Palestinian President Abbas inclined to put off unity talks with Hamas until after UN vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

Two Palestinian officials say President Mahmoud Abbas is inclined to put off talks on a unity government with rival Hamas until after a U.N. vote this fall on Palestinian statehood. The officials say Abbas fears running into difficulties with the West over an alliance with the Islamic militant group. This suggests he may have underestimated international opposition when he reconciled with Hamas in May.

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The Palestinian third way
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Daoud Kuttab - (Analysis) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leadership is more committed than ever to obtaining statehood through the United Nations General Assembly. But despite this commitment, there is a worry that success in New York might not necessarily mean success in Nablus or Hebron. There are many reasons the UN route is the correct strategy for Palestinians today. Under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority has convincingly addressed Israel’s security concerns. Israeli and US military officials are on the record as praising the success of the Palestinian security in dealing with anti-Israel violence.

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Israel tries to strike deal with Europe, US
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Attila Somfalvi - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

Government sources on Wednesday confirmed that Israeli and American officials are continuing their efforts to jump-start negotiations with the Palestinians, while Jerusalem is hoping to secure France and Britain's objection at a United Nations vote on the declaration of a Palestinian state. Germany and Italy have already announced that they will object to a unilateral declaration of statehood, while France and Britain are eager to push Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiations table.

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With September looming, unity can't wait
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gary Ackerman - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

While many differences exist among Jewish parliamentarians, the concept of ahavat Yisrael – literally, “love of Israel” – is common to us all. It is for this reason that 55 Jewish parliamentarians from 22 countries have assembled in Jerusalem under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress. Ahavat Yisrael means not just love of the state, the country and the land, but a joint concern and affection that Jews have always shown for one another across the globe.

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A new Palestinian strategy unfolds
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

While the Arab world is experiencing a historic series of citizen revolts against nondemocratic governments, something equally significant is happening among Palestinians in their struggle with Israel and Zionism. Very slowly, almost imperceptibly, Palestinians seem to be making a strategic shift in their mode of confrontation with Israel, from occasional military attacks toward a more nonviolent and political confrontation.

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'IDF has no way of stopping mass non-violent protest in West Bank'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Anshel Pfeffer - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

As September draws nearer, the Israel Defense Forces has been conducting drills in order to contend with the possibility of a mass civilian uprising in the West Bank in the wake of the Palestinian bid to seek unilateral recognition in the United Nations. "A non-violent protest of 4,000 people or more, even if they only march to a checkpoint or a settlement, and especially if the Palestinian police does not deter them, will be unstoppable," one IDF officer claims. "Such a great number of determined people cannot be stopped by tear gas and rubber bullets."

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Report: Jordan to oppose PA statehood bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roee Nahmias - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

A senior Jordanian official says the Hashemite kingdom will vote against a Palestinian statehood bid scheduled to be put before the UN General Assembly in September. "Jordan's top national interests will be in danger if the Palestinian Authority declares statehood unilaterally – especially in everything related to the issue of refugees, water, Jerusalem, and the borders," the UAE-based al-Bayan quoted a Jordanian state official as saying.

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Palestinians lobby in the Netherlands for UN recognition vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Ferry Bidermann - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

THE HAGUE // Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is venturing into the Netherlands during the next few days, a country with one of the most pro-Israel governments in Europe and one that has made its opposition to a possible Palestinian membership vote at the UN in September explicit. The timing of the visit, which starts late today, comes amid a concerted push by the Palestinian leadership to prepare for the looming vote, in which Europe is seen as key.

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No one is questioning Israel's legitimacy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Shlomo Avineri - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

A very senior minister, who belongs to neither Likud nor Yisrael Beiteinu, voiced his concern to me some while back over the possibility that the General Assembly of the UN would decide to recognize a Palestinian state in the June 1967 borders. Such a decision, he said, would amount to delegitimizing Israel.

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Nonviolence, a Palestinian path to liberation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) June 28, 2011 - 12:00am

At the end of last week in the West Bank village of Bilin, an important principle was decisively demonstrated: Palestinian nonviolence can achieve real results in resisting the Israeli occupation. After almost a decade, Bilin protests against Israel’s gruesome West Bank separation barrier has finally produced a substantial rerouting of the wall, giving villagers access to a significant portion of their confiscated land. The greater part remains seized or inaccessible, and protesters vow that their struggle is far from over.

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