No hatred is pro-Jewish. No bigotry is pro-Israel. Case in point: Pamela Geller. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) June 27, 2012 - 12:00am From a marketing standpoint, it may be a smart idea for the Zionist Organization of America to promote bigotry. It makes for headlines. On the most primal, most limbic of planes, it makes for tribal heat and for useful rage and for exploitable fights, and, one supposes, for donations. It made a certain organizational sense, therefore, for the ZOA to sponsor a Los Angeles appearance this week by media personality and commentator Pamela Geller, one of America's most extraordinarily successful purveyors of unvarnished prejudice and unapologetic hatred. » Read more

Hamas commander found guilty of killing 46 Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - June 27, 2012 - 12:00am Senior Hamas military commander Ibrahim Hamed was found guilty on Wednesday by an Israeli military court for the deaths of 46 people in terrorist attacks during the Second Intifada. Hamed, 47, started as a Hamas operative in the 1980s. In 2001, he was released from a Palestinian Authority prison and masterminded a string of deadly attacks during the Second Intifada, including the Café Moment, Hebrew University, and Zion Square attacks in Jerusalem and the Rishon Letzion pool hall attack. » Read more

Poll: Barghouti would defeat Abbas and Haniyeh in vote for Palestinian president ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - June 27, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' popularity has dropped significantly in the last three months, while support for Hamas has risen, according to a new poll released on Wednesday. The poll circulated by Khalil Shikaki's Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that if Abbas were to contend against Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for the Palestinian Presidency, he would win approximately 49 percent of the vote, while the latter would secure 44 percent. » Read more

Official: Egypt to allow more Gaza passengers through Rafah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 27, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egypt has agreed to increase the number of passengers passing through its Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip to 1,000 per day, the Palestinian crossings director said Wednesday. Maher Abu Sabha told Ma'an the terminal -- the only entry and exit point for travelers from Gaza -- currently has 500 registered passengers per day in July, but now has a quote for 500 more. Palestinians are required to register in advance with the Gaza Ministry of Interior before travel via Egypt. » Read more

Caterpillar pulled from social indexes over company’s use in Palestinian territories ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press June 27, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A U.S. investment firm has removed Caterpillar Inc. from three of its popular indexes that track socially responsible investments, citing concerns about the Israeli military’s use of company bulldozers in the Palestinian territories. » Read more

Israel slams Iranian allegation of "Jews behind drug trade" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 27, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday slammed remarks by a senior Iranian official alleging that Jews control international drug trade. » Read more

Questions For One-Staters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) June 26, 2012 - 12:00am Supporters of the two-state solution are often told that this vision is unrealistic and has become unachievable. Young, idealistic seekers of justice and equality are increasingly offering what they claim is a more "realistic" solution: a single state for all Israelis and Palestinians, including refugees. Here are ten questions that might help these single-staters think through the feasibility of the project they have in mind: » Read more

Israeli rectors oppose academic upgrade of West Bank college ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 27, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Senior Israeli academics are urging the government not to grant university status to an state college located in a city in the West Bank. The Academic Center in Ariel has been seeking to upgrade its ranking to a university for years. The center, established three decades ago, has 12,500 students, including Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. » Read more

Traditional Gaza drawn to old alternative therapy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - June 27, 2012 - 12:00am RAFAH, Gaza Strip — In a Gaza shop, a group of men sit with glass jars attached to their legs, their backs, their faces, sucking at the skin as blood slowly seeps out. It's the latest craze in the isolated coastal strip — cupping therapy. Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine whose advocates believe it improves blood flow and helps relieve a range of ailments from headaches to arthritis. It is perhaps best known in the West as part of traditional Chinese medicine. » Read more

Israeli, Palestinian leaders may meet next week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - June 27, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israeli and Palestinian officials say they expect Israel's new deputy prime minister to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas early next week in a bid to restart peace talks. Negotiations have been frozen for nearly four years. The Palestinians want Israel to halt settlement construction on occupied lands before talks can resume. Israel wants negotiations to start without any preconditions. » Read more