Pacific Command Representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau/commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, Guam. » Read more

Bedouin are ‘squatters’ on their own land ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - June 11, 2012 - 12:00am Nuri Al Okbi’s home is an archive of his futile campaign to prove to Israel that he owns land he says has been in his family for centuries. Tucked away in boxes and stacked on bookshelves are maps and land deeds dating back to the Ottoman Empire. The collection, he says, is evidence of the Okbi clan’s ownership of land in the Al Araqib area of Israel’s Negev desert. » Read more

Outpost Nation: Why Bibi Won’t Break With Israel’s Settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Dan Ephron - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am A battle over several homes in the West Bank has opened a rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a constituency he usually counts on for support: the hundreds of thousands of Jews who live in settlements across the Israeli-occupied area. » Read more

Palestinian President Abbas 'would accept' UN upgrade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News June 8, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says he is ready to accept "non-member state" status at the United Nations, if Israel does not resume peace talks. He made the comments as French President Francois Hollande lent his support to Palestinian aims for UN state recognition. Last September the Palestinian bid for full member status fell apart when the United States said it would veto it. Security Council backing is required for bids for full UN membership. » Read more

Processing Delay ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Elliott Abrams - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am Summer 2012. Israel's elections have been delayed until late next year by the formation of a new coalition government. The "Arab Spring" is producing Muslim Brotherhood victories, Salafi gains, chaos in Syria, disorder in Egypt, tremors in Jordan. Iran's nuclear program moves steadily forward despite tougher sanctions and ongoing negotiations between Iran and the world's major powers. In the United States, » Read more

Israel's settlement policy could trigger a third intifada, experts warn Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - June 10, 2012 - 12:00am Mideast experts warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that construction policies in the settlements or the burning of a major mosque by extremists could help trigger a violent uprising in the West Bank. The meeting with Netanyahu, which lasted about 90 minutes, took place Tuesday evening. » Read more

Imagining a Palestinian Economy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am      At the last meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Aid to Palestine, the Israeli delegation argued that the Palestinian economy was not ready to sustain an independent state. But this argument is frustrating. It is Israel’s very denial of independence that most impedes Palestinian economic prosperity.  As a board member of the Palestinian Business Women’s Forum, I was appalled by this conclusion. » Read more

Imagining a Palestinian Economy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Amal Daraghmeh Masri - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am At the last meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Aid to Palestine, the Israeli delegation argued that the Palestinian economy was not ready to sustain an independent state. But this argument is frustrating. It is Israel’s very denial of independence that most impedes Palestinian economic prosperity.  As a board member of the Palestinian Business Women’s Forum, I was appalled by this conclusion. » Read more

Monetary chief: PA bank borrowing reaches limit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 11, 2012 - 12:00am The head of the Palestine Monetary Authority said Sunday that the Palestinian Authority government has reached the maximum limit of borrowing from Palestinian banks. Jihad Al-Wazir said in a statement that banks in Palestine increased lending to the government by over $300 million in the last two months, and cannot lend more unless repayments from donor countries come through. The Authority has set supervisory measures to bolster the banking sector in the face of any political or economic shocks, al-Wazir added. » Read more

Sabra and Shatila: Israel’s war of lies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Uri Avnery - (Opinion) June 10, 2012 - 12:00am Thirty years ago this week, the Israeli Army crossed into Lebanon and started the most stupid war in Israel’s history. It lasted for 18 years. About 1,500 Israeli soldiers and untold numbers of Lebanese and Palestinians were killed. Almost all wars are based on lies. Lies are considered legitimate instruments of war. Lebanon War I (as it was later called) was a shining example. From beginning to end (if it has ended yet) it was a war of deceit and deception, falsehoods and fabrications. » Read more